Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated August 30, 2021)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016
Tom wonders if there is a way to change the automatic format settings on some of the Ribbon tools. For example, the Borders button always defaults to a single underline, but Tom would like it to be bold borders on all four sides. Or, the default colors in the Fill Color and Font Color tools always start at yellow and red, but Tom would like other combinations as his default.
There are no settings in Excel that allow you to permanently change the defaults. Once you use the tool, the option you selected (such as bold borders on all four sides) should remain as the default for the rest of the Excel session, but the next time you start the program the real default settings come back into play. It seems that these default settings are hard-coded into the program.
To get around this type of issue, most people record or create macros that apply the desired formatting. The macros can then be assigned to a button on the Quick Access Toolbar or to a shortcut key. In this way, you could simply apply your preferred formatting with the click of a button (or the typing of a shortcut key), bypassing the built-in Ribbon tools entirely.
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2016-07-13 11:23:04
Willy Vanhaelen
@No Etymology
You will find the answer to your problem in the following tip on this site:
http://excelribbon.tips.net/T003331_Relative_References_when_Recording_Macros.html
2016-07-13 03:43:06
No Etymology
Thanks for your response to my question but it didn't help me. As per your guidelines, I tried this two times.
1. I recorded a macro. My selection/cursur was in a single cell, F3. I gave All Borders. Stopped Recording the Macro. Created a new button in the quick access toolbar to run this macro. Now in the same or new sheet, no matter where my selection/cursur is, whenever i click that button or use the shortcut key that I had assigned, the macro sets an all border to F3 cell only. I want it to select whichever cell or cells I have selected anywhere in the entire sheet, be it A1 to B15 for example.
2. 1. I recorded a macro. I selected range A1 to B5. I gave All Borders. Stopped Recording the Macro. Created a new button in the quick access toolbar to run this macro. Now in the same or new sheet, no matter where my selection/cursur is, whenever i click that button or use the shortcut key that I had assigned, the macro sets an all border to cells from A1 to B5 only. I want it to select whichever cell or cells I have selected anywhere on the entire sheet.
I appreciate your inputs. Thanks
2016-01-24 15:54:39
Alec Whatmough
You can also right-click the ribbon, select Customise the Ribbon, then add a new tab. Add the commands you want into this tab. Great if you find the QAT getting a bit full..
2016-01-23 05:55:56
Petros
Any tool can be added to QAT without recording a macro. For example, right-click 'borders on all four sides' & select 'Add to QAT'. The QAT can be shown below the ribbon, if desired.
For advanced ribbon programming please visit:
http://www.spreadsheet1.com/ribbon-commander.html
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
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