Advanced Lesson 3: Advanced Data Formatting Using the Format Cells dialog box, you can format data in a variety of number formats, including Accounting, Currency, and Scientific. However, you might need a number format that is not listed in the Format Cells dialog box. For example, you might want all student ID numbers to end with the letter Z. You can create a custom number format so that the Z appears automatically.

Advanced Lesson 3: Advanced Data Formatting Once you create a custom format, you can apply it to any cell in the current workbook. You can find your custom format listed in the Format Cells dialog box. It is saved within the workbook so you can use them repeatedly.

Advanced Lesson 3: Advanced Data Formatting The formatting can include changes such as font color, italics, strikethrough, borders, highlighting, or shading to emphasize values. You can apply conditional formatting to a cell range or table, which changes the appearance of a cell or cell range only if it meets certain conditions. A data bar adds a colored bar to cells based on the value of the data. A color scale varies colors based on the values in a range. An icon set allow you to highlight specific values with preset icons.

Advanced Lesson 3: Advanced Data Formatting Use the Conditional Formatting Rules Manager to create, edit, delete, and view all conditional formatting rules in a worksheet or workbook. When formatting rules do not conflict, both rules are applied to the range of cells. However, if the rules are in conflict, or are not in agreement, the Conditional Formatting Rules Manager applies the rule that appears higher in the list.

Advanced Lesson 3: Advanced Data Formatting When you select a graphic or illustration, the Picture Tools contextual tab opens. You can use the tools on this tab to insert and modify pictures. You can change the picture’s contrast, or difference between light and dark. You can also change the brightness, or overall lightness or darkness, of a picture. You can resize a graphic by dragging its sizing handles, dots that appear around the edges of the graphic you have selected.

Advanced Lesson 3: Advanced Data Formatting Increase or decrease the scale of a graphic if you want to change its size in percentages. For instance, you can make a graphic 10 percent bigger or 15 percent smaller. To change the graphic back to its original size, change the scale to 100 percent.

Advanced Lesson 3: Advanced Data Formatting Rotate a graphic to turn it clockwise (to the right) or counterclockwise (to the left). You can rotate a graphic 90 degrees or you can use the rotation handle to rotate it as many degrees as you want. You can also flip a graphic horizontally or vertically.

Advanced Lesson 3: Advanced Data Formatting Charts and diagrams offer a graphical representation of data that helps you better visualize and analyze it. After you create a chart, there are many different ways it can be formatted and modified. For example, you could change the font size of the chart title, the color and appearance of the background, or you could add shading to the legend. The legend is the part of a chart that indicates what each color or pattern represents. To format part of a chart, double-click it.

Advanced Lesson 3: Advanced Data Formatting You can enhance your workbooks by using built-in styles and themes to ensure that cells have consistent formatting and design. A theme allows you to automatically apply several formats such as 3-D effects, colors, boldface, and shading to an entire workbook in one step.