9.8 Formatting and Templates in Google Sheets

Using Color and Fonts

The tables in Figure 9.57 have the standard blue headers we’ve been using. Starting with these tables, we will apply formatting changes. First, let’s change the font of the headers and the body of the tables. Click on the header row and choose Courier New from the Font drop-down box (Figure 9.71a). Next, change the color of the font. Since the headers are still selected after the font change, go to the action bar and click on the Text color command. Select dark orange (last option in the third column from the left) as the text color. You can then change the background color to a lighter blue using the Fill color command on the action bar (Figure 9.71b). In this case, changing the color of the background or the color of the font can make the column headers stand out more and is more visually appealing.

Figure 9.71 In Sheets, you can format headers by (a) changing the font, changing the color of the font, and (b) changing the cell background color, just as in Excel. (Google Sheets is a trademark of Google LLC.)

Borders

The Borders command lets users modify the borders on each cell. Using the same table, let’s change the thickness of the borders around the headers to differentiate them from the body. You will also add an outside border for the body of the table. First, select the headers and click on the Borders command on the action bar, then click on the Border style drop-down menu and select the third thickest (Figure 9.72a). To apply the thicker border, click on the command for All borders (Figure 9.72b).

Figure 9.72 You can change the borders from the action bar. Click on the Borders command and choose Border style. (a) There are several border styles to choose from in the list. (b) After choosing the style, apply it to all borders. (Google Sheets is a trademark of Google LLC.)

For the border around the table body, repeat the same first step, selecting the third thickest. Then, instead of applying it to all borders, choose the Outer borders option (Figure 9.73).

Figure 9.73 The header borders are formatted, and the same styling can be used to add a border to the outside of the table. Click on the Borders command, choose the border style, and then apply it to the outer borders. The final table looks neat and professional with borders. (Google Sheets is a trademark of Google LLC.)

Wrapping Text

You may have noticed that because you changed the font, the header in column C does not fit the width of the column. This is easily fixed by using the Text wrapping command on the action bar. First, select cell C2, then click the Text wrapping command, and select the middle command for Wrap (Figure 9.74a). Now all of the text is visible, as seen in Figure 9.74b. If the text is still a little tight, widen the column slightly by hovering over the edge of the column until the cursor changes to a double arrow, then drag the edge of the column to the right to accommodate the text.

Figure 9.74 When the text does not fit in a cell, one option is to wrap the text. (a) Select the cell and use the Wrap command. (b) The text should automatically fit in the cell. (Google Sheets is a trademark of Google LLC.)

Merging Cells

As with Excel, Sheets allows cell merging. This enables information to be grouped to make it more readable for the user. For example, the Merge cells command could group sales agents by region. To use this function, first select the cells you would like to merge. Then, use the Merge cells tool in the action bar, as shown in Figure 9.75. You have several options with the tool: Merge all, Merge vertically (working with rows), Merge horizontally (working with columns), and Unmerge.

Figure 9.75 The Merge cells tool is found on the action bar. First, select the cells to be merged, then select the Merge cells tool. (Google Sheets is a trademark of Google LLC.)

Freezing Columns and Rows

Freezing columns and rows is useful when the data in your sheet does not fit the available viewing space. In Sheets, you can freeze panes anywhere in the worksheet, but it’s certainly most useful to freeze column and row headers. First, select the row that you want to freeze, then select Freeze from the View menu and choose Up to current row. Sheets freezes that row and all rows above it, as shown in Figure 9.77.

Figure 9.77 You can freeze panes anywhere on a sheet. Click on the row that you want to freeze and freeze up to that row. That row freezes, and you can scroll through the data below it. (Google Sheets is a trademark of Google LLC.)

Hiding Columns and Rows

Sheets also supports hiding columns and rows. Select the row or column you want to hide. Right-click and then click on Hide row or Hide column (Figure 9.78a). To unhide it, select the two on either side of the hidden row or column, right-click and click on Unhide rows or Unhide columns (Figure 9.78b), or click on one of the two small arrows in the header.

Figure 9.78 Hiding and unhiding columns in Sheets is similar to the process in Excel. (a) Select the column you want to hide, right-click, and click on Hide column. (b) To unhide, select the columns on either side of the hidden column, right-click, and click on Unhide columns. (Google Sheets is a trademark of Google LLC.)