Formatting Data
Spreadsheets are used to accomplish a range of tasks: accounting, databasing, scientific experimentation, and problem solving. With so many applications, it would be limiting to only allow basic text or numbers in Excel. Users have multiple formats available for the data they can input into the spreadsheet. To access the Format Cells utility, look under Format -> Cells in the main menu or type Control + 1.
Numbers
The numbers pane allows the user to define how a cell displays text and values.
- Number sets any data as pure numbers. Users are able to define the number of decimal places.
- Percent sets any data as percentages. Users are able to define the number of decimal places.
- Currency sets any data as currency. Users are able to define the number of decimal places.
- Date sets any data as dates. Users are able to define how the day, month, and year values are displayed.
- Time sets any data as measurements of time. Users are able to define 12-hour and 24-hour displays.
- Scientific sets any data in scientific notation. Users are able to define the number of decimal places.
- Fraction sets any data as fractions.
- Boolean sets any data as boolean values.
- Text sets any data as clear text, which cannot be used in calculations.
Font
The font pane allows the user to define font, typeface, and size, underlining, strikethroughs, reliefs, and font color through this pane.
Alignment
The alignment pane allows the user to define the position of the data in the cell. Users can define horizontal and vertical justifications, text direction in the cell, or manually set the spacing from the grid lines.
Borders
The borders pane allows the user to define border color and width for each of a cell's edges.
