Excel: Formatting a worksheet

Objectives

· Format numbers

· Format dates

· Set font name, size, attributes

· Set colors

· Align and rotate text

· Add/remove cell borders

Using Excel help (F1):

In the Search For box, type number format, and press the Enter key.

In the Search Results list, click on Copy formats from one cell or range to another, and read the topic.

In the Search Results list, click on Display numbers as percentages, and read the topic.

In the Search Results list, click on Display numbers as dates or times, and read the topic.

In the Search Results list, click on Display numbers as currency, and read the topic.

In the Search Results list, click on Reset a number format, and read the topic.

In the Search Results list, click on Convert numbers stored as text to numbers, and read the topics.

Note: Before doing any formatting commands, the cells must be selected (highlighted) first.

Excel Bible: Chapter 5

Great tip: To copy an existing format, use the format painter button on the standard toolbar

Number Formatting

To make numbers look like this:	Do this
$12.34 (currency)	Click on the button on the toolbar (gives 2 decimal places by default)
50% (percent)	Click on the button on the toolbar.
12,345.67 (comma)	Click on the button on the toolbar
Anything else	Right-click on the cell(s), and choose "Format Cells" from the popup menu

To achieve this:	Do this:
Increase the number of decimal places	Click on
Decrease the number of decimal places	Click on

Font formatting

To achieve this:	Do this:
Change font name	Use the font drop-down box on the formatting toolbar:
Change font size	Use the font size drop-down box on the formatting toolbar:
Make text bold	Press <ctrl>+B, or click on:
Make text italic	Press <ctrl>+I, or click on:
Make text underlined	Press <ctrl>+U, or click on:

Cell and text colors

To achieve this:	Do this:
Set font color	Click the down-arrow on the font color button –  on the formatting toolbar; choose the desired color.
Set background color	Click the down-arrow on the fill color button --  -- on the formatting toolbar; choose the desired color. Note that each color has a name, which will appear in a yellow "tool tips" box when the mouse is held over it. The fifth color in the first row (see above) is "Dark Teal".

Column Formatting

To change column widths to accommodate widest entry in the column

1. Position mouse between column headers. It will turn into a two-headed arrow, like this: 2. Double-click

Text alignment and rotation

To achieve this:	Do this:
Center text across columns	Select the cells you wish to merge and center. Then click on the merge and center button on the formatting toolbar
Align or rotate text in a cell	Right-click. Choose Format Cells from the pop-up menu. Click on the Alignment tab.

Add/remove cell borders

Add borders

Use the down-arrow on the borders button on the formatting toolbar), or

right-click, choose “Format Cells” from the popup menu and click on the “Border” tab.

Note that each border selection has a name. The second selection in the first row (see example) is called "Bottom Border".

No border	Bottom Border	Left Border	Right Border
Bottom double border	Thick Bottom Border	Top and Bottom Border	Top & Double Bottom Border
Top & Thick Bottom Border	All Borders	Outside Borders	Thick Box Border

For all other formatting commands:

From the main menu choose: "Format" | "Cells" or

From the popup menu choose “Format Cells”

Revised 2005.02.23