How To Highlight Active Row In Excel

Highlight Active Row in Excel

Using VBA for Immediate Highlighting

To highlight the active row in Excel, VBA code can be utilized, providing a quick response upon selection. The code employs the SelectionChange event within a Worksheet object to clear all cell colors and then highlight the full row and column where the active cell resides. After implementing the code, Excel files will save as .xlsm and the code will function each time you open the document. Note, VBA may not be compatible with Mac Excel and can interfere with the 'undo' functionality.

Conditional Formatting with Formulas

For ongoing row highlighting, conditional formatting with the CELL, ROW, and COLUMN functions is a technique that can be utilized, albeit with a potential decrease in Excel performance. This method uses the CELL function with "row" or "col" arguments, combined with the OR function, to dynamically highlight active rows and columns without VBA.

Integrating VBA and Conditional Formatting

An alternative approach entails a hybrid of VBA and conditional formatting. This method relies on VBA to fetch the active cell's row and column numbers, applying conditional formatting based on these values for highlighting. It allows for better performance compared to using only conditional formatting.

Advanced Techniques and Considerations

If existing conditional formatting is in place, the VBA highlighter won’t override it. However, by adjusting the VBA code, you can highlight rows even with conditional formatting present. Additionally, through the use of specific ranges, conditional formatting can be limited to certain rows and columns. Bear in mind, though, that utilizing the VBA highlighter can disable the undo feature and may not correctly respond to the F9 key in all situations.

Excel vs. Sourcetable: Data Analysis and Reporting Compared

Excel, a robust tool by Microsoft, excels in data manipulation, budgeting, and deep data analysis with its vast library of functions. It's versatile, extendable via macros, and compatible across multiple devices and platforms. However, its traditional sharing features and lack of native multi-source integration highlight its limitations in modern data management and real-time collaboration.

Sourcetable streamlines data management and reporting by harmonizing data from over 100 services into a centralized interface. With no-code capabilities, it empowers growth teams and business operations specialists to query data and build live models that update automatically, ensuring informed decisions are made swiftly. Sourcetable's AI copilot surpasses Excel's formulaic assistance, offering conversational support in crafting templates and formulas.

While Excel requires a purchase or subscription, with real-time collaboration locked behind OneDrive, Sourcetable offers a user-friendly, web-based spreadsheet experience. Its starter plan begins at $50/month, providing a seamless sharing experience without the need for coding skills. For advanced requirements, the pro plan at $250/month includes faster sync times as low as every 5 minutes.

In conclusion, Excel remains the choice for comprehensive data analysis and customization, thanks to its extensive function library and adaptability. Sourcetable, on the other hand, is better suited for businesses seeking an efficient, streamlined BI solution, combining the simplicity of spreadsheets with potent data management features in a modern workspace.