Schedule Properties window is very cryptic and confusing:
-> Formatting tab is NOT like MS Excel or MS Word formatting. Or like any other formatting in any software. This tab should be named Data Structuring/Data Composition, because it is a data composing tab.
-> Appearance tab contains actual table/schedule formatting tools, as the formatting concept is defined in Excel and in other software. THIS tab should be named Formatting.
For easier usage i suppose that formatting tools should be available (only) on the ribbon (like it already does), and the data structure/composition (aka the fields) should remain in the Schedule Properties window.
There should be a more intuitive and clear separation between what means data fields manipulation and what is simple schedule beautification and readability (border colors, font size, column width, cell color, etc).
Conditional formatting is the only part looking like Excel right now.
Check boxes like 'Hidden field', 'Header', 'Footer', 'Blank Line' and 'Itemize Every Instance' should be put under the ribbon, on the contextual toolbar, as they are visual options. These options are formatting options, they does not manipulate the fields data and the general outcome (totals) of the schedule in any way.
P.S. I've seen many architects and engineers at a total loss with the Schedules command in Revit. Always trying to create in-place formulas using relative references, like in Excel.
Revit should allow 'dumb' tables with simple functions and simple formulas, like Autocad tables does. It would be the simplest solution for small custom engineering formulas (strength ratios, material consumption indexes, max. pressure, max. airflow/waterflow, total deadweight, etc). Or accept Excel OLE objects inside Revit. Either one.
