Color scales are visual guides that help you understand data distribution and variation. A two-color scale compares a range of cells by using a gradation of two colors. The shade of the color represents higher or lower values. For example, in a green and red color scale, you can specify that higher value cells are closer to a green color and lower value cells are closer to a red color. You can specify the value type, value, and color for the minimum and maximum properties.

A three-color scale compares a range of cells by using a gradation of three colors. The shade of the color represents higher, middle, or lower values. For example, in a green, yellow, and red color scale, you can specify that higher value cells have a green color, middle value cells have a yellow color, and lower value cells have a red color. You can specify the value type, value, and color for the minimum, middle, and maximum properties.

The following image uses the three color rule. The A2 cell is a gradation of the middle and low color values.

Using Code

Set the properties of the TwoColorScaleConditionalFormattingRule class or the ThreeColorScaleConditionalFormattingRule class and then apply the formatting.

Example

This example code creates a three color rule and uses the SetConditionalFormatting method to apply the rule.

private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        fpSpread1.Sheets[0].Cells[0, 0].Value = 3;
        fpSpread1.Sheets[0].Cells[1, 0].Value = 2;
        fpSpread1.Sheets[0].Cells[1, 1].Value = 10;
        fpSpread1.Sheets[0].Cells[0, 2].Value = 1;
    }

    private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
FarPoint.Win.Spread.Model.CellRange celRange1 = new FarPoint.Win.Spread.Model.CellRange(0, 0, 3, 3);
FarPoint.Win.Spread.ThreeColorScaleConditionalFormattingRule rule = new FarPoint.Win.Spread.ThreeColorScaleConditionalFormattingRule(Color.Aqua, Color.Bisque, Color.BlueViolet);
fpSpread1.Sheets[0].SetConditionalFormatting(new FarPoint.Win.Spread.Model.CellRange[] { celRange1 }, rule);
    }

Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        fpSpread1.Sheets(0).Cells(0, 0).Value = 3
        fpSpread1.Sheets(0).Cells(1, 0).Value = 2
        fpSpread1.Sheets(0).Cells(1, 1).Value = 10
        fpSpread1.Sheets(0).Cells(0, 2).Value = 1
    End Sub

    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        Dim celRange1 As New FarPoint.Win.Spread.Model.CellRange(0, 0, 3, 3)
        Dim rule As New FarPoint.Win.Spread.ThreeColorScaleConditionalFormattingRule(Color.Aqua, Color.Bisque, Color.BlueViolet)
        fpSpread1.Sheets(0).SetConditionalFormatting(New FarPoint.Win.Spread.Model.CellRange() {celRange1}, rule)
    End Sub

Using the Spread Designer

1. In the work area, select the cell or cells for which you want to set the conditional format.
2. Under the Home menu, select the Conditional Formatting icon in the Style section, then select the Color Scales option, and then choose the color set.
3. From the File menu choose Apply and Exit to apply your changes to the component and exit Spread Designer.