Icon sets in Excel - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the formula to apply icon sets to the range A1:A10 using conditional formatting.

Excel

Select the range A1:A10, then go to Conditional Formatting > Icon Sets > [1].

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AData Bars

BColor Scales

C3 Arrows

DTop/Bottom Rules

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Choosing 'Data Bars' or 'Color Scales' instead of an icon set.

Trying to apply icon sets outside Conditional Formatting.

The '3 Arrows' icon set is a common choice for showing values increasing or decreasing in a range.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the formula to use icon sets with a custom rule to show a green check icon if the value in B2 is greater than 80.

Excel

Select B2 > Conditional Formatting > Icon Sets > More Rules > Format all cells based on their values > Icon Style: [1] > Show icon only: unchecked > Set the green check icon to appear when value is greater than 80.

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A3 Symbols (Circled)

B3 Arrows

C4 Ratings

D5 Quarters

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Selecting an icon set without a check mark.

Forgetting to uncheck 'Show icon only' to see values and icons.

The '3 Symbols (Circled)' icon set includes a green check icon suitable for indicating values above a threshold.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the formula to apply icon sets to range C1:C10 where the icons should be based on percentiles.

Excel

Select C1:C10 > Conditional Formatting > Icon Sets > More Rules > Change 'Type' for each icon to [1] > Set values to 0, 50, 90.

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

APercent

BPercentile

CNumber

DFormula

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'Percent' instead of 'Percentile' which changes the meaning.

Leaving 'Type' as 'Number' which uses absolute values.

To base icon sets on percentiles, the 'Type' must be set to 'Percentile' for each icon threshold.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a formula that applies a 3-icon set to range D1:D20, showing only icons, and sets the middle icon to appear when values are between 40 and 70.

Excel

Select D1:D20 > Conditional Formatting > Icon Sets > More Rules > Icon Style: [1] > Show Icon Only: [2] > Set middle icon value to 40 and upper icon value to 70.

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A3 Traffic Lights (Unrimmed)

B3 Arrows (Colored)

CTRUE

DFALSE

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Choosing an icon set without clear color distinctions.

Setting 'Show Icon Only' to FALSE when only icons are desired.

The '3 Traffic Lights (Unrimmed)' icon set is suitable for showing ranges with colors. Setting 'Show Icon Only' to TRUE hides the cell values, showing only icons.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to create a formula that applies a 5-icon set to range E1:E15, shows icons and values, and sets the lowest icon to appear below 20, the middle icon at 50, and the highest icon above 80.

Excel

Select E1:E15 > Conditional Formatting > Icon Sets > More Rules > Icon Style: [1] > Show Icon Only: [2] > Set icon values to 20, 50, 80 with types [3].

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A5 Boxes

BFALSE

CNumber

DTRUE

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Choosing 'Show Icon Only' as TRUE which hides values.

Using 'Percent' or 'Percentile' instead of 'Number' for types.

The '5 Boxes' icon set provides five distinct icons. Setting 'Show Icon Only' to FALSE shows both icons and values. Using 'Number' type means the icon thresholds are based on actual numbers.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of using Icon Sets in Excel?

easy

A. To sort data alphabetically

B. To write complex formulas for calculations

C. To visually represent data trends using small icons in cells

D. To create charts and graphs

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what Icon Sets do

   Icon Sets add small pictures inside cells to show data visually, making it easier to spot trends.

2. Step 2: Compare with other options

   Options B, C, and D describe other Excel features, not Icon Sets.

3. Final Answer:

   To visually represent data trends using small icons in cells -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Icon Sets = Visual data icons [OK]

Hint: Icon Sets show pictures, not formulas or sorting [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing Icon Sets with formulas
• Thinking Icon Sets create charts
• Assuming Icon Sets sort data

2. Which of the following is the correct way to apply Icon Sets in Excel?

easy

A. Use Conditional Formatting and select Icon Sets

B. Enter a formula starting with =ICONSET()

C. Insert a chart and choose Icon Sets

D. Use the Data Validation feature

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify how Icon Sets are applied

   Icon Sets are applied through Conditional Formatting, not formulas or charts.

2. Step 2: Eliminate incorrect options

   Options A, C, and D describe incorrect methods: no =ICONSET() formula, charts don't have Icon Sets, and Data Validation is unrelated.

3. Final Answer:

   Use Conditional Formatting and select Icon Sets -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Icon Sets = Conditional Formatting [OK]

Hint: Icon Sets are under Conditional Formatting menu [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to use a formula for Icon Sets
• Looking for Icon Sets in chart options
• Confusing Data Validation with Icon Sets

3. You apply a 3-icon set to a range of sales data. If a cell shows a green up arrow, what does it most likely indicate?

medium

A. The sales value is exactly average

B. The sales value is high compared to others

C. The sales value is the lowest in the range

D. The cell contains an error

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand icon meanings in a 3-icon set

   Typically, a green up arrow means a high or good value compared to others.

2. Step 2: Interpret other options

   Red down arrow usually means low, yellow sideways arrow means average, and errors are not shown by icons.

3. Final Answer:

   The sales value is high compared to others -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Green up arrow = High value [OK]

Hint: Green up arrow means good/high value [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing green arrow with low value
• Thinking icon shows errors
• Assuming yellow means highest

4. You applied an Icon Set but no icons appear in your cells. What is the most likely reason?

medium

A. You need to enter a formula first

B. You forgot to save the workbook

C. Icon Sets only work on charts

D. The cells contain text, not numbers

Solution

1. Step 1: Check data type for Icon Sets

   Icon Sets require numeric data; text cells won't show icons.

2. Step 2: Review other options

   Saving the workbook or formulas are unrelated; Icon Sets do not work on charts.

3. Final Answer:

   The cells contain text, not numbers -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Icon Sets need numbers, not text [OK]

Hint: Icon Sets need numbers, not text cells [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting icons on text cells
• Thinking saving affects icons
• Confusing Icon Sets with charts

5. You want to highlight sales performance with Icon Sets but only show icons for values above 50. How can you achieve this?

hard

A. Use Conditional Formatting with Icon Sets and set a custom rule to show icons only if value > 50

B. Apply Icon Sets and then delete icons manually for values ≤ 50

C. Use a formula =IF(A1>50, ICONSET(), "") in the cells

D. Insert a chart and filter values above 50

Solution

1. Step 1: Use Conditional Formatting with custom Icon Set rules

   You can customize Icon Sets to only show icons when values meet a condition, like greater than 50.

2. Step 2: Eliminate incorrect methods

   Deleting icons manually is inefficient, no =ICONSET() formula exists, and charts don't control Icon Sets.

3. Final Answer:

   Use Conditional Formatting with Icon Sets and set a custom rule to show icons only if value > 50 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Custom rules in Conditional Formatting control Icon Sets [OK]

Hint: Set custom rule in Conditional Formatting for icon visibility [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to use a formula for Icon Sets
• Manually deleting icons instead of rules
• Confusing charts with Icon Sets