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When you create a table (previously known as list) in a Microsoft Office Excel worksheet (worksheet: The primary document that you use in Excel to store and work with data. Also called a spreadsheet. A worksheet consists of cells that are organized into columns and rows; a worksheet is always stored in a workbook.), you can manage and analyze the data in that table independently of data outside the table. For example, you can filter table columns, add a row for totals, apply table formatting, and publish a table to a server that is running Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0.

If you do not want to work with your data in a table, you can convert the table to a regular range while keeping any table style formatting that you applied. When you no longer need a table, you can delete it.

 Note   Excel tables should not be confused with the data tables (data table: A range of cells that shows the results of substituting different values in one or more formulas. There are two types of data tables: one-input tables and two-input tables.) that are part of a suite of what-if analysis commands. For more information about data tables, see Calculate multiple results with a data table.

• Create a table

• Convert a table to a range of data

• Delete a table

Create a table

You can use one of two ways to create a table. You can either insert a table in the default table style or you can format your data as a table in a style that you choose.

Insert a table

1. On a worksheet, select the range of cells that you want to include in the table. The cells can be empty or can contain data.
2. On the Insert tab, in the Tables group, click Table.

   

   Keyboard shortcut  You can also press CTRL+L or CTRL+T.

3. If the selected range contains data that you want to display as table headers, select the My table has headers check box.

   Table headers display default names if you do not select the My table has headers check box. You can change the default names by typing the text that you want.

    Note   If you do not want to display table headers, you can turn them off later. For more information about how to turn table headers off, see Turn Excel table headers on or off.

Tips

• After you create a table, the Table Tools become available, and a Design tab is displayed. You can use the tools on the Design tab to customize or edit the table.
• Unlike lists in Office Excel 2003, a table does not have a special row (marked with *) for quickly adding new rows. For more information about how to add or insert rows in a table, see Add or remove table rows and columns in an Excel table.

Format data as a table

1. On the worksheet, select a range of empty cells or cells that contain the data that you want to quickly format as a table.
2. On the Home tab, in the Styles group, click Format as Table.

   

    Note   When you use Format as Table, Office Excel automatically inserts a table.

3. Under Light, Medium, or Dark, click the table style that you want to use.

    Note   Custom table styles are available under Custom after you create one or more of them. For information about how to create a custom table style, see Format an Excel table.

Tips

• After you create a table, the Table Tools become available, and a Design tab is displayed. You can use the tools on the Design tab to customize or edit the table.
• Unlike lists in Office Excel 2003, a table does not have a special row (marked with *) for quickly adding new rows. For more information about how to add or insert rows in a table, see Add or remove table rows and columns in an Excel table.

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Convert a table to a range of data

1. Click anywhere in the table.

    Tip   This displays the Table Tools, adding the Design tab.

2. On the Design tab, in the Tools group, click Convert to Range.

   

 Note   Table features are no longer available after you convert the table back to a range. For example, the row headers no longer include the sort and filter arrows, and structured references (references that use table names) that were used in formulas turn into regular cell references.

Tips

• You can also right-click the table, point to Table, and then click Convert to Range.
• Immediately after you create a table, you can also click Undo on the Quick Access Toolbar to convert that table back to a range.

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Delete a table

1. On a worksheet, select a table.
2. Press DELETE.

 Tip   You can also click Undo on the Quick Access Toolbar to delete a table that you just created.

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