Font types, sizes, and styles Formatting is used on our worksheet cells to emphasize a particular piece of information or to add additional information to cell contents. For example, in a table where we tracked expenditures, we might bold cells where we are over-spending the planned budget amount to make sure that they are noticed. We can change the font typeface to make the information attractive, though readability should not be sacrificed for attractiveness. Changing the size of the font is commonly done, with larger fonts sizes being used to emphasize more important items. Changing the style of a font (bold, italic, underline) is also used to indicate data items that are different or have some special meaning. Unless it has been purposely changed, the default font in Excel is 10 point Arial. Arial is one of sans serif typefaces. Sans serif fonts do not have serifs or small lines at the ends of the characters. This text is printed in a san serif font. Font types sizes and styles, Slide 1Copyright © 2004, Jim Schwab, University of Texas at Austin

The default font Excel displays the characteristics of the font setting for the active cell in the formatting toolbar. In this example, the font is Arial, 10 point, not bolded, not italicized, not underlined. These are the default font settings for worksheets. Excel displays the characteristics of the font setting for the active cell in the formatting toolbar. In this example, the font is Arial, 10 point, not bolded, not italicized, not underlined. These are the default font settings for worksheets. Font types sizes and styles, Slide 2Copyright © 2004, Jim Schwab, University of Texas at Austin

Changing the font To change the typeface used in the selected cells (including the active cell), select from the Font drop down list on the Formatting tool bar. For example, we will change the font used for Sample text in cell A1 to Times New Roman. To change the typeface used in the selected cells (including the active cell), select from the Font drop down list on the Formatting tool bar. For example, we will change the font used for Sample text in cell A1 to Times New Roman. Font types sizes and styles, Slide 3Copyright © 2004, Jim Schwab, University of Texas at Austin

Changing the font size to 12 point "Sample text" is now displayed in the Times New Roman, one of the serif fonts. We can set the font size larger to 12 point, so that the text stands out more. Select 12 from the Font Size drop down list on the Formatting tool bar. We can set the font size larger to 12 point, so that the text stands out more. Select 12 from the Font Size drop down list on the Formatting tool bar. Font types sizes and styles, Slide 4Copyright © 2004, Jim Schwab, University of Texas at Austin

Changing the font size to 9 point "Sample text" is now displayed in 12 point Times New Roman. We can set the font size smaller to 9 point, so that the text stands out less and fits within the cell. Select 9 from the Font Size drop down list on the Formatting tool bar. We can set the font size smaller to 9 point, so that the text stands out less and fits within the cell. Select 9 from the Font Size drop down list on the Formatting tool bar. "Sample text" is now displayed in 9 point Times New Roman. Font types sizes and styles, Slide 5Copyright © 2004, Jim Schwab, University of Texas at Austin

Changing the font style from plain to bold We can make the smaller font stand out more by changing the style of the font to bold. Click on the Bold tool button on the Formatting tool bar. We can make the smaller font stand out more by changing the style of the font to bold. Click on the Bold tool button on the Formatting tool bar. The text is now displayed in Bold type and the Bold tool button is highlighted to indicate the formatting applied to the active cell. Font types sizes and styles, Slide 6Copyright © 2004, Jim Schwab, University of Texas at Austin

Changing the font style from bold to plain Click on the highlighted Bold tool button on the Formatting tool bar. The text is now displayed in normal type and the highlight for the Bold tool button is off. To remove the text style, we click again on the style tool button, to toggle it off. Font types sizes and styles, Slide 7Copyright © 2004, Jim Schwab, University of Texas at Austin

Changing the font style from plain to italicized We can make the font more distinctive by italicizing the font. Click on the Italic tool button on the Formatting tool bar. We can make the font more distinctive by italicizing the font. Click on the Italic tool button on the Formatting tool bar. The text is now displayed in italicized type. Font types sizes and styles, Slide 8Copyright © 2004, Jim Schwab, University of Texas at Austin

Changing font style from italicized to bold, italicized Font styles are additive which means that more than one style can be applied. We can bold the italicized text to apply both styles Click on the Bold tool button on the Formatting tool bar. Font styles are additive which means that more than one style can be applied. We can bold the italicized text to apply both styles Click on the Bold tool button on the Formatting tool bar. The text is now displayed in bold, italicized type. Font types sizes and styles, Slide 9Copyright © 2004, Jim Schwab, University of Texas at Austin

The formatting menu bar command All of the font characteristics can be set at the same time using the Format Cells dialog box. To open the Format Cells dialog box, select Cells from the Format menu bar. All of the font characteristics can be set at the same time using the Format Cells dialog box. To open the Format Cells dialog box, select Cells from the Format menu bar. Font types sizes and styles, Slide 10Copyright © 2004, Jim Schwab, University of Texas at Austin

The formatting popup menu The Format Cells dialog box can also be accessed by right clicking on a cell and selecting Format Cells from the popup menu. Font types sizes and styles, Slide 11Copyright © 2004, Jim Schwab, University of Texas at Austin

The format cells dialog box In the Format Cells dialog box, click on the Font tab to set the characteristics of the font. The beginning settings for font characteristics correspond to the characteristics of the active cell. The font typeface of the text in the active cell is Times New Roman. The beginning settings for font characteristics correspond to the characteristics of the active cell. The font typeface of the text in the active cell is Times New Roman. The font style of the text in the active cell is Bold Italic. The font size of the text in the active cell is 9 point. Font types sizes and styles, Slide 12Copyright © 2004, Jim Schwab, University of Texas at Austin

Previewing the font characteristics The cumulative effect of all of the font choices in shown in a Preview pane. We can change any of the font effects and see the impact immediately. I find this dialog box most helpful for testing out combinations of font characteristics to obtain the effect I am looking for. Font types sizes and styles, Slide 13Copyright © 2004, Jim Schwab, University of Texas at Austin

Restoring the default font We will restore the default font to the text, removing all changes we have made. Click on the Normal font check box. When we click on the Normal font check box, Excel restores the default setting of 10 point Arial Regular to the font list boxes. Click on the OK button to apply the changes. Font types sizes and styles, Slide 14Copyright © 2004, Jim Schwab, University of Texas at Austin

The text in the default font The sample text is displayed in the original default font, 10 point Arial. Font types sizes and styles, Slide 15Copyright © 2004, Jim Schwab, University of Texas at Austin