Explanation
The formula first uses the ISNUMBER function to test if the value is a number, and applies a simple logical if so:
=IF(ISNUMBER(B4)
For any number less than the value in “input”, the formula will return TRUE and the conditional formatting will be applied.
However, if the value is not a number, the formula then checks if the first character is a less than symbol (<) using the LEFT function:
IF(LEFT(B4)="<"
If so, the MID function is used to extract everything after the symbol:
MID(B4,2,LEN(B4)
Technically, the LEN function returns a number 1 greater than we need, since it includes the “<” symbol as well. If this bothers you, feel free to subtract 1.
The result of MID is always text so the formula adds zero to force a Excel to convert the text to a number. This number is then compared to the value from “input”.
Explanation
Conditional formatting is evaluated relative to every cell it is applied to, starting with the active cell in the selection, cell B3 in this case.
To highlight matching rows, we use this logical expression:
$B4=$K$5
The reference to B4 is mixed , with the column locked and row unlocked, so that only values in column B are compared to the country in cell K5. The reference to K5 is absolute , to prevent changes when the conditional formatting is applied to every cell in the range B4:H9. In the example shown, this logical expression will return TRUE for every cell in a row where country is “Korea”.
To highlight matching columns, we use this logical expression:
B$4=$K$6
The reference to B4 is again mixed. This time, the row is locked and the column is relative, so that only values in row 4 are compared to the month value in cell K6. The reference to K6 is absolute, so that it won’t change when the conditional formatting is applied to every cell B4:H9. In the example shown, this logical expression will return TRUE for every cell in a column where row 3 is “Apr”.
Because we are triggering the same conditional formatting (light yellow fill) for both rows and columns, we wrap the logical expressions above in the OR function. When either (or both) logicals return TRUE, the rule is triggered and the formatting is applied.
Highlight intersection only
To highlight the intersection only, just replace the OR function with the AND function:
=AND($B4=$K$5,B$4=$K$6)
