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Excel table formatting best practices question
I am an Excel intermediate user. My issue is not easy for me to explain, perhaps if I had more knowledge with Excel I could to a better job. Therefore, I beg for your patience and thank you for same.
I have two questions, both are almost identical:
- I often format my spreadsheets as a table after I finish creating it (e.g.: adding a header row and adding rows of data), using the “Format as Table” option for the Ribbon. The problem is when I later need to add new rows of data at the end of the table (most current transaction on the bottom row), how to I continue to carry over the formatting of the previous row to new rows of data (e.g.: Fonts, alternate row shadings, etc.)?
- Similar question as above, but in “reverse” (most current transaction on the top below header row). How do I add a new row of data below the header row while retaining the same formatting?
Note: I don’t know how to use pivot tables, and don’t know if that would make my life any easier and/or worth learning since I primarily use Excel for; export, import to update databases data entry errors.
Thank you
3 Replies
Hello Jerry1385,
The fonts, cell colors, shading of rows, etc... all depend on the Table style that you initially choose. These styles should follow the same pattern for each row that is added to the table (whether the additional data is at the top or bottom). If changes are made to a cell but not the table style, then this pattern will not continue with rows that are added. Take for example the following:
Normal Table:
Adding rows below table retains table format:
Adding rows above retains table format:
I hope this is what you were looking for. If not, please do not hesitate to ask and I will try to explain in more detail.
