What you will build
Complete “Use table formatting and references” using the visible Date, Category, Description, Amount sample so each action and the final state can be checked against the source data.
Learning objectives
Open the practice workbook
Practice in your own copy
Make your own Google Sheets copy with the same data, formulas, formatting, filter and frozen header. The original remains unchanged.
Sign in to Google. If the original is not publicly shared, download the full workbook and import it into Google Sheets, or paste the example data into your own sheet.
Hands-on practice
Step 1: Select A1:D4 to confirm the table has one header row, no blank spacer rows, and one record per row. Then select A1:D1 and keep the headers bold so the table structure is easy to scan.
Step 2: Select B2:B4, open Data > Data validation, add a Dropdown rule with Food, Office, and Travel, then click Done. Keep the Date column as dates and Amount as numeric values.
Step 3: Add the test row 2026-09-04 | Office | Pens | 12 in A5:D5 to confirm a new record still follows the same four-column structure. After checking it, clear A5:D5 to restore the original sample.
Checkpoint
| Date | Category | Description | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-01 | Office | Notebook | 40 |
| 2026-09-02 | Travel | Taxi | 35 |
| 2026-09-03 | Food | Lunch | 18 |
Checkpoint: A1:D4 is restored to the original 3 sample records; B2:B4 has the Category dropdown with Food, Office, and Travel; no test data remains in row 5.
Common mistakes and fixes
Correction: return to the exact range and command named in the steps, then compare the live sheet with the Date, Category, Description, Amount source fields.
Independent practice
Add one row with the same schema, repeat the action, verify the new row behaves correctly, then remove it to restore the sample.
Key takeaways
- ✓A1:D4 uses one header row and one record per row.
- ✓The A1:D1 header row is bold so it is distinct from the data.
- ✓Category B2:B4 uses Data > Data validation with Food, Office, and Travel dropdown values.
- ✓A test record in A5:D5 confirms the four-column structure remains consistent.
- ✓Clear the test row afterward so the sheet returns to the original 3 records.
Check your understanding
Answer four questions about the practice sheet.
Next lesson
Continue in recommended learning order with Prepare a spreadsheet for printing.
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