Changing Text of Formula Result Based on Return Value

MORE INFORMATION

In Microsoft Excel, number formats are based on the following:

   [color1]positive# format;[color2]negative# format;[color3]zero# format
				

To have a function return up to three different types of text value, each with a different color, have the function return either a positive number, a negative number, or a zero value, and format the custom number format such that it displays text based on those values. For example, the following custom number format

   [red]"after";[blue]"before";[green]"same"
				

will display the word "after" in red if the function returns a positive number, the word "before" in blue if the function returns a negative value, and the word "same" in green if the function returns 0.

Example

1. Type the following formula into a worksheet:

   A1: =IF(A5>DATEVALUE("2/28/95"),1,IF(A5<DATEVALUE("2/28/95"),-1,0))

2. Apply the following custom number format to the cell:

         [red]"after";[blue]"before";[green]"same"
   						

3. In cell A5, type 6/1/95.
   
   Cell A1 will display the word "after" and the word will be formatted in red.
4. In cell A5, type 2/28/95.
   
   Cell A1 will display the word "same" and the word will be formatted in green.