Remove Table Format in Excel

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Author: | Edits: don

Convert a table back into a regular set of cells.  This removes any automated table features and I'll show you how to quickly remove the visual formatting as well.

Oddly enough, this isn't as straightforward as it seems like it should be.

Steps to Remove a Table Format

  1. Select a cell anywhere in the table.
  2. Go to the Design tab that should appear when you select a table. Click Convert to Range
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  3. Click Yes in the small window that appears.
    2e4e5e365d6a7eb83b35670611a24909.png
  4. That's it!
    2f1d771cdde5f4ccdcdc44a80c4df984.png

The format looks the same but the cells are no longer an actual "table" within Excel.

If you click in the % of Goal column, all the formulas have been converted to use regular cell references instead of structured references.

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Also, the table features are no longer readily available.

Remove Formatting

To remove the table's appearance quickly, highlight the table, go to the Home tab and look all the way to the right and click the Clear button and then Clear Formats

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It now looks like this:

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Notes

If you convert a table back to a range and then convert it again to a table, any formulas you had in the table will be stuck using regular cell references and the Totals row, if it existed, will be considered a normal row at first.  It is not advisable to switch between Table and regular cells and back again.

Download the sample Excel file attached to this tutorial so you can try this out in Excel.


Downloadable Files: Excel File

Question? Ask it in our Excel Forum


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Downloadable Files: Excel File
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