For titles across the top I like to use Center across selection. I would block c3:g3 and choose format Center across selection. That way it doesn't interfere with the automatic column width when you double click on the right side of the top column. I also hide columns or rows using Group rows or Group cells. Then if I need to look at something that is hidden I can either click the plus above the hidden cells to expose them or the 2,3,etc at the top left to expose all hidden cells.
I typically set the print area (page layout -> print area -> set print area) before sharing. People used to print a lot when everyone was in the office 5 days per week. It's probably still a good idea but I don't think people are printing as often.
Excellent tips, Chris. Using shades of the same colour - I like it! I find when I'm designing a spreadsheet I tend to concentrate on the 'mechanics' of it too much and don't pay enough attention to how the front end looks. After-all, it's my baby, I've built it, I've spent hours staring at the bloody thing, I know what the output looks like and where to look for the data I need. It’s all obvious to me. So, with a spreadsheet to be used solely by me I would pay almost no attention to formatting. WRONG! I’ve tripped myself up so many times by returning to one of my spreadsheets that I’d written ages ago, and…I have to spend half an hour trying to work out where everything is! From now on I’m going to constantly ask myself the question: ‘Is what I’m doing 'visually obvious' to the untrained eye?’ Thanks again. p.s. I’m getting back into keyboard shortcuts, thanks to you. Frustrating to begin with but once you get used to them they’re so much cooler than using the mouse!
For consistent formatting: 1. Change the default font (no need for per cell font selection). 2. Use Excel tables to format tabular data (quick and enables simplified referencing). A custom style can be created if you don’t like the built-in ones and the workbook contains many tables for which you want consistent formatting. 3. Use cell styles (define/redefine if needed). 4. If printing: define print area, header/footer, and related properties.
I adviseagainst hiding columns and instead group them (in the data tab). That makes it more obvious. (Except of course the columns outside the model for ctr + r action).
Excellent. Though I personally find it very disappointing how uneasy it is to work with Freezing and Unfreezing. For instance in this case, if the table is created a few rows and columns into the spreadsheet, it removes the ability to freeze the first rows and columns in the table. If Microsoft would develop more flexible freezing capabilities, navigating through large spreadsheet content would be majorly efficient, while at the same time allowing for major formatting possibilities.
Chris. You talk a lot about keyboard shortcuts. I find right click and context menus a very efficient tool e.g. to insert, delete, hide, unhide rows and columns.
I keep my spreadsheets simple. Printer toner isn't cheap, and to add color, gets expensive. My preference is a simple black and white table with bold headers and bold total row. Everything else is regular font for the data.
Hi Ahmad - I tried to include as many explanations as possible, whilst keeping the video short. If it wasn't clear, Google will help you find the answers. Good luck!
i was about to say the same. great video but far to many short cuts :) am working on the web version and alot of them dont work :) but thanks for all the tips
Q: Which of these spreadsheets would you rather work with? A:The FIRST one. Definitely the first one! The second one looks much nicer, agreed. But that works for the final presentation of the data. Not for working with the data. Absolutely not :) Nice tips by the way. Thank you!
It's not 'training' as such - it's a UA-cam video which is why the pace is fast. Google will give you a list of Excel keyboard shortcuts if you did not pick them up. Thanks for watching and good luck with your Excel learning!
He flies through the keyboard shortcuts because the're second nature to him, most of us beginners and casual users do not have that level of dexterity lol
For titles across the top I like to use Center across selection. I would block c3:g3 and choose format Center across selection. That way it doesn't interfere with the automatic column width when you double click on the right side of the top column. I also hide columns or rows using Group rows or Group cells. Then if I need to look at something that is hidden I can either click the plus above the hidden cells to expose them or the 2,3,etc at the top left to expose all hidden cells.
I typically set the print area (page layout -> print area -> set print area) before sharing. People used to print a lot when everyone was in the office 5 days per week. It's probably still a good idea but I don't think people are printing as often.
Interesting point Pete. I personally hardly ever print, but I know some people who do. Accountants seem to like printing :-)
Excellent tips, Chris. Using shades of the same colour - I like it!
I find when I'm designing a spreadsheet I tend to concentrate on the 'mechanics' of it too much and don't pay enough attention to how the front end looks. After-all, it's my baby, I've built it, I've spent hours staring at the bloody thing, I know what the output looks like and where to look for the data I need. It’s all obvious to me. So, with a spreadsheet to be used solely by me I would pay almost no attention to formatting. WRONG!
I’ve tripped myself up so many times by returning to one of my spreadsheets that I’d written ages ago, and…I have to spend half an hour trying to work out where everything is!
From now on I’m going to constantly ask myself the question: ‘Is what I’m doing 'visually obvious' to the untrained eye?’
Thanks again.
p.s.
I’m getting back into keyboard shortcuts, thanks to you. Frustrating to begin with but once you get used to them they’re so much cooler than using the mouse!
Great comment, Steven! You are your own toughest client
For consistent formatting:
1. Change the default font (no need for per cell font selection).
2. Use Excel tables to format tabular data (quick and enables simplified referencing). A custom style can be created if you don’t like the built-in ones and the workbook contains many tables for which you want consistent formatting.
3. Use cell styles (define/redefine if needed).
4. If printing: define print area, header/footer, and related properties.
Good ideas - personally I think tables complicate rather than simplify references
Good, this took me to the next level. Have a nice weekend!
You too, Henrik!
Thank you so much for this video. I LOVED everything you showed here.🙏🏼😊
Thank you and welcome to the channel!
I needed this, thank you!
You're welcome - don't miss the next video in the series!
🔥WATCH NEXT
🔥14 MORE Excel Formatting Tips
ua-cam.com/video/xxxcOKFHoFA/v-deo.html
this is gold, I'm lost on excel
Welcome to the channel, Alisha - we're releasing a follow-up to this video this week or next ...
This video just popped up on my feed. Really helpful tips thank you. Will be checking out your channel!
Thank you Orla and welcome to the channel - we have a whole playlist just on Excel formatting, enjoy!
Awesome video! Thank you so much for sharing these tips!
Thanks Logan and welcome to the channel!
Another brilliant video ,thanks Chris
Appreciate it, Tyrone!
I adviseagainst hiding columns and instead group them (in the data tab). That makes it more obvious. (Except of course the columns outside the model for ctr + r action).
Interesting - I don't personally like the additional complications on the interface that grouping creates with the buttons etc.
Excellent. Though I personally find it very disappointing how uneasy it is to work with Freezing and Unfreezing. For instance in this case, if the table is created a few rows and columns into the spreadsheet, it removes the ability to freeze the first rows and columns in the table.
If Microsoft would develop more flexible freezing capabilities, navigating through large spreadsheet content would be majorly efficient, while at the same time allowing for major formatting possibilities.
Thanks Bruce - I think you're talking here about a kind of 'layered' freeze pane capability. Sounds cool!
Love it, thank you!
Thank you and welcome to the channel!
Excellent video learnt a lot and thanks for clearly explaining.
It's a pleasure and welcome to the channel - see you in another video in this series!
Chris. You talk a lot about keyboard shortcuts. I find right click and context menus a very efficient tool e.g. to insert, delete, hide, unhide rows and columns.
Alan - it's a personal thing perhaps but I just find using the keyboard is much faster than the mouse ...
Really nice shortcuts in full action
Thank you - shortcuts are so important for efficient Excel usage, I highly practising them ...
I keep my spreadsheets simple. Printer toner isn't cheap, and to add color, gets expensive. My preference is a simple black and white table with bold headers and bold total row. Everything else is regular font for the data.
Yes - when you factor in printing, the strategy changes. Thanks for watching!
Great tips, I wish you mentioned how to do each action by choosing from the menu not just by shortcuts..
Hi Ahmad - I tried to include as many explanations as possible, whilst keeping the video short. If it wasn't clear, Google will help you find the answers. Good luck!
i was about to say the same. great video but far to many short cuts :) am working on the web version and alot of them dont work :) but thanks for all the tips
Thanks for this brilliant video sir.
Welcome to the channel
This was incredible! So easy to follow and so informative. Thank you!
It's a pleasure and welcome to the channel!
Thank you so much.
I hate Arial; Calibri is more relaxed and just looks more professional
It's a matter of opinion, I suppose. But, I think changing the default font does show you've made some additional effort.
I hate both of those fonts.😂
On a quest to find the best font to use in Excel! (For my personal taste)😉
It turned out better than the first one, but it could have been much better.
Great - see the next video in the series for more ideas!
Q: Which of these spreadsheets would you rather work with?
A:The FIRST one. Definitely the first one! The second one looks much nicer, agreed. But that works for the final presentation of the data. Not for working with the data. Absolutely not :) Nice tips by the way. Thank you!
Interesting perspective, thank you! And thanks for watching ...
HOW CAN I ADD A CHARACTER (SPACE OR LETTER) AFTER EVERY NUMBER IN A MIXED JUMBLE OF LETTERS AND NUMBERS IN A SINGLE CELL?
By 'parsing' out the contents of the cells into single cells, then concatenating them together
ua-cam.com/video/BH85f2ey8Rk/v-deo.html
good tips to implement
I hope these help you ...
Nice tips
Thank you and welcome to the channel
Amazing
Thanks, Vishal!
beautiful
Thank you and welcome!
The training is way to quick in the explanations as for example the column header description action - " ALT H FS9 " what ?
It's not 'training' as such - it's a UA-cam video which is why the pace is fast. Google will give you a list of Excel keyboard shortcuts if you did not pick them up.
Thanks for watching and good luck with your Excel learning!
Supperrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr video
Weeeeeeeelcome to the channel!
God i hate using excel with a passion and my job requires me to use it for any and everything, this is what i needed. Still hate it though
I love excel. I use It for my personal finances. Love it a lot
Data cleaning please
We have a series on data cleansing with Excel VBA from 2016
Very confusing when you mention the shortcuts!
I think shortcuts are an important part of Excel practice because they really speed up your operation of Excel, that's why I mention them
I disagree. I loved learning new shortcuts. To be a power user in ANY software application you must learn keyboard shortcuts.
Real designers would NEVER use Arial!!! YUCK!!!
I'm a spreadsheet developer ...
Not true I use them all the time. One of my favorite fonts.
Too fast! Ugh🙄🤦🏻♀️
0.5 speed?
I disagree, you can play back slower .5 or even .25. Most tutorials are way too slow and I have to run them at 1.75 or even 2.0 speed. Good job!
He flies through the keyboard shortcuts because the're second nature to him, most of us beginners and casual users do not have that level of dexterity lol