Formatting Cells in Microsoft Excel
You can access most formatting commands in Excel from the Format Cells dialog box. To open this box, click the dialog launcher button – the small arrow in the lower right corner of the Number group of the Home tab. This document provides step-by-step instructions on using the Format Cells dialog box to perform standard formatting functions. Each tab in the dialog box controls a different formatting feature. Read this document, which focuses on using the Number, Alignment, Font, Border, and Fill formatting features.
Note that there are five tabs in the Format Cells dialog box. Although you can also find many of the commands here on the Home ribbon, you should become comfortable with this dialog box. When you want to do some formatting, and you cannot find it on a toolbar or ribbon, here is where you will find it. If it can be done, it will be found here.
You can open the Format Cells dialog by clicking the small arrow in the bottom right corner of the Number grouping (see arrow below) or right-click on a cell and choose Format Cells.
The Number tab is
where you can
change the format
of numbers and
dates.
Click through the various Categories and investigate what each one will do.
Click the drop-down choices you find in each area to discover what they have to offer.
The Font tab is similar to many other Microsoft font dialog boxes, but in the Alignment tab, you use these features to align the font within each cell.
Text can be angled to better fit into the cell. Click on the red diamond and drag it up or down to the angle you prefer.
You can also align both vertically and horizontally. Play with all of these features to see how they work.
The Border tab is the right place to go to make the borders perfect. Wait until your
document is finished, then use this dialog box to make your spreadsheet stand out. Practice using different styles and colors of borders, but do not go overboard; borders should highlight the information, not detract from it.
All the commands in this area are toggle switches: the first click turns the feature on, and the second click turns it off.
In the Fill tab, investigate the patterns and pattern styles as well as Fill effects that you can
find. There are a lot of options to choose from.
The last tab, Protection, is one you can investigate as you become more proficient in Excel or check out in the Help menu.
Source: Saylor Academy
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