How to a Create Table in Google Sheets Like Excel: A Tutorial
Google Sheets is indeed a most convenient and affordable alternative to Microsoft Excel but new users always struggle to get the most out of it. If you are trying to make a sheet in Google and are unable to insert a table, this article is for you.
In this article, we will demonstrate to you in detail how to create a table in Google Sheets with less effort. This will look as beautiful as Excel even structured in a better way. Tables are the best way to demonstrate large data in a very simple manner, so let’s start with how to do this.
How to make a table in Google Sheets like Excel?
To create a table on Google Sheets, you don’t need any application for this, you can work directly on the web. Follow the below steps to make a table on google sheets:
- Go to the Google spreadsheet by searching on Chrome.
- Make your login if not already done and select the new spreadsheet option.
- Now, start writing on the first cell (first row and first column)
- Your first row should be the title of each column and the title of related data.
- Alternatively, you can also import your previously created sheet; even created with Excel.
- Similarly, select the different rows depending on your requirements and fill the data accordingly.
- See the below example, how do I create a simple spreadsheet.
8. Once done, now you need to structure and organize it in a better way to make it visually appealing. Don’t worry, it is going to be even more simple.
How to Format Tables in Google Sheets
As you have seen above, creating a table in Google Sheets is not a big task to perform, just enter the data and work done. The challenging task is to make a sheet visually appealing. I have developed a few best ways to structure your google sheets, let’s discuss them one by one.
Convert sheet to table
Though this is not mandatory, to make your sheet structured, this is the best way to start. A sheet converted to a table looks just great.
- Select the whole sheet by dragging your mouse and heading to the format option from the toolbar.
- From all the options, select the convert to table option, and click on it.
Also read: Top Hacks on How to Force Google Maps to Take a Certain Route
Change the color of a sheet title
To make it more visually appealing and attractive, the sheet title plays a vital role as this is the first thing anyone notices.
- Click on the table icon just showing inside the sheet.
- You will get a popup notice to customize your table colors.
- Select the 4th option “Customize table colors” and select the colors
- As soon as you click on your desired color, your table’s title color changes into a beautiful one.
Formatting Data in Google Sheets
You can do formatting of your google sheet including changes in number styles, adding decimals after a specific point, or addition of currency.
- Just look above the table (at the toolbar)
- You can see various formatting options there like dollar, percentage, decimal, and number
- Before making any formatting, make sure to select the cells of the sheet or the whole column or row
- Now click on any formatting tool, and analyze the changes
How to make a table in Google Sheets like Excel
In contrast to Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets offers more flexibility and better formatting options. You can make your tables of google sheets look like excel and save them with the extension of excel. Additionally, you can change the color of each column text or background color, and make each row with a different color.
To make it more visually attractive and functional, you can add charts, images, comments, etc by selecting the respective tool from the toolbar as shown in the above snapshot.
By selecting the small squared box (with 4 sub squared inside), the structure of borders is changed, and you can select how should it look. It can be changed for individual cells, rows, and columns.
Insert Tab in Google Sheets to Format Table
Insert tab is very important and useful for any spreadsheet whether it is Excel or sheets. It helps you to make significant changes to your sheet; you can insert a table, a new row or column, an image, a drawing, a checkbox, a dropdown menu, etc. These insertions make your sheet or table more attractive as well as functional to work on later.
The core function of the insert tab is the “Function” option that allows you to leverage a large number of arrays, databases, engineering tools, formulas, google detecting tools, implement any filter, maths operators, statistical formula, etc.
By selecting a specific row or column, you can choose any function as per the requirements. The function tab on the table on google sheets is a crucial tool for enterprises and business owners.
Conclusion
Microsoft Excel is indeed an amazing tool for creating and structuring a table but it lacks the functionality that Google Sheets has. Also, Excel is hidden behind the paywall of Microsoft Office 365. This overall experience makes Google Sheets the best option for spreadsheet users.
In this article, you have learned how to create a table in Google Sheets like Excel (or even better). I hope this article will able to guide you in the right direction to utilize the function of Google Sheets.
