Excel — Banded rows to improve readability
Do you have a large spreadsheet that is hard to read? Do you find yourself leaving fingerprints on your monitor as you drag your finger across the screen trying to find your data across long rows and columns? Stop the madness and format your spreadsheet with alternating rows of colored bands.
Option #1 Tables
1. First, select your range of cells.
2. And then on the Home Tab click the Format as Table drop down menu.
3. Choose a Table Design with alternating-colored rows. Note — there are additional customizations on the Table Design Tab that you can explore.
But what if you don’t want your data in a table?
Option #2 Conditional Formatting
- First, select your range of cells or select the entire worksheet. The entire worksheet can be selected by clicking on top left corner
2. On Home tab select Conditional Formatting Drop down and Choose New Rule.
3. This opens the New Formatting Rule box. Select the bottom rule type “Use a formula to determine which cells to format”
4. In the Formula bar type =MOD(ROW(),2)=0
5. Click on the Format… button and click on Fill TAB. Pick a color for the banding and click OK.
Now your spreadsheet is easier to read across long rows.
The best feature of using conditional formatting — the alternating bands persists. When you insert or delete rows whether even number or odd — the banding remains. Try it and see if it makes your life just a little bit easier.
