Return to Microsoft Excel Tutorial List
» Getting Started with Microsoft Excel - Formatting the Worksheet
There are many formatting tools that can be used to highlight a worksheet and make it more readable. Headings are better defined when they are in bold text and dollar amounts are better understood when they reflect the standard currency convention.
When first entering text into the heading cells, you may notice that the headings do not appear entirely. That is because the columns are too narrow to display the full text of the headings. To widen the columns:
Excel adjusts the column widths to fit the cell contents. In the illustration above, column E (Total Assets Turnover) is the best example of the need to increase the column width.
Next, when entering number values into cells, it is best to enter the "plain" number and then format the cell to reflect the appropriate function of the number. For example, when entering a column of dollar amounts such as column B (Net Income) in the illustration above, enter the simple numbers 80000, 78900, 67800, etc. After entering all of the numbers:
Although the illustration above uses the Currency Style, style buttons are available for percentages, setting commas and decimal places. In addition to the style buttons on the toolbar, multiple format options are available under the Format option on the menu bar at the top of the screen.
Continue to next page >>
» Getting Started with Microsoft Excel - Formatting the Worksheet
There are many formatting tools that can be used to highlight a worksheet and make it more readable. Headings are better defined when they are in bold text and dollar amounts are better understood when they reflect the standard currency convention.
When first entering text into the heading cells, you may notice that the headings do not appear entirely. That is because the columns are too narrow to display the full text of the headings. To widen the columns:
- Select the entire column by clicking on the worksheet column heading. For example, if we want to select column B, click on B at the top of the column.
- Once the column is selected, from the menu bar at the top of the screen, click Format, then Column, then AutoFit Selection
Excel adjusts the column widths to fit the cell contents. In the illustration above, column E (Total Assets Turnover) is the best example of the need to increase the column width.
Next, when entering number values into cells, it is best to enter the "plain" number and then format the cell to reflect the appropriate function of the number. For example, when entering a column of dollar amounts such as column B (Net Income) in the illustration above, enter the simple numbers 80000, 78900, 67800, etc. After entering all of the numbers:
- Select the cells to be formatted by clicking on the first cell in the column, in this case B2, holding down the mouse button and dragging through all of the cells that are to be selected. You will notice a heavy border around the cells included in the selection.
- Click a format style button on the toolbar above the worksheet.
Although the illustration above uses the Currency Style, style buttons are available for percentages, setting commas and decimal places. In addition to the style buttons on the toolbar, multiple format options are available under the Format option on the menu bar at the top of the screen.
Continue to next page >>
| Quick Tutorial Navigator » The Worksheet and Cells » Entering and Editing Data » Working with Formulas » Formatting the Worksheet » Creating a Chart » Printing the Worksheet » Saving the Worksheet » What Next?
|
