Google-sheets – How to quickly change the color of text in a cell in Google Sheets

autohotkeygoogle sheetskeyboard shortcutstext formatting

How can I quickly, with either a single or double click, assign a color to the text in a cell in Google Sheets?

In order to quickly determine the status of certain pieces of data in a spreadsheet I manage, I assign a text color to a cell's value. I do this dozens of times several times each month, and it is very tedious as it is dependent on an external, manual process (e.g. look at the value in a cell, go do the manual process, come back and manually update the color of the cell's text).

I've looked at running a script or macro when I double-click each cell (not currently available), adding a drop-down to the cell along with the existing value of the cell (not possible as far as I can tell), adding a checkbox to the cell along with the existing cell value (doesn't seem to be possible), and using text formatting from the right-click menu (not available).

Best Answer

Did you know that it's possible to assign a keyboard shortcut to Google Sheets macros?^{(rethorical question)}

From Automate tasks in Google Sheets (emphasis mine)

Edit your macro

You can change the name, add a keyboard shortcut, edit the script, or remove a macro.

On your computer, open a spreadsheet at sheets.google.com.

At the top, click Tools and then Macros and then Manage macros.

Make your changes. To remove a macro or edit the script, next to a macro, click More More.

Click Update.

Related Solutions

Google Sheets – How to Use Cell Reference with Color Formatting

For Google Spreadsheets, it is possible by writing a script:

function copyValuesAndFormatting() {
    var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();

    var fromRange = sheet.getRange("A2:A");
    var toRange = sheet.getRange("B2:B");
    var values = fromRange.getValues();
    var fontColors = fromRange.getFontColors();
    var backgrounds = fromRange.getBackgrounds();
    var fonts = fromRange.getFontFamilies();
    var fontWeights = fromRange.getFontWeights();
    var fontStyles = fromRange.getFontStyles();

    toRange.setBackgrounds(backgrounds);
    toRange.setFontColors(fontColors);
    toRange.setValues(values);
    toRange.setFontFamilies(fonts);
    toRange.setFontWeights(fontWeights);
    toRange.setFontStyles(fontStyles);
}

Add a trigger for the script function, so that it runs on every spreadsheet modification.

I have created a sample spreadsheet here. Feel free to copy it to your own account, and start experimenting with it.

Google-docs – Adding custom hotkeys for Google Docs

No, so far this functionality has not beed added, even though it has been requested for several years now. I have exactly the same issue as you (I am a researcher and use red, blue, green and black when making notes on different aspects of research. These days, when making notes, I just use Microsoft on work PC. The best workaround I have found is to change the 'Default Styles' of each of the Syle dropdown box - I made 'Heading 1' normal sized text but red, Heading 2 is blue and so on. To switch between styles, you can use CTRL + 7/8/9/0.

Best Answer

Edit your macro

Related Solutions

Google Sheets – How to Use Cell Reference with Color Formatting

Google-docs – Adding custom hotkeys for Google Docs

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