Cell Formatting


Excel provides two types of cell formatting-numeric formatting and stylistic formatting.

Numeric Formatting

Numeric formatting refers to how a value appears in the cell. In addition to choosing from an extensive list of predefined formats, you can create your own custom number formats in the Number tab of the Format Cells dialog box. (Choose the dialog box launcher at the bottom of the Home image from book Number group.)

Excel applies some numeric formatting automatically, based on the entry. For example, if you precede a value with your local currency symbol (such as a dollar sign), Excel applies Currency number formatting.

Cross Ref 

Refer to Appendix B for additional information about creating custom number formats.

The number format doesn't affect the actual value stored in the cell. For example, suppose that a cell contains the value 3.14159. If you apply a format to display two decimal places, the number appears as 3.14. When you use the cell in a formula, however, the actual value (3.14159)-not the displayed value-is used.

Stylistic Formatting

Stylistic formatting refers to the cosmetic formatting (colors, shading, fonts, borders, and so on) that you apply in order to make your work look good. The Home image from book Font and Home image from book Styles groups contain all the commands that you need to format your cells and ranges.

A new formatting concept in Excel 2007 is document themes. Basically, themes allow you to set many formatting options at once, such as font, colors, and cell styles. The formatting options contained in a theme are designed to work well together. If you're not feeling particularly artistic, you can apply a theme and know the colors won't clash. All the commands for themes are in the Themes group of the Page Layout tab.

Don't overlook Excel's conditional formatting feature. This handy tool enables you to specify formatting that appears only when certain conditions are met. For example, you can make the cell's interior red if the cell contains a negative number. Excel 2007 includes many new conditional formatting options, and the feature is much easier to use than in previous versions.

Cross Ref 

See Chapter 19 for more information on conditional formatting.

Tables

A Table is a specially designated range in an Excel 2007 worksheet. If you used Lists in Excel 2003, you will already be familiar with some of what the Table object has to offer. If not, don't worry. Excel 2007 makes it easy to designate a range as a Table and makes it even easier to perform many functions on that data.

The data in a table is related in a specific way. The rows represent related objects, and the columns represent specific pieces of information about each of those objects. If, for instance, you have a table of library books, each row would hold the information for one book. Columns might include title, author, publisher, date, and so on. In database terminology, the rows are records, and the columns are fields.

If your data is arranged in this fashion, you can designate it as a table by selecting the range and then choosing Insert image from book Tables image from book Table. Excel inserts generic column headings if none exist, color banding, and heading drop-down arrows into the data. These arrows, as well as the Table Tools context tab on the Ribbon, provide quick access to many table- related functions like sorting, filtering, and formatting. In addition, using formulas within a table offers some clear advantages.

Cross Ref 

See Chapter 9 for more information about the new Table feature in Excel 2007.




Excel 2007 Formulas
Excel 2007 Formulas (Mr. Spreadsheets Bookshelf)
ISBN: 0470044020
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2007
Pages: 212

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