Prevent inheriting formatting from previous row.

I have a sheet where the first row is populated with instructions on how to complete each column (becasue the column title text is so limited - but i digress).

That row is formatted in a green color to set it off from the actual data rows. The problem is, when I go to enter data in the next row (2), that row automatically changes to the above row's green color.

As i type this, I realize i can do a conditional formatting rule that sets the format to "no fill" when the primary column is empty or populated, but I'd rather not have to do that.

Any ideas?

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Comments

J. Craig Williams

How are you adding row 2?

I've seen this behavior but can not reproduce it now.

Craig

Jamison

just selecting a cell and typing.

J. Craig Williams

OK.

I was trying to reproduce only with color formatting and it wasn't working.

Adding "bold" and it does.

After entering the data in the FIRST CELL (whereever that may be) and hitting either ENTER or TAB to exit the cell, hit CTRL+Z

Do that before you type anything else.

See if that works for you.

Craig

Kate French

Hi Jamison,

To add on J. Craig's answer - it sounds like your sheet might be applying auto-fill formatting. If there are two consecutive rows with formatting applied on your sheet, a row inserted below them (or typing into a blank row) will cause that row to inherit the above rows' format.

To avoid getting auto-filled formatting on your sheet, add a blank row between your formatted explanation row(s) and the rest of the data on your sheet, leaving a blank row. Once the sheet is set up and you're no longer entering data directly below the formatted rows, you can delete the blank row if you'd like.

More information on the auto-fill formatting can be found here: "http://help.smartsheet.com/customer/portal/articles/1641473":http://help.smartsheet.com/customer/portal/articles/1641473