How to Format and style a sheet

1

Make a new sheet

Open Numbers and tap Create Spreadsheet. Pick the Blank template for a page containing a table called ‘Table 1’. Tap this title, select Name Actions and tap Hide Table Name. Now enter some data to get started.

4

Cut the clutter

Gridlines are often unnecessary. We’ve turned off Table Outline and some of the Grid Options, instead shading Alternating Rows. But we’ll set Cell > Border Style to Top for a thicker rule across the top of the table.

7

Style a chart

We’ve added a chart. Use the brush icon options (trial and error works wonders here) to apply just enough lines and labels for clarity, and set Chart > Chart Font to a plain typeface as big as will fit comfortably.

2

Format figures

Tap the number or letter to select a whole row or column, tap the brush icon, and from the Format tab, tap the ‘i’ beside the appropriate category to format the figures. Turn on Thousands Separator for large numbers.

5

Add another table

We want to add summary information, but styled differently. Tap the + sign in the toolbar at the top right, pick a plain table style from the first tab and repeat the steps to enter and style more content.

8

Fit labels vertically

Our run dates won’t fit across the bottom, so only half of them are showing up. A neat way to fix this is to set X-Axis > Label Angle to one of the Vertical options. You may need to make more room below your chart though.

3

Style cells

Select some or all of your cells, tap the brush, and on the Cell tab set the text style. Under Table, remove unwanted rows and columns and, in Headers & Footer, turn the rows or columns that should be headers into headers.

6

Add a title box

Drag tables by the circle icon at top left to reposition them; automatic guides will help you. We’ve moved ours to add a title, which we’ve done as a text box from the Basic shapes under the icon. The brush icon offers formatting.

9

Add a border

Table Outlines and Border Styles apply to individual tables. For a border around your whole layout, add a square from the icon, use its handles to size it, and from the brush icon style it with no fill and a border.