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Here is a quick tip to start your week.
Ever wanted to insert a few columns in between like this?
Bonus tip: You can use this to insert rows too!
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27 Responses to “Insert Multiple Columns at once [Quick tip]”
@Chandoo
You should have also said that this applies to Deleting Columns and Rows as well
Also applies to individual cells...
And if you have multiple sheets selected, it will work for all of those at once as well
deleting, inserting, hiding, unhiding, formatting, adjusting width/height, etc....
i think it would be near impossible to write every article to include every related item/fact/detail. rather, (as they used to) reading should spark ones imaginiation and 'get the wheels turning.' I'm not even 30 yet and it amazes me how little people are willing to think for themselves and find the answer on their own. HOWEVER, if every article was 'all-inclusive' i would be willing to put money on the fact that a majority of the people would be too 'lazy' to read in its entirety and still ask questions that have the answers right in front of them. ...apparently i've been on a couple online hobby related forums... hahahahha[/rant[
Can't believe I never knew this. I knew that you could insert multiple columns by using ctrl. but I never knew it would work for columns right next to each other. Cool.
If you prefer, instead of right click and choosing insert press Ctrl + (Ctrl PLUS the + sign on your numerical keypad).
Wow I've been using Shift + Control + = for years. Whoops!
I simply select the required number of rows (or columns) by clicking in a row number and dragging. Then a right click gives the menu which includes Insert and Delete.
It is only necessary to use Ctrl when the rows are not adjacent to each other.
If one wants to select a large number of adjacent rows remember that Click, followed by Shift Click is a quick way to select a large area in Excel and lots of other applications.
On the same page to insert multiple column at the same time, select the amount of columns you you want to insert all at once (not holding down ctrl), the same amount of columns will be insterted before your selection, but in this case all together, and not between the other columns selected
I'm using 2010 and when I follow these steps, I receive an error message:
That command cannot be used with selections that contain entire rows or columns, also also other cells. Try selecting ony entire rows, columsn or groups of cells.
1st select a column, then select & hold Ctrl, then select each of the other columns individually, then hit insert.
I was getting an error msg too if I hit Ctrl before selecting the 1st column 😉
Hi Chandoo
I think even quicker is inserting 1 column (ALT I C) then moving 1 column across, quickly press F4 and repeat. Maybe its cos I'm a keyboard junkie...
This is basic,,may be all people know tis ..if you want to circulate excel function ..then circulate Advance Function Like IF, Advance Vlookup with SUMIF..
Instead of "Right click and choose Insert" I use combination "Ctrl" + "Shift" + "+".
It is simply awesome...It is you who converted me from ppt lover to excel lover at this age (75)! It is awesome...simply awesome
Can you explain how you did it? I tried it's giving error.
Can’t believe I never knew this. I knew that you could insert multiple columns by using ctrl. but I never knew it would work for columns right next to each other. Cool.
Thank you!
A.Sivakumar
ISYS Softech
If i am doing the same procedure with my excel 2007 it error message showing. That command can not be used with selections that contain entire rows or columns, and also other cells. Try selecting only entire rows, entire columns or just groups of cells.
If i am doing the same procedure with my excel 2007 it error message showing. That command can not be used with selections that contain entire rows or columns, and also other cells. Try selecting only entire rows, entire columns or just groups of cells.
Have you ever try it with 20 or more columns/rows? Only macro or VBA helps...
Hi Chandoo,
If i want to insert one row after every row (ref. below case), Can i do that with out using Macros.
Eg. I have a data from A2 to F22 and want to insert each blank row between 2 and 22 rows.
Regards,
CP
Chandra, I have had to do this before as well. I can think of two ways to do it:
1) highlight the entire row 3 and insert a row. I like to use crlt + . Arrow down two rows press F4 to repeat the insert. Repeat until done
2) Use a sort to add blank lines.
First a a column to the left of your data.
Series fill A2:A22. A quick way to do that is enter 1 in cell A2. Then ctrl drag down to A22.
if necessary insert new rows below A22
Series fill A23:A44. Enter 1.5 in A23 then ctrl drag down to A44.
Resort your data based on the values in column A
This method works well when you have lots of rows to insert.
Thanks, but not working in my excel 2007
Thanks you so much it really solve more problems.
i am a member and are interested in 2007 (and later) excel VBA to hyperlink all files in a directory and its sub-directories.
i tried several solutions given in the web but so far i was unable to get the right one because mostly they were good for 2003 excel but not for 2007 and later excel while others fail because they stop after getting the files from the directory but stopped when going to sub directories.
Thanks, it really solve more problems
Hi Chandoo,
Its cool, I have learned the New topic in Excel Today thank you,
But here I need same process with Data, not Blank columns i Need Data filled columns to be place in each columns right side ji can you pls Help me.