Table Formatting in Excel 2007

[Lynn Trapp]

When I format a range of cells as a Table in Excel 2007 and then convert the
table back to a range, the style formatting seems to get locked into the
range. If I convert the range back to a Table, I can then not change the
table style from the original one selected in the first table format. Any
ideas?

Lynn Trapp
Application Developer/Trainer

 

[Ted M H]

What happens is this: Table style formatting stays with the cells when you
convert the table to a range--it becomes direct formatting. I think that's a
good thing, as it's easy to apply formats like banded rows to a table--I
sometimes convert to table, apply a table style, and then convert back to a
range. Just using the table function to get a quick format on a contiguous
range of cells.
When you convert back to a range the table style formatting becomes direct
formatting. So when you convert the range back to a Table, the direct
formatting trumps the table style formatting.
All you have to do is clear the formatting. You can do this before you
convert the table to a range by applying the quick style None. You can also
do it after converting to a range by selecting the current region
CTRL+SHIFT+* and then choose Home > Editing > Clear > Clear Formats.
Then when you convert to a table again you can apply any table style you want.