We can use a simple formula to highlight cells that end with a certain text in excel. The simple formula should be based on the COUNTIF function. This article looks at how we can highlight cells that begin with a particular text using the COUNTIF function.
Figure 1: How to highlight cells that end with a certain text
General syntax of the formula
=COUNTIF (A1, “*text”)
Understanding the formula
- To highlight cells that end with a particular text, we can apply conditional formatting together with a formula based on the COUNTIF function.
- Note that when applying conditional formatting together with a given formula, the formula is entered relative to the active cell.
- In our case in the example above, our selection is A2:B16, and the active cell among the selection is A2.
How the formula works
In our case above, the COUNTIF formula will count the number of cells that end with “ian” using a pattern “*ian”. The wildcart (*) is used to match any sequence of characters followed by “ian”.
With conditional formatting, we want a 1 or a zero. Since we are counting one cell at a time, we are sure of getting a 1 or zero for each cell within the range.
- Where we have 1, the rule is triggered and the formatting is applied. Where the result is 0, the rule is not triggered thus nothing happens to the cell.
How to make the formula more flexible
We can also make the formula more flexible by simply naming an input cell as a named range and then referring to it in the formula. The formula will thus look as below;
=COUNTIF(B4, “*”&input)
What this formula does is to add “*” to the beginning of what you put in the input cell. Whenever the value is changed, the conditional formatting will respond.
Example
Figure 2: Example of how to highlight cells that end with “s”
In this example, we want to highlight those cells that end with “s”.
To do this, we proceed as follows;
Step 1: Prepare your data in the excel sheet
Step 2: Format the cells with your preferred color
Figure 3: How to apply conditional formatting
Step 3: Press “Ok”
Step 4: Press “Apply” and “Ok” to apply the conditional formatting.
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