If you work with data in Microsoft Excel, you know how important it is to be able to quickly and easily expand or collapse columns. After all, data sets can often be very large, and scrolling back and forth between different parts of the sheet can be time-consuming and frustrating. That’s why we’ve put together this list of 15 essential Excel shortcuts for expanding and collapsing columns.
1. To expand the width of a column to fit its contents, simply double-click on the right-hand border of the column header.
2. To collapse a column, so that it’s width is reduced to the minimum necessary to fit its contents, simply double-click on the left-hand border of the column header.
3. To quickly expand or collapse all columns on a sheet, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+A (select all), then double-click on the right-hand border of any column header.
4. To expand or collapse all columns to a specific width, select all columns (Ctrl+A), then double-click on the right-hand border of the column header and enter the desired width.
5. To quickly expand or collapse all rows on a sheet, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+A (select all), then double-click on the bottom border of any row header.
6. To expand or collapse all rows to a specific height, select all rows (Ctrl+A), then double-click on the bottom border of the row header and enter the desired height.
7. To expand or collapse all cells in a selection, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+A (select all), then double-click on the right-hand border of any cell.
8. To quickly expand or collapse all cells in a selection to a specific size, select all cells (Ctrl+A), then double-click on the right-hand border of the cell and enter the desired width and height.
9. To expand or collapse all cells in a sheet to a specific size, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+A (select all), then double-click on the right-hand border of any cell and enter the desired width and height.
10. To quickly expand or collapse all rows and columns in a sheet, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+A (select all), then double-click on the right-hand border of any cell.
11. To expand or collapse all rows and columns in a selection to a specific size, select all cells (Ctrl+A), then double-click on the right-hand border of the cell and enter the desired width and height.
12. To quickly expand or collapse all cells in a sheet, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+A (select all), then double-click on the right-hand border of any cell, then press the Enter key.
13. To expand or collapse all cells in a selection to a specific size, select all cells (Ctrl+A), then double-click on the right-hand border of the cell, then press the Enter key and enter the desired width and height.
14. To quickly expand or collapse all rows and columns in a sheet, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+A (select all), then double-click on the right-hand border of any cell, then press the Enter key.
15. To expand or collapse all rows and columns in a selection to a specific size, select all cells (Ctrl+A), then double-click on the right-hand border of the cell, then press the Enter key and enter the desired width and height.
Excel is a powerful tool for organizing and analyzing data, but it can be time-consuming to manually adjust column widths to fit your data. Fortunately, there are many shortcuts you can use to quickly expand columns and make your work more efficient. In this article, we’ll cover 15 essential Excel shortcuts for expanding columns.
1. AutoFit Column Width
The easiest way to expand a column to fit its contents is to use the AutoFit Column Width shortcut. Simply select the column you want to adjust, then press the Alt key and the H key, followed by the O key. This will automatically adjust the column width to fit the longest entry in that column.
2. AutoFit Row Height
If you need to adjust the height of a row to fit its contents, you can use the AutoFit Row Height shortcut. Select the row you want to adjust, then press the Alt key and the H key, followed by the I key. This will automatically adjust the row height to fit the tallest entry in that row.
3. Increase Column Width
If you need to manually adjust the width of a column, you can use the Increase Column Width shortcut. Select the column you want to adjust, then press the Alt key and the H key, followed by the W key. This will increase the width of the column by one character.
4. Decrease Column Width
To decrease the width of a column, use the Decrease Column Width shortcut. Select the column you want to adjust, then press the Alt key and the H key, followed by the Q key. This will decrease the width of the column by one character.
5. Increase Row Height
If you need to manually adjust the height of a row, you can use the Increase Row Height shortcut. Select the row you want to adjust, then press the Alt key and the H key, followed by the A key. This will increase the height of the row by one point.
6. Decrease Row Height
To decrease the height of a row, use the Decrease Row Height shortcut. Select the row you want to adjust, then press the Alt key and the H key, followed by the M key. This will decrease the height of the row by one point.
7. Adjust Column Width to Specific Size
If you need to adjust a column to a specific width, you can use the Adjust Column Width to Specific Size shortcut. Select the column you want to adjust, then press the Alt key and the O key, followed by the C key. This will open the Column Width dialog box, where you can enter the desired width in characters.
8. Adjust Row Height to Specific Size
To adjust a row to a specific height, use the Adjust Row Height to Specific Size shortcut. Select the row you want to adjust, then press the Alt key and the O key, followed by the R key. This will open the Row Height dialog box, where you can enter the desired height in points.
9. Hide Columns
If you need to hide a column, you can use the Hide Columns shortcut. Select the column you want to hide, then press the Ctrl key and the 0 key. This will hide the selected column.
10. Unhide Columns
To unhide a hidden column, use the Unhide Columns shortcut. Select the columns on either side of the hidden column, then press the Ctrl key and the Shift key, followed by the 0 key. This will unhide the hidden column.
11. Hide Rows
If you need to hide a row, you can use the Hide Rows shortcut. Select the row you want to hide, then press the Ctrl key and the 9 key. This will hide the selected row.
12. Unhide Rows
To unhide a hidden row, use the Unhide Rows shortcut. Select the rows above and below the hidden row, then press the Ctrl key and the Shift key, followed by the 9 key. This will unhide the hidden row.
13. Select Entire Column
If you need to select an entire column, you can use the Select Entire Column shortcut. Click on any cell in the column you want to select, then press the Ctrl key and the Spacebar. This will select the entire column.
14. Select Entire Row
To select an entire row, use the Select Entire Row shortcut. Click on any cell in the row you want to select, then press the Shift key and the Spacebar. This will select the entire row.
15. Select Entire Worksheet
If you need to select the entire worksheet, you can use the Select Entire Worksheet shortcut. Click on the box in the upper left corner of the worksheet, where the row and column headings meet, then press the Ctrl key and the A key. This will select the entire worksheet.
By using these shortcuts, you can quickly and easily adjust column widths and make your work in Excel more efficient. Whether you need to adjust a single column or the entire worksheet, these shortcuts will save you time and help you work more effectively.
