Question: I am trying to creat a formula in excel and cant figure it out. I have 6 colums, they are as follows: 

```
Column 1:Name
Column 2: task performed
Column 3: date performed
Column 4: report number
Column 5: date due
Column 6: status

```

I would like Column 6 to show "overdue" in red when column 2 is blank. I am trying to make up a formula that will change column 6 to "completed" in green when ANYTHING is written column 2. Can anyone help me make this formula?

Answer: 
Assume your column names are in cells A1 -> F1. Do the following in cell F2:

1. Set the following formula - =IF(B2="","Overdue","Completed")
2. Start a new conditional format, choose "Use a formula to determine which cells to format", and then type the formula - =COUNTIF($F2,"Completed").
3. Click the format button and choose your green fill or green text.
4. Start another new conditional format, choose "Use a formula to determine which cells to format", and then type the formula - =COUNTIF($F2,"Overdue").
5. Click the format button and choose your red fill or red text.
6. Copy cell F2 and paste it down
to all needed rows.
You can also use the ISBLANK(cell ref) formula to test and show the result you need. For example:

In the Status column =IF(ISBLANK(B2), "Overdue", "Completed")

In the Conditional Formatting rules, the formatting applies where the formula is true. So the rule for the red highlight =ISBLANK(B2) and the rule for the green highlight =NOT(ISBLANK(B2))

Check your absolute and relative cell references in these rules, especially if you expand the selection as it's very easy to get an unexpected result by accidentally testing the wrong cell. If you ensure F2 is the selected cell before writing the rules then you should be fine.