formatting

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Formatting

resolvedResolved · Low Priority · Version 2007

Laurence has attended:
Excel Introduction course

Formatting

Spreadsheets

How do I change the background colours of selected columns and rows in a standard spreadsheet please?

RE: Formatting

Hi Laurence, Thank you for the post, welcome to the forum, in answer to your question, First you need to select the rows or columns, this is done by clicking on the row indicator (the row number) and/or the Column indicator (the character A,B.C ect) if you wish to select more than one column and/or row you can use the CTRL key (keep the CTRL key pressed and click on the rows and/or columns). When you have selected your chosen rows and/or columns, on the Home ribbon, locate the Fill button in the Font section, click the drop down arrow and make your colour selection from the pallette. Alternatively select your columns and/or rows as above and from again on the Home Ribbon locate the Format button in the Cells group and from the drop down arrow select Format Cells and using the Fill Tab apply colours and or patterns to your chosen columns and/or rows. This method can be employed not only for columns and rows but for single cells or selected ranges. If you wish to apply a particular Theme to your entire worksheet on the Page Layout ribbon locate the Themes group and either apply a built in theme or from the Colours, Fonts and Effects options build a custom display. I hope that helps, If this has answered your question, please click the Resolved link, best regards Pete.

 

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Excel tip:

Ctrl+d's double life

Suppose I have a formula in B1 that I wish to copy into B2:B10. I can select B1:B10 then press Ctrl+d to copy the formula down the selected range. Users generally ignore this shortcut in favour of double-clicking on the fill handle to copy down, but Ctrl+d is useful sometimes particularly when there is no data in surrounding columns to guide to how far the double-click method should copy formulae.

Ctrl+d has another use though. When I use the drawing toolbar to draw objects such as Text Boxes, Rectangles and Ovals onto a worksheet, Ctrl+d makes an instant duplicate of selected shapes. For example, I need five Text Boxes the same size. I draw one Text box and adjust it to the size I want, select it, then press Ctrl+d four times to get four identical copies.

View all Excel hints and tips


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