Use conditional formatting (Format-Conditional Formatting)

Select the range you want formatted this way, THEN use the menu to open the
dialog box. Use Formula Is and the formula would be

=Mod(row(),2)=0

Click on the format button and go to the Pattern tab and choose the color
you want
Click on OK, then click on the Add button (I think it's Add, or new
condition, or such). Again use Formula Is and use

=Mod(row(),2)=1

Repeat the earlier steps but choose the alternating color




"John Gregory" wrote:

I wish to shade the background with alternating stripes of light-blue and
white for legibility of the data output (similar to the old computer
print-out paper).

I can cut and paste the format, but when I do a data sort, it takes to cell
shading along with it. Is there a way to create a fixed background that does
not move if I sort, insert, or delete cells?