Formatting Issues

How to Fix RTF Header Color Filling Every Row in Excel

WPS Content Manager Sep 30, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where opening an RTF table in Excel causes the header row's background color to incorrectly apply to all rows in the dataset.

How to Fix RTF Header Color Filling Every Row in Excel

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Opening and viewing an RTF (Rich Text Format) file containing a table in Microsoft Excel.
Observed behavior: The table header color extends across every row in the spreadsheet due to inherited table styles or active banded-row formatting settings.

Before you start

Click anywhere inside your dataset to see if the 'Table Design' tab appears on the ribbon, which confirms the data is currently formatted as an active Excel Table rather than a standard range.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable Banded Rows in Table Style Options

Turn off the banded rows feature to stop Excel from automatically applying alternating colors or extending the header background format across all rows.

Excel often applies default table styles when interpreting external table data. The Banded Rows option is frequently enabled by default, which can conflict with the original RTF header color and cause formatting to bleed downward.

Select the Table

Click any cell inside the affected RTF table to activate the table selection.

Open Table Design

Navigate to the 'Table Design' tab that appears on the top ribbon.

Clear Banded Rows

Locate the 'Table Style Options' group and uncheck the box next to 'Banded Rows'.

Formatting Updated: Once unchecked, the rows should instantly revert to a default white background, leaving only your top header colored.

Solution 2

Apply a Plain Table Style

Clear existing color styles by switching to a plain, unformatted table style if disabling banded rows does not fully resolve the issue.

Solution 3

Remove Formatting from the RTF Template

Address the root cause by modifying the original RTF file in a word processor before importing it into Excel.

Format Tables Easily with WPS Spreadsheet

WPS Spreadsheet provides precise and intuitive table style controls, allowing you to easily manage banded rows, header colors, and rich text formats without unpredictable formatting errors.

1. Open the RTF File: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your RTF file directly.
2. Access Table Tools: Click inside the table to reveal the 'Table Tools' tab on the ribbon.
3. Disable Banded Rows: Uncheck 'Banded Rows' to instantly remove the repeating header color.
4. Save Your Work: Save the document as an .xlsx file to lock in your correct formatting preferences.

Precise control over table styles and banded row formattingSeamless compatibility with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xls) and RTF formatsFamiliar user interface with easy-to-find Table Design optionsFree and lightweight alternative for everyday office tasks

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my RTF file look different when opened in Excel?

RTF (Rich Text Format) is primarily designed for text documents. When Excel imports an RTF file, it interprets the layout and may automatically apply default table styles, such as banded rows, which can alter the original appearance.

What does the Banded Rows feature do?

Banded Rows is a formatting feature in spreadsheets that applies alternating background colors to rows within a table. This creates a striped effect designed to make large sets of data easier to read across the screen.

How do I clear all table formatting entirely?

To remove all formatting, select your table, go to the Table Design tab, click the 'More' dropdown arrow in the Table Styles gallery, and click 'Clear' at the very bottom of the menu. This removes colors while keeping your data intact.

Document & File Issues