Datasheet

Chapter 1

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Navigating in Excel and Understanding the Interface

Selecting Contiguous and Noncontiguous Ranges

Now that you know how to cut, copy, and paste data, as well as how to delete data, cells, and

whole rows and columns, it is time to learn how to select multiple cells at one time so you can

perform these actions on contiguous or noncontiguous blocks of cells, rows, or columns.

Again, before you begin, you must understand what certain terms mean:

Range The term applied to any block of cells. In Excel, a range is designated or named by

showing the first cell in the range, then a colon (:), then the last cell in the range. For example,

the range of cells that starts at cell A1 and continues down and to the right to cell E5 would

be called A1:E5 (see Figure 1.7).

FIGURE 1.7 The selected range, A1:E5, includes contiguous cells.

Contiguous Refers to cells that are adjacent to each other. The range in Figure 1.7 is a range

of contiguous cells.

Noncontiguous Refers to cells or ranges that are not adjacent to one another. If I selected

cells A3, B5, and the range C6:E8, I would be making a noncontiguous selection (see

Figure 1.8).

When you paste a range, you do not need to select the range where it will be pasted. Simply

click the first cell of the targeted range area, and paste there. Excel will determine how many

cells are needed and fill the cells appropriately. Another quirk about pasting in Excel is when

you paste cells, the column width settings are not automatically pasted along with the data and

7. Cut the data, and then click cell A7 and paste.

8. Move to the March Sales sheet, and then highlight the data in cells A12 through E12 and cut it.

9. Right-click cell A7 and choose Insert Cut Cells. This pastes the cells in a new row above

the cell you were in when you chose the Insert command. (If you would prefer to use the

menu instead of right-clicking, click cell A7 and choose Insert  Cut Cells.)

10. Save the file by clicking the Save button on the Standard toolbar or by choosing File 

Save. This will overwrite the file with the newer version. Close the file.

EXERCISE 1.16 (continued)

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