It can be a big help if your data in Excel is easy to read (avoiding errors in calculations and or data analysis). I know there are more ways than one to achieve that goal, in this article I'll show you some code that handles the solution without using conditional formatting. It's a rough and simple solution...

To address the problem visually look at the differences between the images below...

The original layout

The new and improved layout ;-)

For those of you that are not familiar with VBA / macro's use the steps below...

• If you use the latest version of Excel make sure you've got the "Developer" tab in Excel
• Next press the button "Record Macro"
• Then press the button "Stop Recording"
• Press ALT + F8
• Choose "Edit"
• Copy and paste the code below (or download a text file containing the code here...)
• Save your Excel !!!
• Press ALT + F8 and Run the Macro

Sub ImproveReadability()
'
' ImproveReadability Macro
'
' Developer: Winko Erades van den Berg
' E-mail : winko at winko-erades.nl
' Developed: 10-10-2011
' Modified: 10-10-2011
' Version: 1.0
'
' Description: Improve the readability of your Excel worksheet data by using colors

'Declare variables
Dim iRow As Long
Dim iCol As Long
Dim HeaderRow as Integer

'Constant values
HeaderRow = InputBox("Specify the row that contains the header information:") 'Create Input Box to ask the user where the header starts
iCol = ActiveSheet.UsedRange.Columns.Count 'Determine how many columns are in use

'Change de header lay-out
ActiveSheet.Range(ActiveSheet.Cells(HeaderRow, 1), ActiveSheet.Cells(HeaderRow, iCol)).Select
     With Selection.Interior 'Fill Color
         .Pattern = xlSolid
         .PatternColorIndex = xlAutomatic
        .ThemeColor = xlThemeColorLight2
        .TintAndShade = 0
        .PatternTintAndShade = 0
     End With

     With Selection.Font 'Font Color
        .ThemeColor = xlThemeColorDark1
        .TintAndShade = 0
     End With
     Selection.Font.Bold = True 'Font Bold

'Start highlighting alternate rows
For iRow = HeaderRow + 2 To ActiveSheet.UsedRange.Rows.Count Step 2
ActiveSheet.Range(ActiveSheet.Cells(iRow, 1), ActiveSheet.Cells(iRow, iCol)).Select
     With Selection.Interior 'Fill Color
        .Pattern = xlSolid
        .PatternColorIndex = xlAutomatic
        .ThemeColor = xlThemeColorLight2
        .TintAndShade = 0.75
        .PatternTintAndShade = 0
     End With
Next iRow

End Sub

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