Datasheet

Chapter 1



Navigating in Excel and Understanding the Interface

Adding and Deleting Rows and Columns

Sometimes you just need a little more information: another row or column to finish off your

report, or wrap up that expense worksheet. When this is the case, you can add new rows or

columns within your data area. When you insert a column or row, by default it takes on the

formatting from the column to the left or the row above, if the cell to the left or the cell above

has data in it. You can click the option button that appears on the lower-right corner of the

active cell to change the formatting to match the column to the right or the row below, or

choose to have no formatting attached to the new column or row (see Figure 1.6).

FIGURE 1.6 Option buttons give you easy choices to change default formatting.

3. Notice that Week Three is now cut off. Click any cell in column D.

4. From the Format menu, move down to Column and choose Autofit Selection. The col-

umn width adjusts to fit the widest item in that column. This is the same as double-click-

ing the gridline to the right of any column header, as we did in Exercise 1.7.

5. Click any cell in column A and select Format  Column  Width. Type 10 in the Column

Width box and click OK. Notice the column widens to 10 characters.

6. Click in any cell in the worksheet and select Format  Column  Standard Width. Type 12.5

in the Standard column width box and click OK. Notice that any column in the worksheet

that was set at Excel’s default width of 8.43 is now 12.5 characters wide, whereas columns

that had been changed from the standard width are not altered. Obviously, all empty col-

umns have been adjusted to 12.5 because they are still set to standard width.

7. Row heights have the same adjustment options, except you cannot change the standard

height setting. Select Format  Row and you’ll see options for Height and Autofit. Click

anywhere in row 3, and select Format  Row  Height. Change the height to 3 points, and

then click OK. Notice that the row height is too small and the data is cut off.

8. Still in row 3, go back to Format  Row and choose Autofit, and the row adjusts to fit the

height of the text in that row, which is the same as double-clicking the gridline below the

row header, explained in Exercise 1.7.

9. Leave the file open for the next exercise.

EXERCISE 1.8 (continued)

4002book.fm Page 20 Friday, March 24, 2006 11:36 PM