Apply a table style without inserting an Excel table

You can quickly format your worksheet data by applying a predefined table style. However, when you apply a predefined table style, a Microsoft Office Excel 2007 table is automatically inserted for the selected data. If you don't want to work with your data in a table, you can convert the table to a regular range while keeping the table style formatting that you applied.

1. On the worksheet, select a range of cells that you want to format by applying a predefined table style.

2. On the Home tab, in the Styles group, click Format as Table.

   

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

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

4. Click anywhere in the table.

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

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

   

   Tip: You can also right-click the table, click Table, and then click Convert to Range.