Chapter 5: Formatting Worksheets
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The Excel Find and Replace dialog box includes a feature that allows you to search your worksheet to locate cells
that contain specific formatting. This feature does not locate cells that contain formatting resulting from conditional
formatting.
Using Named Styles for Easier Formatting
One of the most underutilized features in Excel is named styles. Named styles make it easy
to apply a set of predefined formatting options to a cell or range. In addition to saving
time, using named styles helps to ensure a consistent look.A style can consist of settings for up to six attributes:■ Number format■ (^) Alignment (vertical and horizontal)
■ Font (type, size, and color)
■ (^) Borders
■ Fill
■ (^) Cell protection (locked and hidden)
The real power of styles is apparent when you change a component of a style. All cells that use
that named style automatically incorporate the change. Suppose that you apply a particular
style to a dozen cells scattered throughout your worksheet. Later, you realize that these cells
should have a font size of 14 pt rather than 12 pt. Rather than change each cell, simply edit the
style. All cells with that particular style change automatically.
Applying styles
Excel includes a good selection of predefined named styles that work in conjunction with
document themes. Figure 5.21 shows the effect of choosing Home ➪ Styles ➪ Cell Styles.
Note that this display is a live preview—as you move your mouse over the style choices,
the selected cell or range temporarily displays the style. When you see a style you like,
click it to apply the style to the selection.
If Excel’s window is wide enough, you won’t see the Cell Styles command in the Ribbon. Instead, you’ll see four or
more formatted style boxes. Click the drop-down arrow to the right of these boxes to display all of the defined styles.
By default, all cells use the Normal style. If you modify the Normal style, all cells that haven’t been assigned a differ-
ent style will reflect the new formatting.