In this article, we will examine some of the more useful Excel selection techniques; namely those which involve using the mouse in conjunction with the keyboard. One of the most useful is click then Shift-click. This is particularly handy for selecting a large range of data since it allows you to simply click on two opposite corners of the rectangular range of cells which you want to highlight. To perform this technique, begin by clicking in the top left cell of the range you want to highlight. Next, scroll to reveal the bottom right cell of the range to be highlighted. Finally, holding down the Shift key, click on the bottom right cell. All the cells between the two cells that you have just clicked on will now be highlighted.
The other modifier key on your keyboard which can be used in conjunction with the mouse to make selections is the Control key. Whereas the mouse and Shift key combination only allows us to make rectangular selections using the mouse in conjunction with the Control key we can make non-contiguous selections; in other words, we can select cells which aren't adjacent to each other. Once highlighted, the next operation you perform will only apply to the highlighted cells. For example, we might copy the cells and paste them into a new worksheet.
A less commonly-used technique is to double-click one of the edges of the bold rectangle which surrounds the currently selected area while holding down the Shift key. You may have notice that Excel always displays a bold border around the highlighted cells. By holding down the Shift key and double-clicking on the right-hand edge of this border, you can select all the cells up to the right-hand edge of the current range. The first column that contains blank cells will act as a boundary and Excel will only select up to that boundary. Naturally, you can also extend your selection by holding down the Shift key and double-clicking on any of the other borders as well.
It is also possible to make selections using just the keyboard and no mouse. Only contiguous ranges of cells can be selected in this way. All you need to do is hold down the Shift key while pressing one of the cursor keys. For example, if you press the right cursor key, you will select to the right; pressing the down cursor key will select adjacent rows; and so on. You can also move back in the opposite direction to remove cells from the selection.
To select all the cells up to the edge of a range of data, hold down the Control and Shift keys while pressing one of the cursor keys. For example, the right cursor key will select all the cells up to the right edge of the current range; the down arrow will select all the cells to the bottom; and so forth.
As well as pressing the cursor keys, you can use the End key. Hold down Control and Shift and press the End key to select all the cells to the bottom right of the current range.
The other modifier key on your keyboard which can be used in conjunction with the mouse to make selections is the Control key. Whereas the mouse and Shift key combination only allows us to make rectangular selections using the mouse in conjunction with the Control key we can make non-contiguous selections; in other words, we can select cells which aren't adjacent to each other. Once highlighted, the next operation you perform will only apply to the highlighted cells. For example, we might copy the cells and paste them into a new worksheet.
A less commonly-used technique is to double-click one of the edges of the bold rectangle which surrounds the currently selected area while holding down the Shift key. You may have notice that Excel always displays a bold border around the highlighted cells. By holding down the Shift key and double-clicking on the right-hand edge of this border, you can select all the cells up to the right-hand edge of the current range. The first column that contains blank cells will act as a boundary and Excel will only select up to that boundary. Naturally, you can also extend your selection by holding down the Shift key and double-clicking on any of the other borders as well.
It is also possible to make selections using just the keyboard and no mouse. Only contiguous ranges of cells can be selected in this way. All you need to do is hold down the Shift key while pressing one of the cursor keys. For example, if you press the right cursor key, you will select to the right; pressing the down cursor key will select adjacent rows; and so on. You can also move back in the opposite direction to remove cells from the selection.
To select all the cells up to the edge of a range of data, hold down the Control and Shift keys while pressing one of the cursor keys. For example, the right cursor key will select all the cells up to the right edge of the current range; the down arrow will select all the cells to the bottom; and so forth.
As well as pressing the cursor keys, you can use the End key. Hold down Control and Shift and press the End key to select all the cells to the bottom right of the current range.
About the Author:
The author is a training consultant with Macresource Computer Solutions, an independent computer training company offering Microsoft Excel 2007 training courses at their central London training centre.
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