The Secret Microsoft Excel Steps That Allows You To Select 50 Columns with just 5 Mouse Clicks

One of the great challenges that we have when working with Microsoft Excel is selecting large volumes of columns or rows as quickly as possible. The core reason we usually need to select such large numbers of columns is usually to hide them. For example if you are building a template for users to use, you would generally try to ensure that the only cells that they see is just the ones that you want them to use or put data into. However, one of the challenges we face is trying to select all those columns or rows as quickly as possible without having to drag the mouse over them. The process for hiding the columns is really simply. Just go to the Format menu, choose column from the drop down menu and then choose Hide but trying to select 50 columns or more can take a while and when we are using Microsoft Excel we really want to be as efficient as possible.

In fact, there is a technique that allows you to select all columns or all the rows in just 5 clicks. This technique can be used to select just a small selection of columns or rows like fifty or you could select 60,000 rows or 250 columns.

So let me expose this very efficient technique ?

The absolute first step in carrying out these secret steps is to open Microsoft Excel and to create a brand new document. Now you can do this by simply choosing the shortcut keystroke - [Ctrl] + [N]. So let us begin the 5 Click Steps.

Click 1 - Select the cell in the first column of the selection

Okay, first of all we need to click in the cell of the first column that you want to select. This technique I am sharing with you will only select consecutive cells. Sorry about that, but that's the way it goes. Lets make this interesting, I want you to select the cell address D1.

Click 2 - Press the [F5] key to access the Go To dialog box.

I am a great believer in knowing your shortcut keystrokes, so of course my solution is to use the shortcut keystroke [F5] however, it is also possible to bring the Go To dialog up by choosing the Edit menu and then choosing the Go To command or alternatively using the shortcut keystroke [Ctrl] + [G]. Okay, with all that said and done you should have the Go To dialog box in front of you.

Click 3 - Type in a cell address of the last column you want in the selection

In Click 3 of our five click process we want to enter the cell address of the last column we want to select. I think for this example we shall type in the value of IV1, the absolutely last column in the worksheet. Simply type into the Reference text box, IV1 but do not click the OK button yet!

Click 4 - Hold down the [Shift] key

The next step is that we need to tell the application that we want to select all the cell addresses between the first cell address D1 to IV1. So hold down your [Shift] key and keep it held down.

Click 5 - Press the OK button

Whilst you still have the [Shift] key held down, simply move your mouse pointer over the OK button in the Go To dialog box and press the OK button once with your left mouse button. What you should notice instantly is that the cell range D1 to IV1 is now selected.

The really cool part about this now is that if we wanted to hide those columns we can simply go to the Format menu, then choose Columns from the drop down menu and then Hide from the expanded menu and all the columns from D through to IV would be hidden. Using this 5 Click method will save you a lot of time when trying to do this when building templates.

You can also use this same 5 Click technique for hiding a large volume of consecutive rows are well. In the case of rows simply choose the first row in the selection and then enter the last row in the selection. Once they are selected you can once again go to the Format menu and this time, choose Rows from the drop down menu and then Hide.

Chris Le Roy provides a range of services including a daily mailing list that provides Tips on Microsoft Excel as well as he has Microsoft Excel Cheat Sheets to help you remember your functions and your Excel Shortcuts and Microsoft Excel 2003 Free Training Information