how to highlight the current date in google sheets
IN SUMMARY
To highlight the current date in Google Sheets, you can use conditional formatting with the TODAY() function. This will automatically highlight the cell containing the current date, making it easy to identify.
Setting up Conditional Formatting
First, select the range of cells where you want to highlight the current date. This could be a single column, row, or a larger range, depending on your needs.
Go to the 'Format' menu, then select 'Conditional formatting'. This will open a sidebar where you can set up the formatting rules.
In the 'Conditional formatting rules' section, click on the '+' icon to create a new formatting rule. This will open a dialog box where you can define the rule.
Defining the Formatting Rule
In the 'Format rules' dialog box, choose 'Custom formula is' from the drop-down menu. This will allow you to enter a custom formula to define the formatting rule.
In the formula field, enter the following formula: `=$A1=TODAY()`. Replace `$A1` with the cell reference of the first cell in the range you selected. This formula checks if the cell value is equal to the current date returned by the TODAY() function.
Click on the 'Formatting style' option to customize how the current date will be highlighted. You can choose a background color, text color, or other formatting options to make the current date stand out.
Additional Options
If you want to highlight the entire row or column containing the current date, instead of just the cell, you can modify the formula. For rows, use `=ROW($A1)=ROW(TODAY())`, and for columns, use `=COLUMN($A1)=COLUMN(TODAY())`.
To highlight a range of dates, such as the current week or month, you can use different date functions like WEEKNUM() or MONTH() in the formula. For example, `=WEEKNUM($A1)=WEEKNUM(TODAY())` will highlight the entire week containing the current date.
If you're using Mage (usemage.com), you can leverage AI functions like =AI() to automate conditional formatting tasks. This can save time and effort, especially when working with large datasets or complex formatting rules.