Formatting Data as a Table

In Excel 2007 and Excel 2010, a selection of preset table formats can be readily accessed from the ribbon.

1. Select the cells containing the entire table (A2:D14).

2. On the Home tab, click the Format As Table button in the Style group and select one of the table layouts shown in Figure 1-20.

   

   Figure 1-20. Table formats in Excel 2007 and Excel 2010.

3. The Create Table dialog box shows the range to be formatted (see Figure 1-21). Click OK.

   

   Figure 1-21. Confirming the table range to be formatted.

   The table is formatted in the selected layout (see Figure 1-22).

Figure 1-22. Formatting tables in only a few steps.

After you have formatted the data as a table, you can use the filter options that have been placed in the table header.

Inside Out: Format data as a table for added functionality

Formatting data as a table provides a convenient way to arrange the information neatly and concisely and also provides access to additional table features.