Google Sheets’ New Formatting Feature Has Excel Switchers Excited

Google Sheets has introduced a game-changing feature: the ability to create easily formatted tables with a single click. This feature, long available in Microsoft Excel, is a much-anticipated addition for Google Sheets users. If you have a block of data that you’d like to quickly turn into its own little island of filters and sorting rules, that’s now fully possible (or will be soon, depending on your position in Google’s rollout queue). Hooray!

As someone who has maintained a shared budget spreadsheet in Google Sheets for about a decade, I would have loved not to create all of my filters and sorting rules piece by piece. Judging by the excitement across various forums and social media, I’m not alone — people have been asking for self-contained tables like this for years.

What Google has created looks a bit like the AI-generated tables from its I/O developer conference but is more power-user-focused and doesn’t require its Gemini integration. If the new feature has hit your account already, you can try it by selecting a block of data and clicking Format > Convert to table.

A Welcome Addition for Power Users

Once you’ve done that, Sheets will automatically create filters for each column and add visual separators for your rows. This means you no longer have to manually select every other row and turn it gray. The update also includes automatically formatted column types, filters, and easier drop-down menu creation.

Enhancing User Experience

The new tables feature also includes a table menu for creating specific combinations of filters for the whole table or adjusting the range of data it covers. Additionally, Google has introduced a new view option labeled “Create group by view.” This feature lets you group data by column filters — for instance, if you have a filter for priority level, you can group records by priority one, priority two, priority three, and so on.

There are also table templates designed for everyday tasks like project management, inventory management, event planning, and more, making it even easier to organize and manage your data.

Gradual Rollout

As is typical for Google, the new tables feature will be rolled out gradually. Some users will have access by May 30th, while everyone else should receive it by June 6th. This phased rollout ensures that any initial bugs or issues can be addressed promptly, providing a smoother experience for all users.

Related Features and Improvements

This new feature complements several recent enhancements in Google Sheets, including improved scrolling for massive sheets, the ability to link multiple words in a single cell, and formula suggestions that function like autofill for math. These updates collectively aim to make Google Sheets a more robust and user-friendly tool for both casual users and power users alike.

Google Sheets’ new one-click table formatting feature is a significant step forward, particularly for those who have been longing for an easier way to organize and manage their data. With this update, Google Sheets continues to close the gap with Excel, offering users a more efficient and streamlined experience.

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The introduction of one-click tables in Google Sheets is a testament to Google's commitment to enhancing user experience and functionality. For those who have been navigating the complexities of data management manually, this feature is a welcome relief. The excitement is palpable, and for good reason — Google Sheets is becoming an increasingly powerful tool for users across the board.