How to change default text color in MS Excel

Question

How can I make many edits to a MS Excel 2010 spreadsheet and save the edits I make using a different color (i.e. RED). Right now, I have to change the color of each and every cell in the spreadsheet, one at a time, before I begin typing. This is rather tedious.

Question: Is there a way to 'switch' the 'default' text color from Black to Red, and have everything you type show up in RED and then switch back to Black after making the changes and have the text stay the color it was written (RED in this case)?

Thanks!

Solution

A quick solution would be to Open your VBA window (Alt+F11) > Select ThisWorkbook from the Project Window > Select Workbook from the Top Left dropdown > Select SheetBeforeDoubleClick from the Top Right dropdown and then enter the following code within the sub:

Target.Font.Color = 255

Note that this requires that you double-click the cells you want to edit (and change to red text) as opposed to another technique such as F2.

If instead you wish to toggle colors by double-clicking use the following code:

Select Case Target.Font.Color
    Case 0
        Target.Font.Color = 255
    Case 255
        Target.Font.Color = 0
End Select

Comments

[Joseph]

You can use the Track Changes feature if you like. Go to the Review tab, hover over the Track Changes button (it is probably disabled) and when you hover over it, a pop-up will show up and say Press F1 for more details. Press F1 there is a whole article in the help files on how to activate and use it.

[Ben Jones]

and how would I change it back to black after? Thanks for your help.

[Admin]

This in effect never changes your default text color from black. It only changes the text color of a cell you are about to edit (by double-clicking on it) to red.

[Ben Jones]

OK sounds great, thanks! Just would like to know how I can change it back to black on double-click? Tks