Add Excel table and cell styles

Excel's Format as Table feature allows you to quickly transform a selected range of cells into a formatted table. However, this formatting is applied independently of regular cell formatting, and is therefore, for example, not recognized by VBA macros. Moreover, applying it is somewhat cumbersome, requiring at least three clicks.

think-cell allows you to define up to ten favorites and apply them to the selected range as regular cell formatting with a single click in the Ribbon.

To do so, first define the style you would like to apply:

1. Go to Home > Styles > Format as Table and do one of the following:
   • Create a completely new style by selecting New Table Style.
   • Base your style on an existing one by right-clicking it and selecting Duplicate.
2. Name the style "think-cell Table Style n" where n is a number from 1 to 10.
3. Define the table formatting as usual and click OK.

Now you can add a button to the Ribbon that applies this table style as follows (see also Customize think-cell ribbon controls):

4. Right-click the Ribbon and select Customize the Ribbon.
5. Select the tab you want to place the button on on the right, or create a new one by clicking New Tab.
6. Create a new group in the tab by clicking New Group, or select an existing custom group.
7. On the left, go to Main Tabs > think-cell Commands > think-cell Commands.
8. Select think-cell Table Style n, where n is the number you picked in step 2.
9. Click Add >>.

Repeat as needed for further table styles. The buttons placed in the Ribbon will show you a preview of the style that will be applied. You can also use the Rename button in the Ribbon customization dialog to give the buttons more descriptive names.

Note: The table style will always be applied with all header and total rows, first and last columns, and row banding defined. If you want a button for applying the table style without them, simply duplicate the style, change its name to a different n, and remove them. Column banding is not supported.

You can also place buttons for quick access to cell styles in the same way. Name them "think-cell style n" and place the corresponding think-cell Style button in the Ribbon.

Note: Custom table and cell styles are saved in the workbook, rather than globally in Excel. If you want to always use the same table styles assigned to the same buttons, create a workbook where those styles are assigned to the Ribbon buttons as described above, and save it as an Excel Template (*.xltx) that you use as a basis for future workbooks.

See here for general information on creating and using Excel templates.