Auto-formatting frustration!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brenda
  • Start date Start date
B

Brenda

G'day.

I'm using Excel 2003, and it's doing the most annoying
thing!

For example:

I have columns called 'number', 'name', 'date'
and 'finished'.

I have many rows with data entered into them.

Old rows that have become 'finished' I colour grey.

New rows that I add at the bottom I want to remain white,
until they become 'finished'.

Excel has it in it's head that when I add a number (1, 2,
3, etc) into the 'number' column, I must want it to
automatically go grey. And when I add a letter (a, b, c,
etc) into the 'name' column, I must want it to
automatically go grey.

I can get around it's automatic formatting my white cells
to grey by entering a letter into a column that would
usually contain numbers, clicking into another cell,
clicking BACK to the cell now containing a random letter,
going up to the bar at the top, removing the letter and
typing a number. THEN it will leave the cell white.

And the same is true for a 'name' column, if I add number
first, click off, click back and edit in the bar at the
top.

I've tried _everything_ I can think of to get rid of this
default thing! I don't know what it's called, so I've had
a hard time searching for it.

Any help much appreciated (my hair thanks you too. ;) ).

Thanks,
Brenda.
 
Brenda

In XL 2002 I would uncheck Tools>Options>Edit "extend list formats and
values".

Assume same for 2003.

Gord Dibben Excel MVP
 
Gord,

Sounds like a good idea!

But that option doesn't appear in 2003's edit tab. Grrr.

Thanks anyway,
Brenda.
 
In Excel 2003 the option is 'Extend data range formats and formulas'
(Tools>Options, Edit tab)

However, Help refers to it as the 'Extend list formats and formulas
check box'.
 
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