How to Format in Microsoft Excel 2007

Spreadsheets are designed to store large amounts of data into a grid pattern. Microsoft Excel is designed to work with numbers. This is demonstrated by the many calculation functions and formatting features written into the software. Formatting options include currency, dates, times, fractions and percentages. By formatting specific cells, Excel automatically attaches the corresponding symbol when a number is entered into a cell. Excel spreadsheets are also formatted using fonts, font sizes, colors and borders.

• 1

  Open your Microsoft Excel file.

• 2

  Select the cells you want to format. Click and drag to select multiple cells. Click the top letter to select an entire column. Select the side number to select an entire row.

• 3

  Choose the "Home" tab on the top menu. Click the drop-down box under the "Number" box. Click the option for "More Number Formats."

• 4

  Click the tabs to change the number, alignment, font, border, fill and protection. The "Number" tab is where you change the type of number used in the cell such as currency, date or time. The "Alignment" tab is where you change you text direction and merge cells. The "Font" tab changes your font type, size and color. The "Border" tab changes the border surrounding your cells. The "Fill" tab adds color to the background of the cells. The "Protection" tab locks cells.

• 5

  Click "OK."