How to Add Icon Sets Conditional Formatting

Possible Usage Scenarios

Using Icon Sets conditional formatting in Excel is a great way to visualize data trends or categories at a glance using symbols like arrows, traffic lights, stars, flags, and more. It adds an extra layer of clarity to your spreadsheet without requiring charts or deep analysis.

1. Instant Visual Insights: Icons make it super easy to see which values are high, medium, or low without reading every number. Great for dashboards, KPIs, and performance tracking.
2. Easy Trend Spotting: Arrows show whether values are increasing, decreasing, or staying neutral. Traffic lights or shapes help show status or urgency.
3. Professional Look: Makes reports more polished and presentation-ready. Helps non-technical viewers understand data quickly.
4. Dynamic & Automatic: Updates automatically when values change — no need to reformat manually.

How to Add Icon Sets Conditional Formatting Using Excel

To add Icon Sets conditional formatting in Excel, here’s how you can do it step by step:

1. Select your range of numeric data. Example: B2:B20 (could be sales numbers, performance scores, etc.).
2. Go to the Home tab.
3. Click on Conditional Formatting in the Styles group.
4. Hover over Icon Sets.
5. Pick an icon style: Arrows, Traffic lights, Stars, etc.
6. The icons will appear based on the value distribution by default: Green icon = top 67%, Yellow icon = middle 33–67%, Red icon = bottom 33%.

How to Add Icon Sets Conditional Formatting Using Aspose.Cells for .NET

Aspose.Cells fully supports the conditional formatting provided by Microsoft Excel 2007 and later versions in XLSX format on cells at runtime. This example demonstrates an exercise for Icon Sets conditional formatting with different sets of attributes.

private void TestIconSets()
{
    // Instantiate a workbook object
    Workbook book = new Workbook();
    // Create a worksheet object and get the first worksheet
    Worksheet _sheet = book.Worksheets[0];

    AddDefaultIconSet(_sheet);
    AddIconSet2(_sheet);
    AddIconSet3(_sheet);
    AddIconSet4(_sheet);
    AddIconSet5(_sheet);
    AddIconSet6(_sheet);
    AddIconSet7(_sheet);
    AddIconSet8(_sheet);
    AddIconSet9(_sheet);
    AddIconSet10(_sheet);
    AddIconSet11(_sheet);
    AddIconSet12(_sheet);
    AddIconSet13(_sheet);
    AddIconSet14(_sheet);
    AddIconSet15(_sheet);
    AddIconSet16(_sheet);
    AddIconSet17(_sheet);
    AddIconSet18(_sheet);

    book.Save(filePath + "IconSets.xlsx");
}

// This method implements the IconSet conditional formatting type.
private void AddDefaultIconSet(Worksheet _sheet)
{            
    FormatConditionCollection conds = GetFormatCondition("A1:C2", Color.Yellow, _sheet);
    int idx = conds.AddCondition(FormatConditionType.IconSet);
}

// This method implements the IconSet conditional formatting type with 3 Arrows Colored attribute.
private void AddIconSet2(Worksheet _sheet)
{
    FormatConditionCollection conds = GetFormatCondition("M1:O2", Color.AliceBlue, _sheet);
    int idx = conds.AddCondition(FormatConditionType.IconSet);
    FormatCondition cond = conds[idx];
    cond.IconSet.Type = IconSetType.Arrows3;
    Cell c = _sheet.Cells["M1"];
    c.PutValue("Arrows3");
}
// This method implements the IconSet conditional formatting type with 4 Arrows Colored attribute.
private void AddIconSet3(Worksheet _sheet)
{
    FormatConditionCollection conds = GetFormatCondition("M3:O4", Color.AntiqueWhite, _sheet);
    int idx = conds.AddCondition(FormatConditionType.IconSet);
    FormatCondition cond = conds[idx];
    cond.IconSet.Type = IconSetType.Arrows4;
    Cell c = _sheet.Cells["M3"];
    c.PutValue("Arrows4");

}
// This method implements the IconSet conditional formatting type with 5 Arrows Colored attribute.
private void AddIconSet4(Worksheet _sheet)
{
    FormatConditionCollection conds = GetFormatCondition("M5:O6", Color.Aqua, _sheet);
    int idx = conds.AddCondition(FormatConditionType.IconSet);
    FormatCondition cond = conds[idx];
    cond.IconSet.Type = IconSetType.Arrows5;
    Cell c = _sheet.Cells["M5"];
    c.PutValue("Arrows5");
}
// This method implements the IconSet conditional formatting type with 3 Arrows Gray attribute.
private void AddIconSet5(Worksheet _sheet)
{
    FormatConditionCollection conds = GetFormatCondition("M7:O8", Color.Aquamarine, _sheet);
    int idx = conds.AddCondition(FormatConditionType.IconSet);
    FormatCondition cond = conds[idx];
    cond.IconSet.Type = IconSetType.ArrowsGray3;
    Cell c = _sheet.Cells["M7"];
    c.PutValue("ArrowsGray3");
}
// This method implements the IconSet conditional formatting type with 4 Arrows Gray attribute.
private void AddIconSet6(Worksheet _sheet)
{
    FormatConditionCollection conds = GetFormatCondition("M9:O10", Color.Azure, _sheet);
    int idx = conds.AddCondition(FormatConditionType.IconSet);
    FormatCondition cond = conds[idx];
    cond.IconSet.Type = IconSetType.ArrowsGray4;
    Cell c = _sheet.Cells["M9"];
    c.PutValue("ArrowsGray4");
}
// This method implements the IconSet conditional formatting type with 5 Arrows Gray attribute.
private void AddIconSet7(Worksheet _sheet)
{
    FormatConditionCollection conds = GetFormatCondition("M11:O12", Color.Beige, _sheet);
    int idx = conds.AddCondition(FormatConditionType.IconSet);
    FormatCondition cond = conds[idx];
    cond.IconSet.Type = IconSetType.ArrowsGray5;
    Cell c = _sheet.Cells["M11"];
    c.PutValue("ArrowsGray5");
}
// This method implements the IconSet conditional formatting type with 3 Flags attribute.
private void AddIconSet8(Worksheet _sheet)
{
    FormatConditionCollection conds = GetFormatCondition("M13:O14", Color.Bisque, _sheet);
    int idx = conds.AddCondition(FormatConditionType.IconSet);
    FormatCondition cond = conds[idx];
    cond.IconSet.Type = IconSetType.Flags3;
    Cell c = _sheet.Cells["M13"];
    c.PutValue("Flags3");
}
// This method implements the IconSet conditional formatting type with 5 Quarters attribute.
private void AddIconSet9(Worksheet _sheet)
{
    FormatConditionCollection conds = GetFormatCondition("M15:O16", Color.BlanchedAlmond, _sheet);
    int idx = conds.AddCondition(FormatConditionType.IconSet);
    FormatCondition cond = conds[idx];
    cond.IconSet.Type = IconSetType.Quarters5;
    Cell c = _sheet.Cells["M15"];
    c.PutValue("Quarters5");
}
// This method implements the IconSet conditional formatting type with 4 Ratings attribute.
private void AddIconSet10(Worksheet _sheet)
{
    FormatConditionCollection conds = GetFormatCondition("M17:O18", Color.Blue, _sheet);
    int idx = conds.AddCondition(FormatConditionType.IconSet);
    FormatCondition cond = conds[idx];
    cond.IconSet.Type = IconSetType.Rating4;
    Cell c = _sheet.Cells["M17"];
    c.PutValue("Rating4");
}
// This method implements the IconSet conditional formatting type with 5 Ratings attribute.
private void AddIconSet11(Worksheet _sheet)
{
    FormatConditionCollection conds = GetFormatCondition("M19:O20", Color.BlueViolet, _sheet);
    int idx = conds.AddCondition(FormatConditionType.IconSet);
    FormatCondition cond = conds[idx];
    cond.IconSet.Type = IconSetType.Rating5;
    Cell c = _sheet.Cells["M19"];
    c.PutValue("Rating5");
}
// This method implements the IconSet conditional formatting type with 4 Red To Black attribute.
private void AddIconSet12(Worksheet _sheet)
{
    FormatConditionCollection conds = GetFormatCondition("M21:O22", Color.Brown, _sheet);
    int idx = conds.AddCondition(FormatConditionType.IconSet);
    FormatCondition cond = conds[idx];
    cond.IconSet.Type = IconSetType.RedToBlack4;
    Cell c = _sheet.Cells["M21"];
    c.PutValue("RedToBlack4");

}
// This method implements the IconSet conditional formatting type with 3 Signs attribute.
private void AddIconSet13(Worksheet _sheet)
{
    FormatConditionCollection conds = GetFormatCondition("M23:O24", Color.BurlyWood, _sheet);
    int idx = conds.AddCondition(FormatConditionType.IconSet);
    FormatCondition cond = conds[idx];
    cond.IconSet.Type = IconSetType.Signs3;
    Cell c = _sheet.Cells["M23"];
    c.PutValue("Signs3");
}
// This method implements the IconSet conditional formatting type with 3 Symbols attribute.
private void AddIconSet14(Worksheet _sheet)
{
    FormatConditionCollection conds = GetFormatCondition("M25:O26", Color.CadetBlue, _sheet);
    int idx = conds.AddCondition(FormatConditionType.IconSet);
    FormatCondition cond = conds[idx];
    cond.IconSet.Type = IconSetType.Symbols3;
    Cell c = _sheet.Cells["M25"];
    c.PutValue("Symbols3");
}
// This method implements the IconSet conditional formatting type with another 3 Symbols attribute.
private void AddIconSet15(Worksheet _sheet)
{
    FormatConditionCollection conds = GetFormatCondition("M27:O28", Color.Chartreuse, _sheet);
    int idx = conds.AddCondition(FormatConditionType.IconSet);
    FormatCondition cond = conds[idx];
    cond.IconSet.Type = IconSetType.Symbols32;
    Cell c = _sheet.Cells["M27"];
    c.PutValue("Symbols32");
}
// This method implements the IconSet conditional formatting type with 3 Traffic Lights attribute.
private void AddIconSet16(Worksheet _sheet)
{
    FormatConditionCollection conds = GetFormatCondition("M29:O30", Color.Chocolate, _sheet);
    int idx = conds.AddCondition(FormatConditionType.IconSet);
    FormatCondition cond = conds[idx];
    cond.IconSet.Type = IconSetType.TrafficLights31;
    Cell c = _sheet.Cells["M29"];
    c.PutValue("TrafficLights31");
}
// This method implements the IconSet conditional formatting type with another 3 Traffic Lights attribute.
private void AddIconSet17(Worksheet _sheet)
{
    FormatConditionCollection conds = GetFormatCondition("M31:O32", Color.Coral, _sheet);
    int idx = conds.AddCondition(FormatConditionType.IconSet);
    FormatCondition cond = conds[idx];
    cond.IconSet.Type = IconSetType.TrafficLights32;
    Cell c = _sheet.Cells["M31"];
    c.PutValue("TrafficLights32");
}
// This method implements the IconSet conditional formatting type with 4 Traffic Lights attribute.
private void AddIconSet18(Worksheet _sheet)
{
    FormatConditionCollection conds = GetFormatCondition("M33:O35", Color.CornflowerBlue, _sheet);
    int idx = conds.AddCondition(FormatConditionType.IconSet);
    FormatCondition cond = conds[idx];
    cond.IconSet.Type = IconSetType.TrafficLights4;
    Cell c = _sheet.Cells["M33"];
    c.PutValue("TrafficLights4");
}

// This method adds formatted conditions.
private FormatConditionCollection GetFormatCondition(string cellAreaName, Color color, Worksheet _sheet)
{
    // Adds an empty conditional formattings
    int index = _sheet.ConditionalFormattings.Add();
    // Get the formatted conditions
    FormatConditionCollection formatConditions = _sheet.ConditionalFormattings[index];
    // Get the cell area calling the custom GetCellAreaByName method
    CellArea area = GetCellAreaByName(cellAreaName);
    // Add the formatted conditions cell area.
    formatConditions.AddArea(area);
    // Call the custom FillCell method
    FillCell(cellAreaName, color, _sheet);
    // Return the formatted conditions
    return formatConditions;
}

// This method specifies the cell shading color for the conditional formattings cellarea range.
private void FillCell(string cellAreaName, Color color, Worksheet _sheet)
{
    CellArea area = GetCellAreaByName(cellAreaName);
    int k = 0;
    for (int i = area.StartColumn; i <= area.EndColumn; i++)
    {
        for (int j = area.StartRow; j <= area.EndRow; j++)
        {
            Cell c = _sheet.Cells[j, i];
            if (!color.IsEmpty)
            {
                Style s = c.GetStyle();
                s.ForegroundColor = color;
                s.Pattern = BackgroundType.Solid;
                c.SetStyle(s);
            }
            // Set some random values to the cells in the cellarea range
            int value = j + i + k;
            c.PutValue(value);
            k++;
        }
    }

}
// This method specifies the CellArea range (start row, start col, end row, end col etc.)
// For the conditional formatting
internal static CellArea GetCellAreaByName(string s)
{
    CellArea area = new CellArea();
    string[] strCellRange = s.Replace("$", "").Split(':');
    int column;
    CellsHelper.CellNameToIndex(strCellRange[0], out area.StartRow, out column);
    area.StartColumn = column;
    if (strCellRange.Length == 1)
    {
        area.EndRow = area.StartRow;
        area.EndColumn = area.StartColumn;
    }
    else
    {
        CellsHelper.CellNameToIndex(strCellRange[1], out area.EndRow, out column);
        area.EndColumn = column;
    }
    return area;
}