07 Rows, Columns and Freeze Panes

Difficulty Level: Beginner

Excel Version: XP

Assumed Knowledge: None

 

The aim of the tutorial is to:

show you how to add and remove rows and columns on a worksheet, resize rows and columns, and to understand and use freeze frames.

Inserting a row

Rows can be added to the worksheet before or after data has already been entered.

To add a row:

  1. Click on a cell that is in the row that you want to move down when an additional row is inserted above.
  2. Click on Insert on the menu bar.
  3. Click on row.

Or

  1. Right-click on the row label (number on the left) so the entire row is selected (black border and highlighted in pale blue). This row will move down when you insert a row above it.
  2. In the pop-down menu click on Insert.

Deleting a row

Rows can be deleted from the worksheet before or after data has already been entered.

To delete a row:

  1. Click on the grey row label on the left of the worksheet and the entire row should appear highlighted.
  2. On the menu bar click on Edit.
  3. In the pop-down menu click on Delete.
    The row will be deleted.

Or

  1. Right-click on the row label (number on the left) so the entire row is selected (black border and highlighted in pale blue). This row will be deleted.
  2. In the pop-down menu click on Delete.

Inserting a column

Columns can be added to the worksheet before or after data has already been entered.

To add a column:

  1. Click on a cell that is in the column that you want to move to the right when an additional column is inserted to the right.
  2. Click on Insert on the menu bar.
  3. Click on column.

Or

  1. Right-click on the column label (letter along the top) so the entire column is selected (black border and highlighted in pale blue). This column will move right when you insert a column before it.
  2. In the pop-down menu click on Insert.

Deleting a column

Columns can be deleted from a worksheet before or after data has already been entered.

To delete a column:

  1. Click on the column label (letter along the top) so the entire column is selected (black border and highlighted in pale blue). This column will be deleted.
  2. On the menu bar click on Edit.
  3. In the pop-down menu click on Delete.
    The highlighed column will be deleted from the worksheet.

Or

  1. Right-click on the column label (letter along the top) so the entire column is selected (black border and highlighted in pale blue). This column will be deleted.
  2. In the pop-down menu click on Delete.

Changing row heights

There are many ways to change the heights of rows:

  1. Click and drag - you can check the row height on screen as you change it.
  2. Enter a specific row height - this is good for accuracy.
  3. AutoFit - row heights can be set to ensure that all existing data in the row is visible.

To resize a row using the click and drag method:

  1. Use the mouse to move the pointer on to the row labels (numbers on the left).
  2. Ensure the pointer is on the line between two row lables until the pointer arrow changes to a double-ended arrow.
  3. Drag the arrow up to reduce the row height or drag it down to increase the row height.
  4. Release the mouse at the new row height.

To resize a row or rows by specifying the height:

  1. Select the row or rows to be resized using the labels on the left of the worksheet.
  2. Click on Format on the menu bar.
  3. In the pop-down menu move the pointer to Row.
  4. Move the pointer to the new menu and click on Height.
  5. Type in the new row height.
  6. Click OK.

To resize a row or rows using AutoFit:

  1. Select the row or rows to be resized using the labels on the left of the worksheet.
  2. On the menu bar click on Format.
  3. In the pop-down menu hover the mouse over Row.
  4. Click on AutoFit.
  5. Press any arrow key to deselect the row or rows.

Changing column widths

There are many ways to change the width of columns:

  1. Click and drag - you can check the column width on screen as you change it.
  2. Enter a specific column width - this is good for accuracy.
  3. AutoFit Selection - column widths can be set to ensure that all existing data in the column is visible.

To resize a column using the click and drag method:

  1. Use the mouse to move the pointer onto the column labels (letters along the top).
  2. Ensure the pointer is on the line between two column lables until the pointer arrow changes to a double-ended arrow.
  3. Drag the arrow left to reduce the column width or drag it right to increase the column width.
  4. Release the mouse at the new column width.

To resize a column or columns by specifying the width:

  1. Select the column or columns to be resized using the labels at the top of the worksheet.
  2. Click on Format on the menu bar.
  3. In the pop-down menu move the pointer to column.
  4. Move the pointer to the new menu and click on Width.
  5. Type in the new column width.
  6. Click OK.

To resize a column or columns using AutoFit Selection:

  1. Select the column or columns to be resized using the labels at the top of the worksheet.
  2. On the menu bar click on Format.
  3. In the pop-down menu hover the mouse over Column.
  4. Click on AutoFit Selection.
  5. Press any arrow key to deselect the row or rows.

Freeze Panes

If you have a large worksheet with several column and row headings, those headings will disappear as your worksheet gets bigger and bigger and as you scroll around it. The Freeze Panes feature can be used to keep headings visible at all times as shown in the illustration below.

In this illustration a freeze pane has been added to row 1 which contains the column headings. As the worksheet is scrolled row 1 will remain stationary while the remaining rows move.

To freeze a pane:

  1. Decide which row should remain frozen at the top of the worksheet (in the above illustration this is row 1).
  2. Click on the label of the row below (in the above illustration this is row 2).
  3. Click on Window on the menu bar.
  4. In the drop-down menu click on Freeze Panes.

To remove the frozen panes:

  1. Click on Window on the menu bar.
  2. Click on Unfreeze Panes.

 

Exercises

For exercises to practice the above click here.

 

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