Excel Lecture 5

Adjusting Column Width and Row Height with a Mouse

You can also adjust row heights, if you want, using the mouse. However, your row heights will adjust to any font size changes that you make to data held in a particular row. Row heights also adjust if you wrap text entries within them. You will probably find that you need to adjust column widths in your worksheets far more often than row heights.

What Is ########? When you format a value in a cell with numeric formatting and Excel cannot display the result in the cell because of the column width, Excel displays ######## in the cell. This lets you know that you need to adjust the column width so that it can accommodate the entry and its formatting.

To adjust a column width with the mouse, place the mouse pointer on the right border of the column. A sizing tool appears. Drag the column border to the desired width. You can also adjust the column width to automatically accommodate the widest entry within a column; just double-click the sizing tool. This is called AutoFit, and the column adjusts according to the widest entry.

If you want to adjust several columns at once, select the columns. Place the mouse on any of the column borders and drag to increase or decrease the width. Each selected column is adjusted to the width you select.

Changing row heights is similar to adjusting column widths. Place the mouse on the lower border of a row and drag the sizing tool to increase or decrease the row height. To change the height of multiple rows, select the rows and then drag the border of any of the selected rows to the desired height.

Inserting Rows and Columns

1.      To insert a single row or column, select a cell to the right of where you want to insert a column or below where you want to insert a row.

To insert multiple columns or rows, select the number of columns or rows you want to insert. To insert columns, drag over the column letters at the top of the worksheet. To insert rows, drag over the row numbers. For example, select three column letters or row numbers to insert three rows or columns.

2.      Select the Insert menu, and then select Rows or Columns. Excel inserts rows above your selection and columns to the left of your selection. The inserted rows or columns contain the same formatting as the cells (or rows and columns) you selected in step 1.

Fast Insert To quickly insert rows or columns, select one or more rows or columns, right-click one of them, and choose Insert from the shortcut menu.

Removing Rows and Columns

1.      Click the row number or column letter of the row or column you want to delete. You can select more than one row or column by dragging over the row numbers or column letters.

2.      Select the Edit menu and then select Delete. Excel deletes the rows or columns and renumbers the remaining rows and columns sequentially. All cell references in formulas and functions are updated appropriately.

Using autofill

Allows you to copy the content to its adjacent cells by simply dragging the fill handle.

 

Selecting a Range

Selecting or choosing a cell or range of cells makes it an active cell or an active cells. When you select a cell, it is highlighted and its address can be seen inside your name box or reference area.

 

 

To select a single cell

Simply rest the mouse pointer that looks like a fat cross to any of the cell you want to select and click the mouse. The chosen cell will be highlighted and will become the present active cell.

 

Selecting adjacent cells

 

1. Select the first cell by clicking the left button of the mouse and hold it down.
2. Drag the mouse, and watch as the range of cells are being marked up.
3. As you reach your desired range of cells, release the left mouse button.

 

There is another way:

1. Choose the first cell of the range by using the mouse or the keyboard.
2. Press the shift key, and hold it down.
3. Choose the last cell of the range and click it. The range of cells you have chosen will also be marked.

 

Selecting non-adjacent cells

 

To pick out cells that are apart from each other, simply follow the steps below:

1. Choose the first cell in the range.
2. Press down the Ctrl key while picking out non-adjacent cells.
3. Release your hold of the Ctrl key after you are through with your selections.