Google Sheets is a cloud-based spreadsheet application developed by Google as part of Google Workspace. Similar to Microsoft Excel, it allows us to create and edit data in spreadsheet format and easily share it online. One of the useful features of Google Sheets is the ability to create calendars for organizing and updating data.
Creating a calendar in Google Sheets may seem like a daunting task, but fear not! In this tutorial, I will teach you how to harness the power of rows and columns in Google Sheets to create a customized calendar that suits your needs.
Two Approaches to Creating a Calendar in Google Sheets
There are two ways to create a calendar in Google Sheets, but first, you’ll need to decide whether you want to create a calendar from scratch or use a calendar template. Here are the two approaches:
1. Creating a Customized Calendar from Scratch
Customized calendars are best suited if you have a specific requirement in mind, such as extra rows for daily tasks or additional space for notes.
2. Creating a Calendar Using Templates
Creating a calendar using templates is preferable if you don’t have enough time to create a calendar from scratch and want to use a pre-designed calendar and make necessary modifications.
How to Create a Customized Calendar in Google Sheets
Step 1: Create a Spreadsheet
Open a new spreadsheet in Google Sheets and name it after the current month (in this case, we renamed it “August 2023”).
Step 2: Add Calendar Title
Use the first row as the month’s name, you can merge cells and align them to format the title.
Step 3: Assign Weekdays
In the second row, write the weekdays from A1 to G1 (MONDAY, TUESDAY, …).
You can either type them manually or use the autofill feature. Simply select the first cell, click on the circle at the bottom right of the cell, hold it, and drag your mouse horizontally from A2 to G2.
Step 4: Assign Dates to Cells
Add another calendar to fill in the dates of the calendar. In this case, the month starts on a Tuesday, so I will start with 1 on Tuesday and assign dates to each cell.
Don’t forget to skip a line for a cleaner look.
Step 5: Customize the Calendar
Now, you can customize your calendar by changing the text color, giving it a background, etc.
How to Create a Calendar Using Templates
Step 1: Open Google Sheets
Open Google Sheets and create a new blank spreadsheet.
Step 2: Access the File tab, click on New, and select From Template Gallery
Go to the File tab in the top left menu, click on New, and then click on From Template Gallery. This will open a new tab in your browser where you’ll see several templates to use in your spreadsheet.
Step 3: Select the Yearly Calendar Template
In the newly opened sheet, among the various templates offered, select the yearly calendar template.
Step 4: Customize the Calendar
When you click on the yearly calendar template, it will create a calendar in a new spreadsheet. Now, you can add a personal touch to your calendar. You can change the calendar color, modify the font style, and much more.
How to Customize a Calendar in Google Sheets
To quickly customize the calendar, follow these simple steps:
- Open Google Sheets.
- Go to Format > Theme > Customize Calendar.
How to Delete a Calendar in Google Sheets
Now that we’ve learned how to create a calendar in Google Sheets, there will come a time when it is no longer needed or the associated task is complete. It is important to know how to delete or erase a calendar in Google Sheets.
Here are the steps to delete a calendar in Google Sheets:
Step 1: Open Google Sheets
Access your web browser, open Google Sheets, and sign in to your Google account. Go to the calendar you want to delete.
Step 2: Delete the Calendar
Click on the calendar and then click on Delete Rows [START_ROW, END_ROW] in the menu. In your case, the start and end rows may be different depending on the calendar.
Step 3: Confirm the Deletion
Make sure to double-check that you have deleted the correct calendar. If you accidentally deleted the calendar, don’t worry, simply press Ctrl + Z (UNDO) to bring it back.
Conclusion
Google Sheets is a powerful application for creating, managing, sharing, and editing spreadsheets. It offers various features for data analysis, chart creation, and various templates such as yearly calendars, to-do lists, etc. Managing events is one of the common use cases of Google Sheets. Now that you have learned how to create and delete calendars in Google Sheets, you can create your own customized calendars for different events and tasks, and share them with your colleagues and peers.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is Google Sheets?
Google Sheets is a popular cloud-based spreadsheet application developed by Google as part of Google Workspace. Similar to Microsoft Excel, it allows us to create, edit data in spreadsheets, and share them online. -
Does Google Sheets provide a calendar template for 2023?
Yes, Google Sheets provides a calendar template that displays the days of the week from Sunday to Saturday, and notes can be written at the bottom of the template. -
What are the uses of a customized calendar?
Customized calendars are used when traditional calendar tools do not meet our needs, such as creating a professional calendar to manage shifts, meetings, and tasks, or creating a fitness calendar to plan workout sessions. -
How to automate a calendar in Google Sheets?
- Open a spreadsheet.
- Format the calendar.
- Fill in the weekdays.
- Fill in the numbers.
- Repeat the process if necessary.
