How to address the current cell in conditional format custom formula?

Question

I need to write a conditional format rule with a custom formula, that should trigger when the certain cell's (the cell in the 3rd row of the column of the current cell) value is "TODAY()", and the current cell is empty. I know how to check the other cell, but is there a way to check the current cell's value in the same rule?

As you can see on this image, one column has a different color because the 3rd row of the column of the current cell contains the current date. And only empty cells are colored.

Here is my rule:

=and($3:$3=TODAY(), ????)

It should apply to all cells in a range A4:M10

I need it to be the one rule, not combination of multiple rules. I need to put something to the place of ????

In other words, I need to place the value described as "Cell is empty" in the custom formula as it's part.

Here is an example spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vpNrX2aUg8vY5WGDDuBnLfPuL-UyrjFvzjdATS73aq8/edit?usp=sharing

Answer 1

The current cell is addressed by the first cell of a range in the conditional formatting. In your example, the range is A4:M10 and therefore you can use A4 as "current cell".

• Check for empty content:

  =A4="" 

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Relative vs absolute references in conditional formatting work just like copying a formula.

• Check that the cell in 2nd row of current column row is today:

  =A$2=TODAY() 

• Combine using AND operator:

  =AND(A$2=TODAY(), A4="") 

I have updated a copy of your example spreadsheet - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MY9Jn2xpoVoBeJOa2rkZgv5HXKyQ9I8SM3kiUPR9oXU/edit#gid=0