EX-03-18 – Date Range Banding: Highlight Transactions Between Two Dates

In this video, we harness Excel conditional formatting to visually band transaction rows that fall within a specific date range—creating a clean, dynamic spotlight on activity that matters. A pair of date inputs (“Start Date” and “End Date”) drives the logic, and a conditional formatting formula applies highlight shading to any row whose order date falls inside the defined window. The rule uses AND logic to evaluate whether the date in each row is equal to or after the start and equal to or before the end. This method gives your spreadsheets interactive, date-driven focus without needing filters or manual edits. What makes this technique even more powerful is that the calculations alongside it—such as total sales, average sale amount, and count of qualifying entries—update automatically based on the same date logic, but are powered independently by Excel formulas. In other words, the formatting and analytics work in parallel: the first provides visual cues, and the second delivers data insights. This split-layer strategy is a great example of how to use Excel conditional formatting in tandem with dynamic functions like SUMIFS and COUNTIFS, rather than relying on formatting alone. The result? Clear visibility, intuitive summaries, and immediate focus. Whether you’re analyzing sales, deadlines, or event timelines, this lesson shows how to conditional format in Excel using a custom rule that keeps your highlights in sync with your input controls. If you’re still exploring what is Excel conditional formatting, this is your moment of clarity: it’s about using visuals to drive attention and accelerate decision-making. Paired with independent calculation zones, you’ll see how conditional formatting formulas can turn ordinary spreadsheets into responsive, insight-ready dashboards. ════════════════════════════════════════════ ✅ Ready to turn raw data into visuals like a pro? 🎓 Join our live, instructor-led class — Conditional Formatting Essentials 🌐 https://www.computersoftwaretraining.... 🌐 https://www.computersoftwaretraining.... 📅 Browse hundreds of scheduled live classes — open for registration now. ════════════════════════════════════════════ 📊 Explore Our Complete Excel Course Lineup ════════════════════════════════════════════ 🧩 Spreadsheet Design Essentials https://www.computersoftwaretraining.... 📐 Worksheet Formatting Essentials https://www.computersoftwaretraining.... 🎨 Conditional Formatting Essentials https://www.computersoftwaretraining.... ➕ Essential Arithmetic Formulas https://www.computersoftwaretraining.... 🧰 Essential Function Formulas https://www.computersoftwaretraining.... 🔍 Fundamental Data Analysis & Reporting https://www.computersoftwaretraining.... 🧮 Pivot Table Visual Data Analysis https://www.computersoftwaretraining.... 📊 Chart & Diagram Essentials https://www.computersoftwaretraining.... 🤖 Recorded & AI Generated Macros https://www.computersoftwaretraining....