Objectives of this Tutorial

Generally: To use basic formatting features to improve the presentation of a worksheet.

Specifically: On completion of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Apply font styles (typeface, size, colour and styles)
• Modify the alignment and orientation of cell contents
• Merge and unmerge cells (to centre headings across columns)
• Apply value formats (currency, percent, dates and comma)
• Adjust the decimal place
• Modify the size of columns and rows
• Clear cell content and formats

There are two types of formatting that you can apply to worksheet cells. As well as applying cosmetic formatting (font enhancements, borders, shading and so on) you can define the format of cell data. This is important for displaying numbers and dates clearly and unambiguously.

On a new sheet, numbers are entered with General formatting - aligned on the right, as they are typed, with a leading zero for fractions. The quickest way to apply basic value formatting is to use the Formatting toolbar.

The Formatting Toolbar

The Formatting toolbar contains shortcuts for frequently used formatting commands.

Formatting toolbar

Apply Text Enhancements

Text enhancements can be used to draw attention to important areas of the sheet. Enhancements include changing the font (typeface) and its size and colour; applying bold, italics and underlining, and applying shading to cells.

To change font and font size

• Select the cell(s) to enhance
• On the Formatting toolbar, click the arrow on the Font box
• From the pull-down list, select the font to use
• On the Formatting toolbar, click the arrow on the Font Size box
• From the pull-down list, select the size to use

OR

• Type in the number for sizes not listed and press Enter

Note: A font size of 72 will produce lines of 1 inch (2.54cm) in height.

To apply bold, italics and underlining

• Select the cell(s) to enhance
• From the Formatting toolbar, click the enhancement button

To change the font colour

• Select the cell(s) to enhance
• On the Formatting toolbar, click Font Color to apply the colour displayed on the button

OR

• On the Formatting toolbar, click the arrow on the Font Color button and select a colour from the pull-down menu

Font Colour menu

The selected colour is applied, and displayed on the button for reuse.

Tip: To display the menu on the screen for repeated use, position the pointer on the top border of the menu, click-and-drag it down.
Click the Close button to hide the menu when finished.

Continued...