You ask "Why don't you use the Conditional Formatting menu to do what you want?" I was told that Styles was a good way to do what I wanted to do so I decided to use Styles I had no experience and very little understanding of either Styles or Conditional Formatting. I assumed Styles was easier to learn and use. I now have decided to learn and use Conditional Formatting instead of Styles. I am starting by checking the OOo website to see what information is available.
Walter On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 2:49 AM, Harold Fuchs <[email protected] > wrote: > 2009/11/9 Harold Fuchs <[email protected]> > > > > > > > 2009/11/9 Walter Hildebrandt <[email protected]> > > > > What does 0 mean and what is its effect in various condition? > >> > > > > In a numeric context, 0 means zero. > > If you try to treat *text* in a numeric context then the text will > usually > > be treated as zero. > > > > > >> For example : When I got the formula > =A1-40+IF(A1>40;STYLE("RedText");0), > >> I > >> was told “The STYLE function always returns 0, so the formula is > >> mathematically > >> equal to A1-40+0” > > > > > > Correct. I don't know where you got that formula but it doesn't do > anything > > useful. See below. > > > > > >> What is effect of the 0 at the end of the formula? > >> > > > > The syntax of an IF consists of three components: > > > > 1. the condition > > 2. what to do if the condition is true > > 3. what to do if the condition is false > > > > These are separated by semicolons. Thus your IF, which is > > > > IF(A1>40;STYLE("RedText");0) > > says > > if the contents of cell A1 is greater than 40 [#1, the condition] > > set the current cell's value to STYLE("RedText") [#2, what to do > if > > the condition is true] > > otherwise set the current cell's value to zero [#3, what to do if > the > > condition is false] > > > > However, all this is nonsense. Calc's Help on the Style function tells us > > that its syntax is nothing like the one you cited and that it doesn't do > > anything like what you've been told. I quote: > > > > ======== begin quote ==== > > Syntax > > > > STYLE(style;time;style2) > > > > Style is the name of a cell style assigned to the cell. Style names must > be > > entered in quotation marks. > > > > Time is an optional time range in seconds. If this parameter is missing > the > > style will not be changed after a certain amount of time has passed. > > > > Style2 is the optional name of a cell style assigned to the cell after a > > certain amount of time has passed. If this parameter is missing > "Standard" > > is assumed. > > > > ===end quote === > > > > > > > >> For example if “Negative numbers red” is selected (is checked) when > >> formatting cells, 0:[RED]-0 appears in the Format code box. > >> > >> For example I was told “Enter something like this in the format code > >> field: > >> 0"%" This will just add the % character right after the number, but the > >> number will still act as an ordinary number.” > >> > > > > "Something like" is probably true depending on your definition of the > > phrase. A dog is something like a horse, perhaps: 4 legs, tail, hair, > friend > > of mankind. But ... > > > > > >> Also when entering the O, under different conditions, Is the 0 a zero > or > >> a > >> capital letter? > >> > > > > usually zero. A bare (unquoted) letter O would normally only be > meaningful > > if you had *named* something (like a print-range) "O". > > > > Why don't you use the Conditional Formatting menu to do what you want? > > > > > > Sorry to reply to my own post but I've done some more research. > > If you have your values in column A, then you can set column B to your > desired colours (and values) by putting in B1 the formula > =A1+STYLE(IF(CURRENT()>40; "Red"; IF(CURRENT()<40;"Green";"Default"))) > and dragging it down the column. > > This will set column B to have the same *values* as column A but with the > appropriate colours. > > You are *adding* ("+") the value of the Style function, which is always > zero. But the function has the *side effect* of setting the style. Note > that > the If is "inside" the Style, not vice versa as you had it. > > The If looks complicated but isn't. It's just the normal 3 parts separated > by semicolons. The interesting bit is that the third part of the first If > is > another If, which has the usual 3 parts. Just read it carefully. > > > -- > Harold Fuchs > London, England > Please reply *only* to [email protected] >
