Apply Custom Formats

and Layouts
OBJECTIVES

Apply custom data formats

Apply advanced conditional formatting and filtering
Apply custom styles and templates
Prepare workbooks for internationalization and accessibility
Apply custom data formats

Creating custom formats (number,

time, date)
Creating custom accounting formats
To create a custom Accounting format
1. Select a cell containing a number.
2. On the Home tab, in the Number group, click the Accounting
Number Format button, and then press Ctrl+1.
3. In the Format Cells dialog box, on the Number page, click the
Custom category.
4. In the Type box, edit the code as needed, and then click OK.
To delete a custom format
1. Press Ctrl+1.
2. In the Format Cells dialog box, on the Number page, click the
Custom category.
3. Select the custom format code you want to delete.
4. Press the Delete button below the Type list, and then click OK.
Creating custom date formats
To create a custom Date format
1. Select the cell or cells you want to format, and then press Ctrl+1.
2. In the Format Cells dialog box, on the Number page, click the Date
category.
3. Select the date format that most resembles the one you want to
create.
4. Click the Custom category.
5. In the edit box at the top of the Type list, edit the code as needed, and
then click OK.
Creating custom time formats
To create a custom Time format
1. Select the cell or cells you want to format, and then press Ctrl+1.
2. In the Format Cells dialog box, on the Number page, click the Time
category.
3. Select the time format that most resembles the one you want to create.
4. Click the Custom category.
5. In the Type box, edit the code as needed, and then click OK.
Using advanced Fill Series options
The AutoFill capabilities of Excel go beyond extrapolating trends, and
can also extend simple nonnumeric series including days of the week,
months, and even text that has trailing digits such as Product 1, simply
by dragging the fill handle.
Creating custom fill sequences
To create a custom fill sequence
1. Enter your custom list into an empty cell range, and then select the
range.
2. In the Backstage view (accessed by clicking the File tab), click
Options.
3. On the Advanced page of the Excel Options dialog box, in the
General section, click the Edit Custom Lists button.
4. In the Custom Lists dialog box, with your selected cells displayed in
the Import list from cells box, click the Import button, and then
click OK.
PRACTICE TASKS
The practice file for these tasks is located in the MOSExcel2013Expert\Objective2
practice file folder.
Save the results of the tasks in the same folder.
Open the ExcelExpert_2-1 workbook, and then try the following tasks:

Modify one of the built-in accounting formats to display a text message when the
cells displayed value equals zero.
Create a custom date format that begins with the year.
Enter a random sequence of numbers and extend a growth series.
Create a custom fill sequence that uses the names of five people you know, sorted
by height, shortest to tallest.
Apply advanced conditional formatting and filtering

Conditional formatting is typically applied to a range of cells and responds

differently depending on the contents of each cell. You can use conditional
formatting to flag discrepancies, indicate relative values, highlight specific
or duplicate values, and more.

The Conditional Formatting menu contains five categories of prepackaged

rules you can choose from, which are described in the following list.
Creating custom conditional formats
To apply a conditional format
1. Select the cells you want to format.
2. On the Home tab, in the Styles group, click Conditional Formatting.
3. Select a rule type and a sub-type (for example, Data Bars, Gradient
Fill).
4. Enter the required parameters (none required for Data Bars, Color
Scales, or Icon Sets), and then click OK.
To create a custom conditional formatting rule
1. Select the cells you want to format.
2. Click Conditional Formatting, and then click New Rule.
3. In the New Formatting Rule dialog box, select a rule type.
4. In the Edit the Rule Description area, make formatting choices, and
then click OK.
Using functions to format cells
To create a conditional formatting rule by using a function
1. Select the cells you want to format.
2. On the Home tab, in the Styles group, click Conditional
Formatting, and then click New Rule.
3. Select the Use a formula to determine which cells to format rule
type.
4. Enter a formula in the edit box (remember to include an = sign).
5. Click the Format button, and select options in the Format Cells
dialog box.
6. Click OK in the Format Cells dialog box, and again in the New
Formatting Rule dialog box.
Creating advanced filters
To edit a conditional formatting rule
1. On the Home tab, in the Styles group, click Conditional
Formatting, and then click Manage Rules.
2. In the Conditional Formatting Rules Manager dialog box, select
the rule you want to edit, and then click the Edit Rule button.
3. Make changes in the Edit Formatting Rule dialog box. (If
necessary, click the Format button to open the Format Cells
dialog box for more options.)
4. Click OK as needed to close any open dialog boxes.
To manage conditional formatting rules
1. On the Home tab, in the Styles group, click Conditional Formatting,
and then click Manage Rules.
2. Select a rule, and do one or more of the following:

Delete it by clicking the Delete Rule button.

Change the order it is applied in by clicking the Move Up or Move
Down arrows next to the Delete Rule button.
Edit a rule by clicking the Edit Rule button.
Add a new rule by clicking the Add Rule button.
To clear all conditional formatting rules
1. In the Styles group, click Conditional Formatting, and then click
Clear Rules.
2. On the Clear Rules menu, click Clear Rules from Selected Cells,
Clear Rules from Entire Sheet, Clear Rules from This Table, or
Clear Rules from This PivotTable.
PRACTICE TASKS
The practice file for these tasks is located in the MOSExcel2013Expert\Objective2
practice file folder.
Save the results of the tasks in the same folder. Open the ExcelExpert_2-2 workbook,
and then try the following tasks:
On the Over20K worksheet, apply an additional Highlight Cells conditional format
in column E, and then modify it.
On the Formulas worksheet, edit the rule to change the formatting.
On the Pivot worksheet, change the displayed data by selecting different teams or
divisions. Change one of the rules.