To have the width of the column accomodate the longest value, double-click the separator to the right of the column label.

To add odd-even row coloring to a spreadsheet, highlight the block of rows that you want colored and enter a conditional formatting formula:

1. Select the cells you want to format.

2. Access the menu: Format > Conditional Formatting...

3. Change the condition dropdown to Formula is.

4. Click the Format... button and select the formatting you want.

5. Enter the appropriate formula below:

   =MOD(ROW()-Rw,N*2)+1<=N
   

   For example:

   =MOD(ROW()-2,1*2)+1<=1
   

Where Rw is the first row to be formatted and N is the number of rows for banding. If you want to alternate, set N to 1. For even banding, change the conditional to >N instead of <=N.