Office Settings & Configuration

How to Create Custom Excel Table Styles with Column Colors and Banding in WPS Office Spreadsheets

Elise Williams Nov 13, 2026 869 views

Question details

Create or modify Excel table styles in WPS Office Spreadsheets so selected columns have custom fill colors and banded rows, and the formatting automatically extends when new rows are added.

How to Create Custom Excel Table Styles with Column Colors and Banding

Product: WPS Office Spreadsheets (Excel-compatible)
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: The user is working with a structured Excel table and wants a reusable custom table style with column colors and row banding instead of manually recoloring cells.
Observed behavior: The formatting should extend automatically when new rows are added without manually reapplying colors.

Before you start

Start by selecting any cell in the existing data range and converting it to a table with Insert > Table, or click anywhere in an existing table. Confirm the table headers are enabled and the table range includes every column that needs column colors or banding.

Solution 1Recommended

Create and apply a custom table style for column colors and banded rows

Use this when you want a reusable style that controls header, total, first/last column, and banded-row formatting directly from the Table Design tab.

A custom table style stores font, fill, and border settings for specific table elements. Because the style is tied to the structured table, new rows inherit the banding and emphasized-column formatting automatically.

Open the Table Design tab

Click any cell inside your Excel table, then select the Table Design tab on the WPS Spreadsheets ribbon.

Create a new table style

In the Table Styles group, click the Table Styles gallery drop-down, then choose New Table Style.

Configure table elements

In the New Table Style dialog, select Header Row, Total Row, First Column, Last Column, or Banded Rows from the Table Element list, then click Format to set Fill, Font, and Border options.

Name and apply the style

Enter a descriptive style name, click OK, and then select the new style from the Table Styles gallery to apply it to the current table.

Create and apply a custom table style for column colors and banded rows

Formatting extends automatically: Structured table formatting now extends to new rows automatically when the table grows.

Solution 2

Use conditional formatting for specific column-based colors and banding

Use this when the built-in table style elements are not enough and you need formula-driven column fills, such as alternating colors by row number in selected columns.

WPS Spreadsheets solution

Create Custom Excel Table Styles with Column Colors and Banding in WPS Office Spreadsheets

Use WPS Office Spreadsheets to create a custom Excel table style that controls header, total row, first/last column, and banded-row formatting. You can also add formula-based conditional formatting for specific column colors, and the formatting extends automatically as the table grows.

1. Convert your data into a table: Open your workbook in WPS Office Spreadsheets, select the data range, and click Insert > Table to create a structured table.
2. Open Table Design and create a style: Click inside the table, open the Table Design tab, click the Table Styles gallery drop-down, and select New Table Style.
3. Set header, total, column, and banding options: In the New Table Style dialog, choose each table element and click Format to apply fill colors, fonts, and borders.
4. Add column-specific conditional formatting: Select the table columns, go to Home > Conditional Formatting > New Rule, and use =MOD(ROW(),2)=1 or =MOD(ROW(),2)=0 with the desired fill.
5. Apply and save the workbook: Apply the new style, save the file in .xlsx format, and new table rows will inherit the formatting automatically.

Reusable custom table styles for header, total, first/last column, and banded rowsFormula-based conditional formatting for precise column colorsAutomatic formatting extension as new rows are addedFull compatibility with Microsoft Excel .xlsx filesFree to use with the same familiar ribbon layout

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my table style not apply banded row colors?

Check that the table element Banded Rows is selected and formatted in the custom style, and that the active cell is inside the table. In the Table Design tab, open the Table Styles gallery, right-click the style, and choose Modify to check its settings.

Can I make column colors extend automatically when new rows are added?

Yes. Apply a custom table style and use conditional formatting with an Applies to range that covers the entire table column. Because the range is structured, WPS Spreadsheets extends the rule when rows are added.

How do I color only one specific column in an Excel table?

Select that column, go to Home > Conditional Formatting > New Rule, create a formula-based rule, set the desired fill, and ensure the Applies to range is the table column. You can also format the First Column or Last Column element in Table Design.

Does WPS Office support the same table style options as Microsoft Excel?

WPS Office Spreadsheets supports Excel-compatible table styles, header row, total row, first/last column, banded rows, and formula-based conditional formatting in .xlsx workbooks.

How do I edit an existing custom table style?

Click inside the table, open Table Design > Table Styles, right-click the style, and choose Modify. Change the table element formatting and click OK; the table updates immediately.

Office App Problems