{"id":244368,"date":"2021-05-06T17:24:10","date_gmt":"2021-05-06T14:24:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/how-to-create-an-automatic-outline-in-microsoft-excel\/"},"modified":"2021-05-06T17:24:10","modified_gmt":"2021-05-06T14:24:10","slug":"how-to-create-an-automatic-outline-in-microsoft-excel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-create-an-automatic-outline-in-microsoft-excel\/","title":{"rendered":"#How to Create an Automatic Outline in Microsoft Excel"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3d56a48cdd7\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3d56a48cdd7\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-create-an-automatic-outline-in-microsoft-excel\/#What_You_Need_to_Create_an_Outline_in_Excel\" >What You Need to Create an Outline in Excel<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-create-an-automatic-outline-in-microsoft-excel\/#Adjust_the_Outline_Settings\" >Adjust the Outline Settings<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-create-an-automatic-outline-in-microsoft-excel\/#Create_the_Automatic_Outline\" >Create the Automatic Outline<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-create-an-automatic-outline-in-microsoft-excel\/#Format_Styles_After_Creating_the_Outline\" >Format Styles After Creating the Outline<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-create-an-automatic-outline-in-microsoft-excel\/#Remove_an_Outline\" >Remove an Outline<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><strong>&#8220;#How to Create an Automatic Outline in Microsoft Excel&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<div>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage alignnone size-full wp-image-725718\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/microsoft-excel-logo.jpg?width=1200&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Microsoft Excel logo\" width=\"1200\" height=\"555\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>It can be tough to organize a lengthy spreadsheet to make your data easier to read. Microsoft Excel offers a useful grouping feature to summarize data using an automatic outline. Here\u2019s how it\u2019s done.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_You_Need_to_Create_an_Outline_in_Excel\"><\/span>What You Need to Create an Outline in Excel<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In Microsoft Excel, you can create an outline of rows, columns, or both. To explain the basics of this topic, we\u2019ll create an outline of rows. You can <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ly the same principles if you want an outline for columns.<\/p>\n<p>For the feature to serve its purpose, there are a few things that you\u2019ll need your data to include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Each column must have a header or label in the first row.<\/li>\n<li>Each column should include similar data.<\/li>\n<li>The cell range must contain data. You cannot have blank columns or rows.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It\u2019s easiest to have your summary rows located below the data that they summarize. However, there is a way to accommodate this if your summary rows are currently positioned above instead. We\u2019ll describe how to do this first.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Adjust_the_Outline_Settings\"><\/span>Adjust the Outline Settings<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Select the cells that you want to outline and go to the Data tab.<\/p>\n<p>Click \u201cOutline\u201d on the right side of the ribbon. Then, click the dialog launcher (tiny arrow) on the bottom right of the pop-out window.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-724563\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/OutlineDialogLauncherArrow-Excel.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Go to Data, Outline, and click the dialog launcher\" width=\"316\" height=\"242\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>When the Settings window opens, uncheck the box for \u201cSummary Rows Below Detail.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-724562\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/OutlineSettingsSummaryRows-Excel.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Uncheck Summary Rows Below Detail\" width=\"514\" height=\"216\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Before you click \u201cOK,\u201d you can optionally check the box for \u201cAutomatic Styles.\u201d This will format the cells in your outline with bold, italics, and similar styles to make them stand out. If you choose not to use Automatic Styles here, we\u2019ll show you how to apply them afterward, too.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-724561\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/OutlineSettingsAutomaticStyles-Excel.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Optionally check Automatic Styles\" width=\"514\" height=\"216\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Click \u201cOK\u201d and get ready to create the outline.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Create_the_Automatic_Outline\"><\/span>Create the Automatic Outline<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you have your summary rows and other outline requirements set, it\u2019s time to create your outline.<\/p>\n<p>Select your cells, go to the Data tab, and click \u201cOutline.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-724566\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/OutlineRibbon-Excel.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Go to Data and click Outline\" width=\"316\" height=\"242\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Click the \u201cGroup\u201d arrow and choose \u201cAuto Outline\u201d in the drop-down list.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-724565\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/OutlineGroupAutoOutline-Excel.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Click Group and then Auto Outline\" width=\"321\" height=\"295\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>You should see your spreadsheet update im<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a>tely to display the outline. This includes numbers, corresponding lines, and plus and minus signs in the gray area to the left of the rows or at the top of the columns.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-724564\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/CreatedAutoOutline-Excel.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Auto Outline created in Excel\" width=\"650\" height=\"339\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The lowest number (1) and the furthest-left buttons below the 1 are for your highest-level view.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-724570\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/OutlineLevel1-Excel.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Excel Outline Level 1\" width=\"650\" height=\"107\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The next-highest number (2) and the buttons below it are for the second-highest level.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-724569\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/OutlineLevel2-Excel.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Excel Outline Level 2\" width=\"650\" height=\"175\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The numbers and buttons continue for each level until the final one. You can have up to eight levels in an Excel outline.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-724568 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/OutlineLevel3-Excel.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Excel Outline Level 3\" width=\"650\" height=\"345\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>You can use the numbers, the plus and minus signs, or both to collapse and expand your rows. If you click a number, it will collapse or expand that entire level. If you click a plus sign, it will expand that particular set of rows in the outline. A minus sign will collapse that particular set of rows.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-724567\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/OutlineLevels-Excel.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Excel Outline Levels\" width=\"650\" height=\"172\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Format_Styles_After_Creating_the_Outline\"><\/span>Format Styles After Creating the Outline<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>As previously mentioned, you can apply styles to your outline to make rows and summary rows stand out. In addition to the outline itself, this helps make the data a bit easier to read and distinguish from the rest.<\/p>\n<p>If you choose not to use the Automatic Styles option before creating your outline, you can do so afterward.<\/p>\n<p>Select the cells in the outline that you want to format, or select the entire outline if you prefer. Head back to the outline settings window with Data &gt; Outline to open the dialog launcher.<\/p>\n<p>In the Settings window, check the box for \u201cAutomatic Styles,\u201d and then click \u201cApply Styles.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-724572\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/OutlineSettingsApplyStyles-Excel.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Apply Styles to an Excel Outline\" width=\"650\" height=\"345\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>You should see the formatting styles applied to your outline. You can now click \u201cOK\u201d to close the window.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-724571\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/OutlineWithStyles-Excel.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Excel Outline with Styles\" width=\"650\" height=\"341\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>Copy Excel Formatting the Easy Way with Format Painter<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Remove_an_Outline\"><\/span>Remove an Outline<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you create an outline and decide to remove it later, it\u2019s a simple couple of clicks.<\/p>\n<p>Select your outline and head back to that Data tab one more time. Click \u201cOutline,\u201d and then the arrow below \u201cUngroup.\u201d Pick \u201cClear Outline,\u201d and you\u2019re set.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-724573\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ClearOutline-Excel.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Click Outline, Ungroup, Clear Outline\" width=\"318\" height=\"296\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"admonishment_note\"><p><strong>Note:<\/strong> If you applied styles to your outline, you\u2019d need to reformat your text manually.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Outlines aren\u2019t just handy for preparing documents. In Excel, an outline gives you a terrific way to organize and more easily analyze your data. The automatic outline takes almost all of the manual work out of the process.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>How to Use Pivot Tables to Analyze Excel Data<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. 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Microsoft Excel offers a useful grouping feature to summarize data using an automatic outline. Here\u2019s how it\u2019s done. What You Need to Create an Outline in Excel In Microsoft Excel,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":244369,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/microsoft-excel-logo.jpg?height=200p&trim=2,2,2,2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-244368","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/244368","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=244368"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/244368\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/244369"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=244368"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=244368"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=244368"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}