MODIFYING

COLUMNS, ROWS
AND CELLS
Introduction
By default, every row and column of a new workbook is set to the
same height and width.

Excel allows you to modify column width and row height in different ways,
including wrapping text and merging cells.
Modifying Column Width
1. Position the mouse over
the column line in
the column heading so
the cursor becomes
a double arrow.
Modifying Column Width
2. Click and drag the mouse to increase or decrease the column width.
Modifying Column Width
3. Release the
mouse.
The column
width will be
changed.

NOTE: With numerical

data, the cell will
display pound
signs (#######) if the
column is too narrow.
Simply increase the
column width to make
the data visible.
 AutoFit Column Width
The AutoFit feature will allow
you to set a column's width to
fit its content automatically.

1. Position the mouse over

the column line in the column
heading so the cursor becomes
a double arrow.
AutoFit Column Width
2. Double-click the mouse. The column width will be changed automatically to fit
the content.
AutoFit Column Width
You can also AutoFit the width for several columns
at the same time.

Simply select the columns you want to AutoFit, then

select the AutoFit Column Width command from
the Format drop-down menu on the Home tab. This
method can also be used for row height.
Modify Row Height
1. Position the cursor over the row line so the cursor becomes a double arrow.
Modify Row Height
2. Click and drag the mouse to increase or decrease the row height.
Modify Row Height
3. Release the mouse. The height of the selected row will be changed.
Modify All Rows or Columns
Instead of resizing rows and columns individually, you can modify the height and width
of every row and column at the same time.

This method allows you to set a uniform size for every row and column in your
worksheet.
Modify All Rows or Columns
For example, set a uniform
row height.

1. Locate and click

the Select All button just
below the name box to
select every cell in the
worksheet.
Modify All Rows or Columns
2. Position the mouse over
a row line so the cursor
becomes a double arrow.
3. Click and drag the mouse
to increase or decrease the
row height, then release the
mouse when you are
satisfied. The row height
will be changed for the
entire worksheet.
INSERTING,
DELETING, MOVING
AND HIDING
Insert Rows
1. Select the row heading below where you want the new row to appear. In
this example, we want to insert a row between rows 4 and 5, so we'll
select row 5.
Insert Rows
2. Click the Insert command on the Home tab.
Insert Rows
3. The new row will appear above the selected row.
Insert Rows
When inserting new rows, columns, or cells, you will see a paintbrush icon next to the
inserted cells. This button allows you to choose how Excel formats these cells. By
default, Excel formats inserted rows with the same formatting as the cells in the row
above. To access more options, hover your mouse over the icon, then click the drop-
down arrow.
Insert Columns
1. Select the column heading to the right of where you want the new column to
appear. For example, if you want to insert a column between columns D and E,
select column E.
Insert Columns
2. Click the Insert command
on the Home tab.
Insert Columns
3. The new column will appear to
the left of the selected column.

NOTE: When inserting rows and

columns, make sure you select the
entire row or column by clicking
the heading. If you select only a cell
in the row or column,
the Insert command will only insert
a new cell.
Delete a Row or Column
1. Select the row you want to delete. For example, select row 9.
Delete a Row or Column
2. Click the Delete command on the Home tab.
Delete a Row or Column
3. The selected row will be deleted, and those around it will shift. For
example, row 10 has moved up, so it's now row 9.
Delete a Row or Column
It's important to understand the
difference between deleting a row
or column and simply clearing its
contents.

If you want to remove

the content from a row or column
without causing others to
shift, right-click a heading, then
select Clear Contents from the
drop-down menu.
Move a Row or Column
1. Select the desired column heading for the column you want to move.
Move a Row or Column
2. Click the Cut command on the Home tab, or press Ctrl+X on your keyboard.
Move a Row or Column
3. Select
the column heading to
the right of where you
want to move the column.

For example, if you want to

move a column between
columns E and F,
select column F.
Move a Row or Column
4. Click the Insert command
on the Home tab, then
select Insert Cut Cells from
the drop-down menu.
Move a Row or Column
5. The column will be moved to the selected location, and the columns around it will
shift.
Move a Row or Column
You can also access
the Cut and Insert commands
by right-clicking the mouse
and selecting
the desired commands from
the drop-down menu.
Hide or Unhide a Row or Column
1. Select
the columns you
want to hide, right-
click the mouse,
then
select Hide from
the formatting men
u. In our example,
we'll hide columns
C, D, and E.
Hide or Unhide a Row or Column
2. The columns will
be hidden.
The green column
line indicates the
location of the
hidden columns.
Hide or Unhide a Row or Column
3. To unhide the
columns, select the
columns
on both sides of the
hidden columns.; For
example, select
columns B and F. Then
right-click the mouse
and
select Unhide from
the formatting menu.
Hide or Unhide a Row or Column
4. The hidden columns
will reappear.
WRAPPING TEXT
AND MERGING CELLS
Wrap Text in Cells
1. Select the cells you want to
wrap. In this example, we'll
select the cells in column C.

2. Click the Wrap

Text command on
the Home tab.
Wrap Text in Cells
3. The text in the selected
cells will be wrapped.
Merge Cells Using Merge and Center
Command
1. Select the cell range you want to merge. For example, we'll select A1:F1.
2. Click the Merge & Center command on the Home tab. In our example, we'll select
the cell range A1:F1.
Merge Cells Using Merge and Center
Command
3. The selected cells will be merged, and the text will be centered.
To Center Across Selection
Merging can be useful for organizing your data, but it can also create
problems later on.

For example, it can be difficult to move, copy, and paste content from
merged cells.

A good alternative to merging is Center Across Selection, which

creates a similar effect without actually combining cells.
To Center Across Selection
1. Select the desired cell range. Example, we'll select A1:F1. Note: If you already merged
these cells, you should unmerge them before continuing to step 2.
2. Click the small arrow in the lower-right corner of the Alignment group on
the Home tab.
To Center Across Selection
3. A dialog box will appear.
Locate and select
the Horizontal drop-down
menu, select Center Across
Selection, then click OK.
To Center Across Selection
4. The content will be centered across the selected cell range. As you can see, this
creates the same visual result as merging and centering, but it preserves each cell
within A1:F1.