How to Check Cell Fill Color in WPS Excel with a Formula or VBA
Question details
The user needs to determine whether a cell in column B has the fill color #FFC7CE and, if it does, return the corresponding value from column C to column D.
- Product
- WPS Office Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user is working with a spreadsheet where colored cells indicate a condition and wants to retrieve values from another column based on that formatting.
- Observed behavior
- Excel and WPS formulas evaluate cell values but cannot directly detect fill color, so a standard formula cannot reliably return the required value.
Identify whether the #FFC7CE fill is created by conditional formatting or by manual formatting. If it is conditional formatting, use the underlying value or rule; if it is manual, save the workbook as a macro-enabled file before running VBA.
Use Conditional Formatting Rules or a Value-Based Formula Instead
Use this method when the fill color is applied by a conditional formatting rule, because Excel can evaluate the underlying condition but not the color itself.
Excel formulas are designed to calculate from cell values and cannot reliably inspect formatting properties such as Interior.Color. When the color represents a condition, checking the condition directly is faster, safer, and works without macros.
Select a colored cell in column B, click Home > Conditional Formatting > Manage Rules, and note the formula or condition that applies the #FFC7CE fill.
In cell D2, enter a formula that tests the underlying value, for example =IF(B2="TargetValue",C2,""), or use =IFERROR(INDEX(C:C,MATCH($A1,B:B,0)),$C1) if you are matching values from column A.
Check the Exact Fill Color with VBA Interior.Color
Use this VBA method when the cell color is applied manually and is not based on an underlying value, so you need a direct color inspection.
Check Cell Fill Color with Conditional Formatting or VBA in WPS Office Excel
Use the underlying conditional formatting condition when possible, or apply a small VBA macro to read the cell’s Interior.Color and return the correct value from another column.
- 1. Inspect the fill: Open your workbook in WPS Office Excel, then select a colored cell and click Home > Conditional Formatting > Manage Rules to see if a rule creates the #FFC7CE fill.
- 2. Test the underlying rule: If a rule exists, write a formula in D2 that tests the same condition, such as =IF(B2="TargetValue",C2,""), and fill it down.
- 3. Add a VBA macro: If the color is manual, press Alt+F11, click Insert > Module, and paste the VBA function that checks rng.Interior.Color = RGB(255,199,206).
- 4. Apply the function: Enter the function in D2, for example =GetColorValue(B2,C2), and fill down to return matching values from column C.
- 5. Save as macro-enabled: Save the file as .xlsm or enable macros so the workbook retains and runs the VBA macro.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an Excel formula directly read a cell’s fill color?
No. Standard Excel and WPS formulas cannot evaluate fill color; they can evaluate values. Use VBA or conditional formatting instead.
How do I match the exact color #FFC7CE in VBA?
Use the VBA condition cell.Interior.Color = RGB(255,199,206) or check Interior.ColorIndex, then return another cell value.
What formula can return a value from column C if column B has a specific fill color?
There is no pure formula for fill color, but you can create a VBA function and use =GetColorValue(B2,C2) in column D.
Does WPS Office support Excel VBA macros that check cell colors?
Yes. Open the VBA editor with Alt+F11, paste the macro, and save as a macro-enabled workbook (.xlsm); enable macros when prompted.
How can I avoid VBA when colored cells come from conditional formatting?
Click Home > Conditional Formatting > Manage Rules, copy the rule’s condition into a formula, and write that formula in column D.
