eHow launches Android app: Get the best of eHow on the go.

How To

How to Add a Background Color or Pattern to Excel Cells

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(9 Ratings)

Adding color to highlight your column labels or your totals can make your worksheet easier to read and use. Use the Patterns option to add background color and patterns to your worksheet. These steps work with Microsoft Excel 97.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  1. Step 1

    Start Microsoft Excel and open the file you want to change.

  2. Step 2

    Select the cells in which you want to add a background color.

  3. Step 3

    Open the Format menu and select Cells.

  4. Step 4

    In the Format Cells dialog box, select the Patterns tab.

  5. Step 5

    Click the color you want to use as a background color.

  6. Step 6

    Click on the arrow head to open the Patterns menu.

  7. Step 7

    Click the pattern you want to use as a background.

  8. Step 8

    Click the color you want the pattern to use.

  9. Step 9

    Select OK to accept the changes.

Tips & Warnings
  • The color and pattern selection appear in a box in the Pattern page.
  • To undo your changes, open the Edit menu and select Undo Format.
  • Use the Format Cells dialog box to add other formats to your cells.
  • You do not have to use the background color and pattern options together; you can use just a pattern or just a color.
Subscribe

Post a Comment

Post a Comment

Related Ads

  • Have you done this? Click here to let us know.
I Did This
Get Free Computers Newsletters

Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.   en-US Portions of this page are modifications based on work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.

eHow Computers
eHow_eHow Technology and Electronics