How to make a nice looking table with Excel? (Merged Cells have created a nightmare)

GladTyler 

Creating a nice-looking table in Excel without using merged cells can be achieved by using alternative formatting options and layout techniques. Here are some suggestions to help you create a visually appealing table:

1. Use cell borders: Instead of merging cells, apply different border styles to define the structure of your table. Select the cells you want to format, go to the "Home" tab, and choose the desired border styles from the "Border" dropdown menu.
2. Center-align and wrap text: To improve readability, center-align the text within the cells and enable text wrapping. Select the cells, right-click, choose "Format Cells," go to the "Alignment" tab, select "Center" under the "Horizontal" alignment, and check the "Wrap text" option.
3. Apply shading or alternate row colors: Use fill colors or alternate row shading to distinguish between rows and make your table easier to read. Select the rows you want to format, go to the "Home" tab, and choose a fill color from the "Fill Color" dropdown menu.
4. Use bold or different font styles: Emphasize headers or important information by applying bold or different font styles. Select the cells or text you want to modify, go to the "Home" tab, and choose the desired font style options.
5. Adjust column widths: To ensure your table is well-proportioned, adjust the column widths to fit the content. Double-click the column boundary or select the columns and use the "AutoFit Column Width" option from the "Home" tab.
6. Add conditional formatting: Utilize conditional formatting to highlight specific data based on predefined rules. For example, you can highlight values that meet certain criteria or create color scales. Select the cells you want to format, go to the "Home" tab, and choose the desired conditional formatting options.

By applying these formatting techniques, you can create a visually appealing table without the need for merged cells. Once you have formatted the table in Excel, you can copy and paste it into a Word document, and the formatting should be preserved.

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I wish you a lot of fun creating your own table!