# Date Occurring Rule

Learn how to apply conditional formatting by comparing the values entered in date format in the cells or a range of cells using DsExcel.

## Content





The date occurring rule in conditional formatting feature compares the values entered in date format in the cells or a range of cells. This rule can be added using the methods of the [IFormatCondition](/document-solutions/java-excel-api/api/online/com/grapecity/documents/excel/IFormatCondition.html) interface.

Refer to the following example code to add date occurring rule to a range of cells in a worksheet.

```Java
// Adding Date Occuring Rules
Workbook workbook = new Workbook();
IWorksheet worksheet = workbook.getWorksheets().get(0);
IFormatCondition condition = (IFormatCondition)worksheet.getRange("A1:A4").getFormatConditions().add(FormatConditionType.TimePeriod);
condition.setDateOperator(TimePeriods.Yesterday); 
condition.getInterior().setColor(Color.FromArgb(128,0,128));

Calendar now=Calendar.getInstance();
        
worksheet.getRange("A1").setValue(now.getTime());
now.add(Calendar.DAY_OF_YEAR, -1);
worksheet.getRange("A2").setValue(now.getTime());
now.add(Calendar.DAY_OF_YEAR, -1);
worksheet.getRange("A3").setValue(now.getTime());
now.add(Calendar.DAY_OF_YEAR, 3);
worksheet.getRange("A4").setValue(now.getTime());
```