Configure conditional formatting

Conditional formatting helps users see what matters instantly. Colors and icons draw attention to critical values like spikes, drops, or outliers.

In this article, you will learn how to

• Apply single-click conditional formatting

• Use color scales, classifications, data bars, and action dots in tables

• Apply color scales, win and loss, and comparison bands in charts

• Create rules to apply color-based formatting to KPI cards

Conditional formatting for tables

1. A commonly used type of conditional formatting is the Color Scale, which applies a gradient fill to a range of cells based on their values. This is a useful way to quickly visualize and compare values in a table.

2. Classification is a conditional formatting feature that allows you to categorize data based on value ranges. It helps visually segment data and analyze performance in spreadsheets or tabular reports.

3. Data bars are a form of conditional formatting that display values as horizontal bars within tables, charts, or KPI visuals, making it easy to compare magnitudes at a glance.

4. Action dots in conditional formatting provide an at-a-glance view of performance. The size or color of each dot changes automatically based on value thresholds, making it easy to identify high, medium, or low values in your data.

Each tab shows how different conditional formatting options can be applied to tables.

Color scales

Applying formatting based on color scales.

Classification

Data bars

Action dots

Conditional formatting for charts

• Color scales map data values to colors, making patterns and magnitude easy to see at a glance.

• Win and loss formatting uses contrasting colors to clearly distinguish between positive and negative values.

• Comparison bands add shaded ranges or reference zones to show how values stack up against benchmarks or targets. They provide quick context for whether performance falls below, meets, or exceeds expectations.

Each tab shows how different conditional formatting options can be applied to charts.

Color scales

Win and loss

Comparison bands

Conditional formatting for KPI cards

Automatically apply formatting to draw attention to spikes, dips, or anomalies in your KPI metrics. In this example, you'll see how to create a rule that changes the metric color to blue when the 2026 Actuals is greater than 50 million.

1. Select Rules as the Format by option

2. Select Kpi Value in the Impacts on section.

3. Select the color to apply to the metrics when the condition is met.

4. Create the conditional formatting rule. In this case, 2026 Actuals > 50m.

We've used similar rules to dynamically highlight the KPI values in this dashboard.