Lesson 7

Preview

Format Cells – Fill Tab

Format Cells – Fill Tab (FIGURE 1)
The Fill tab of the Format Cells dialog box is not very complicated, as there are only a couple of choices to make.

  • ​Background Color: This is simply a color palette. Whichever color you select appears in the Sample area at the bottom, which shows how the background color of the cells will appear. 
  • Fill Effects button: When selected, you will see the dialog box in FIGURE 11 below. You can use 2 different colors with various types of gradients.
  • More Colors button: When selected, you will see the dialog box in FIGURE 6 below. You can create many colors with this customizable palette. 
  • Pattern Color/Pattern Style: Additional patterns can be added to any cell(s), with a Pattern Color palette choice. 
Figure 1

STEP 1. (NOTE: Before beginning, ensure that you keep the CTRL key held down while you are highlighting columns).
STEP 2: Move mouse up to the column A header until you see a downward-pointing black arrow and then click the mouse to highlight column A.

Repeat the STEP 2 process to highlight columns C, E, and G (FIGURE 2).

Figure 2

STEP 3: Position mouse anywhere on the highlighted column portion and right-button mouse click.  On the mouse shortcut menu, select Format Cells (FIGURE 3).

Figure 3

STEP 4: On the Fill tab, select the button “More Colors” (FIGURE 4).

Figure 4

STEP 5: From the Standard Colors palette, select a mint green color as shown. After you click your mouse on the color, it will appear in the “New” section in bottom-right corner of dialog box. The color you select does not have to be the exact same color as shown. Press the OK button to finish. 
​On the Format Cells dialog box, again select the OK button to finish (FIGURE 5).

Figure 5

STEP 6: (NOTE: Before beginning, ensure that you keep the CTRL key held down while you are highlighting columns).
Move mouse up to the column B header until you see a downward-pointing black arrow and then click the mouse to highlight column B (FIGURE 6).

STEP 7: Repeat the STEP 6 process repeatedly so columns B, D and F are highlighted (FIGURE 6).

Figure 6

STEP 8: Position mouse anywhere on the highlighted column portion and right-button mouse click.  On the mouse shortcut menu, select Format Cells (FIGURE 7).

Figure 7

STEP 9: In the Background Color section of the Format Cells Fill tab, select the Fill Effects button (FIGURE 8).

Figure 8

STEP 10: On the Fill Effects dialog box, leave Color 1 as is. For Color 2, select the menu arrow and in the “Theme Colors” section, select Blue, Accent 1, Lighter 60% (FIGURE 9).

Figure 9

STEP 11: On the main Fill Effects dialog box, leave the default choice (Horizontal) as the selection (FIGURE 10). Press the OK button to continue.

Figure 10

The final look is shown in FIGURE 11

Figure 11

END OF LESSON

Back to: Intermediate Excel 2016 > Module 1 – Intermediate Excel 2016

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