WPS Alternate Row Marking on Windows helps you display alternating row colors in the current worksheet for easier data reading; this guide covers 1 core task, with 1 available without membership and 0 membership-related items.
At a Glance
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core tasks | 1 | Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index |
| Available without membership | 1 | Matches the number of Free rows in the index |
| Membership-related items | 0 | Matches the number of membership-related rows in the index |
About This Feature
Overview
Alternate Row Marking is a built-in display feature in WPS Sheets on Windows. It applies alternating background colors by row in the current worksheet so you can scan spreadsheet data more easily.
This spreadsheet viewing feature is useful for detail tables, shared worksheets, and long data lists. After you turn it on, the alternating row effect appears right away. Click the same control again to turn it off, or open the drop-down menu to choose a custom color scheme.
System Requirements
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| OS | A Windows device that can run WPS Office normally |
| App version | It is recommended to use the latest version of WPS Office |
| Network | No mandatory internet connection is required for this local display feature; keep a connection for online collaboration scenarios |
| Other | You need to be able to open a worksheet file in WPS Sheets |
Download & Installation
Before you use Alternate Row Marking, install WPS Office on your Windows device and open a spreadsheet file.
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Official Download | WPS Office Free Download |
| Post-install Check | Launch WPS Office, open a spreadsheet file, and check whether the Alternate Row Marking entry is available on the View tab |
Source: WPS Download Center
Compare with Alternatives
| Dimension | WPS | Microsoft | Notion | Adobe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capability Summary | In the View tab, you can turn Alternate Row Marking on or off directly and use the drop-down menu to choose a color scheme for the current worksheet. | Microsoft officially documents alternating row or column colors through table style options such as Banded Rows or Banded Columns, mainly within table design settings. | Google Sheets officially documents Alternating colors as part of spreadsheet formatting options. | Notion officially documents table views, row and column arrangement, text wrapping, and calculations, but this help page does not describe a built-in alternating row shading toggle like a spreadsheet view switch. | Adobe InDesign officially documents alternating strokes and fills for table rows and columns through table options for layout and design work. |
| WPS Advantages | Advantage: the control is placed directly on the View tab for quick worksheet reading changes, and you can switch the effect on or off immediately while choosing a color scheme. | Compared with WPS, Microsoft focuses more on table style settings for structured tables rather than a worksheet view toggle. | Compared with WPS, Google also supports alternating colors, but it is presented as a formatting option rather than a worksheet display switch. | Compared with WPS, Notion focuses more on database organization and table views, and this page does not describe the same kind of alternating row display control. | Compared with WPS, Adobe provides alternating fills mainly for publishing and layout workflows instead of everyday spreadsheet viewing. |
| Official Source | — | Apply a table style | Edit and format a spreadsheet | Table view | Table strokes and fills |
Overall Conclusion
If you want a quick way to improve row-by-row readability in a worksheet, WPS Alternate Row Marking is convenient for direct viewing changes. Microsoft, Google, Notion, and Adobe also provide related table styling or display capabilities, but they are generally positioned around table styles, database views, or publishing layouts rather than a simple worksheet view toggle.
Use Cases
| # | Scenario | Target Users | Core Pain Point | Solution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Review long data lists | Finance staff, admins, and operations users | It is easy to misread adjacent rows in large worksheets | Turn on Alternate Row Marking to improve row separation |
| 2 | Read shared worksheets | Team collaborators | It can be harder to track the current row during collaborative review | Enable Alternate Row Marking in the current worksheet for clearer reading |
| 3 | Present detailed data | Reporting users | Table rows are harder to distinguish during screen sharing or presentations | Use Alternate Row Marking to improve readability |
| 4 | Check imported records | Data processing users | Continuous imported records are harder to verify row by row | Use alternating row colors to review data faster |
| 5 | Adjust reading colors | Users who prefer personalized display settings | The default display may not fit personal reading habits | Choose a color scheme from the drop-down menu |
Membership & Benefits
Free vs WPS Premium
| Feature | Free User | WPS Member |
|---|---|---|
| Alternate Row Marking toggle | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Basic PDF features | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Cloud storage | 1 GB | 20 GB |
| Template downloads | Limited | More advanced template benefits |
| Advanced PDF and more advanced capabilities | Partially limited | More benefits are available |
Source: WPS Office pricing page
Recommendations
| Use Case | Recommended Plan | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| You only need to view worksheets and switch Alternate Row Marking | Free version | This feature itself does not require membership |
| You also need more cloud storage, templates, and advanced office capabilities | WPS Member | Suitable for users who want broader office benefits at the same time |
How to Subscribe
- WPS membership center: Subscribe now
Source: WPS Office pricing page