Using titles on the worksheets makes it easier to read and understand the information shown. You can retain the existing styles, create your own styles, or customize your own workbook template. The next exercise illustrates how easy it is to enter and modify font styles and sizes in your worksheet.

ENTER AND FORMAT A TITLE ON THE WORKSHEET

1. With the Grade Book worksheet open, click cell A1.

2. On the Formatting toolbar, click the Font box and then click Antique Olive.

3. On the Formatting toolbar, click the arrow next to the Font Size box, click 14, and then click Bold.

FORMATTING ROWS AND COLUMNS

Adjusting rows and columns so that the text within them is aligned left, centered, aligned right, or justified is quick and easy. Select the row or column and then use the buttons on the Formatting toolbar.

Rotating text on a worksheet is useful when you are recording grades and want to clearly label assignments. This feature allows you to format any cell on your worksheet. If you try to rotate merged cells, you may find that only the first letter displays.

JUSTIFY TEXT IN ROWS

1. On the Grade Book worksheet, select cell A2.

2. On the Formatting toolbar, click Merge and Center.

3. Select cells B8 through the last cell containing a student number.

4. On the Formatting toolbar, click Align Right.

ROTATE TEXT IN ROWS

1. In the Grade Book worksheet, click the row header 6.

2. On the Format menu, click Cells.

3. Click the Alignment tab.

4. Drag the Orientation bar to 45º, or type 45 in the Degrees box.

5. Click the Border tab and click Outline and Inside.

6. Click OK. The text and cells are now at an angle. Format the column widths.

CHANGE CELL INDENT

1. Select cells A8 to the last cell in the column containing a student name.

2. Click Increase Indent on the Formatting toolbar. Click again. Notice how the selection is now indented.

COMPLETE THE DATA ENTRY

1. To fill in the scores for the students, place the cursor in the appropriate cell.

2. Type in the test, quiz, or homework score where appropriate. Enter 100 into cells D7 through R7. This will reflect the highest points possible.

3. Save your work.

HIDING COLUMNS

Hiding columns is an easy way to “fold” away columns you need but prefer not to see for a particular process. This is helpful if you want to post test scores and grades on a bulletin board while still protecting student privacy. Hiding columns is useful in maintaining complete records in a single file.

HIDE COLUMNS WITH TEST SCORES

1. Open the Grade Book workbook if it is not already open.

2. Click the column A header to select the column.

3. On the Format menu, point to Column and then click Hide.

4. To unhide your columns, on the Format menu, point to Column, and click Unhide.