1. Create an interactive task list
Alright, it's time to relax a little bit and have some fun with conditional formatting. We are going to be creating our own checklist complete with the satisfying ability to check off our tasks when we're done.
2. Write your list
Let's take a step back to the point before you walk out the door to start your day. We're going to make a list of tasks that you want to do every morning before you leave your place.
3. Finish your list
You're done after just making your bed, right? Let's make some stretch goals here.
Let's see here, 20 minutes of focused reading
4. Now you're done
100 situps.
And now you're done. Super realistic, right?
5. Insert checkbox
The conditional formatting will be driven by a checkbox. If you go to the Insert menu and choose Checkbox, it will insert one for you.
6. Checkbox
The checkbox will come in as an empty square with no check in it. Copy this square and paste it into the other rows beneath.
7. All checkboxes inserted
The function of these checkboxes is elegantly simple. If they are checked, their value is TRUE. If they are not checked, their value if FALSE. This is the perfect scenario for conditional formatting, right? They are already built to only have the two values that matter for conditional formatting.
8. Custom formula
We've chosen the tasks in column B as the range and we've written this simple rule that checks to see if the checkbox in column A is checked. This is indicated by the value of the cell being set to TRUE.
9. Strikethrough
We've mostly left the formatting style as default highlighting throughout this course as that usually gets the job done to bring attention to cells. However, in this case, you want to indicate that a task is done, not highlight it to make it stand out.
Therefore, let's skip the default options and pick strikethrough.
10. Gray highlighting
The green highlighting remains turned on unless you pick another color. Let's go the highlighting and pick a light gray background.
11. Finished task list
This is what it looks like when you're are all done. Now you can have the incredibly satisfying feeling of crossing out your tasks when you're finished.
Of course, this would have many other applications outside of a personal task list. Using a checkbox makes it easy to turn conditional formatting on and off on just about any report that you can think of.
12. Let's go practice!
Now let's build one of these ourselves. You'll play with check boxes a bit and then make a list similar to the one we just reviewed.