Excel > Excel 2003 Foundation > Managing Worksheets

Inserting and Deleting Rows, Columns and Cells

At times you will need to insert additional rows or columns into the worksheet, but you cannot exceed the maximum 65,536 rows and 256 columns per worksheet.

Inserting rows on a worksheet

To insert new a new row:

1. Select the row, or a cell in the row below where you want the inserted row to appear. For example, if you wanted to insert a row between rows 7 and 8, select row 8.
2. Click Insert > Rows

To insert more than one row:

1. Select the number of rows you would like to insert below where you want the inserted row to appear. For example, if you wanted to insert 3 rows between rows 7 and 8, select rows 8, 9 and 10.
2. Click Insert > Rows

Inserting columns on a worksheet

To insert a new column:

1. Select the column, or a cell in the column to the right of where you want the inserted column to appear. For example, if you wanted to insert a column between columns C and D, select column D.
2. Click Insert > Columns

To insert more than one column

1. Select the number of columns you would like to insert to the right of where you want the inserted columns to appear. For example, if you want to insert 2 columns between columns C and D, select columns D and E.
2. Click Insert > Columns

Inserting cells on a worksheet

To insert cells onto a worksheet:

1. Select the cell, or the range of cells where you want to insert the new cells. Select the same number of cells as you would like to insert
2. Click Insert > Cells
3. In the dialogue box that appears select the direction in which to shift the surrounding cells

When you insert rows, columns or cells, any references to cells that are affected in the worksheet are adjusted accordingly.

Deleting rows, columns and cells

To delete rows or columns:

1. Select the rows or columns to be deleted.
2. Click Edit > Delete
3. The rows or columns are deleted and all other rows and columns are shifted up and to the left

To delete cells on a worksheet:

1. Select the cell or cells to be deleted.
2. Click Edit > Delete
3. In the dialogue box that appears select the direction in which to shift the surrounding cells

Pressing the delete key only removes the contents from the cells and will not delete the rows, columns or cells.

When you delete rows, columns or cells, any references to cells that are affected in the worksheet are adjusted accordingly, unless it refers to a cell that has been deleted.

Clear cells Inserting and deleting sheets

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