[Excel 2003] Heatmap, Keep Color Only

Question

[boczniak767]

In Excel 2003 there is conditional formatting, which color cells according to their value. I've found it could be fast way to create a heatmap for gene expression visualisation.

Problem: I can't figure out how to remove values and keep colors only. My first quess was "paste special" but It won't work. Is it possible without using macros?

[Alex Paciorkowski]

Just know excel will roger up any of your gene symbols that it thinks are dates. Why not use something nice like R to make your heatmaps? There's lots of beautiful examples.

http://flowingdata.com/2010/01/21/how-to-make-a-heatmap-a-quick-and-easy-solution/

http://www.r-bloggers.com/drawing-heatmaps-in-r/

[boczniak767]

Yes, I've read about Excel's problems with gene symbols. In fact I've newer encounter that problem with gene symbols, rather with decimals.

Normally I'd make my pictures with R, but I need to make (and possibly re-make) some pictures really fast. I don't have enough experience nor time to learn new things now. But the links would be helpful in future.

Answer 1

[Pawel Szczesny]

Quick Google search: http://superuser.com/questions/196059/how-to-hide-number-but-keep-excel-cell-background-color

[boczniak767]

Thanks :). I really don't know why I haven't found it.