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How to Highlight the Row of the Selected Cell

Published in Excel Conditional Formatting 5 mins read

Highlighting the row of the selected cell in Excel typically involves using Conditional Formatting in combination with a formula and a small piece of VBA code to dynamically track the active row.

Here's a common method incorporating the use of Conditional Formatting with a formula:

To highlight the entire row containing the currently selected cell, you'll set up a rule using Conditional Formatting. This dynamic highlighting is often achieved by using a helper cell to store the active row number and a simple script to keep this helper cell updated.

Steps to Implement Active Row Highlighting

This process requires setting up a dynamic link to the active row and applying formatting based on that link.

  1. Set Up a Helper Cell:

    • Choose an unused cell in your worksheet (e.g., cell Z1). This cell will store the number of the currently selected row.
    • You can hide this cell or column later if you prefer.

  2. Add VBA Code to Update the Helper Cell:

    • Right-click on the tab of the sheet where you want this highlighting to work (e.g., Sheet1).
    • Select "View Code". This opens the VBA editor.
    • In the code window for that sheet, paste the following code:
    Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
    ' Update the helper cell (e.g., Z1) with the active row number
    Sheet1.Range("Z1").Value = Target.Row
End Sub
    • Note: Replace Sheet1 with the actual name of your sheet and Range("Z1") with the address of your chosen helper cell.
    • Close the VBA editor. This code will now automatically update the helper cell whenever you select a different cell.

  3. Apply Conditional Formatting Using a Formula:

    • Select the range of cells you want the highlighting to apply to. This is usually the main data area of your sheet (e.g., A1:X100). (Referenced step 1)
    • Go to the Home tab, click on Conditional Formatting, and select New Rule. (Referenced step 2)
    • Choose Use a formula to determine which cells to format. (Referenced step 3)
    • In the "Format values where this formula is true:" box, enter the following formula:
      =ROW()=$Z$1
      • Explanation:
        • ROW() returns the row number of the current cell that the conditional formatting is evaluating.
        • $Z$1 refers to the helper cell containing the active row number. The absolute references ($) are crucial here.
        • The formula checks if the row number of the cell being evaluated matches the number stored in the helper cell.
    • Click the "Format..." button.
    • Go to the "Fill" tab and choose your desired highlight color.
    • Click OK in the "Format Cells" dialog box.
    • Click OK in the "New Formatting Rule" dialog box.

Now, as you click on cells in your selected range, the VBA code updates the helper cell, and the Conditional Formatting rule recalculates, highlighting the entire row corresponding to the value in the helper cell.

Practical Tips:

  • Save as Macro-Enabled Workbook: If you use the VBA code, you must save your file as a .xlsm (Macro-Enabled Workbook) for the code to work when you reopen it.
  • Security Warning: You may see a security warning about macros when opening the file. You'll need to enable macros for the highlighting to function.
  • Alternative Helper Cell: Instead of a visible cell, you could potentially write the active row number to a Defined Name using VBA, which keeps the sheet cleaner, although this is slightly more advanced.
  • Range Selection: Ensure your selected range for Conditional Formatting covers all columns you want highlighted. The formula =$A1=$Z$1 or =ROW()=$Z$1 applied to A1:X100 will highlight columns A through X in the active row. Using =ROW()=$Z$1 is generally simpler as it's independent of the starting column of your selected range.
Step Action Details
1. Helper Cell Choose an unused cell (e.g., Z1) Stores the active row number
2. VBA Code Add Worksheet_SelectionChange code Updates the helper cell on selection change
3. Conditional Formatting Select Range, Home > Conditional Formatting > New Rule Start the formatting process (As per reference)
4. Formula Choose "Use a formula", enter =ROW()=$Z$1 (or similar) Defines the condition for highlighting
5. Format Click "Format...", choose fill color, OK Sets the appearance of the highlighted row
6. Apply Click OK to finalize the rule Applies the conditional formatting to the selected range

This method provides a dynamic visual aid, making it easier to track your position within large datasets.

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