Inserting and Deleting Cells, Rows, and Columns

Topics to be Covered

Deleting the Contents of a Cell

Deleting the Contents of an Entire Row or Column

Deleting a Cell

Inserting a Cell

To Delete an Entire Row or Column

To Insert and Entire Row or Column

To Delete More than One Row or Column

Topics to be Covered

This page will cover two topics deleting the contents of a cell, row, or column, and deleting or inserting an entire cell, row, or column. 

The former will only delete the data inside the cell, row or column.  After deleting the data the blank cell will be left in place.

Before Data Deletion

After Data Deletion

The latter topic deals with deleting or inserting an entire cell, row or column.  After deleting or inserting a cell, row, or column the other cells rows and columns will shift to create space for the new cell, row, or column, or they will shift to fill in the space of the old cell, row, or column.

Before Cell Deletion

After Cell Deletion

Deleting the Contents of a Cell

If you want to delete the contents of a cell but not the cell itself then see the instructions below.

1. Click on the cell you want to clear and then press the delete key on your keyboard.

or

2. Right-click on the cell and move the cursor to Clear Contents.

*Remember that this will only clear the contents of the cell but not the cell itself.

Deleting the Contents of an Entire Row or Column

If you want to clear the contents of an entire row or column but not the row or column itself then do this:

1. Highlight the entire row or column by clicking on the row or column heading.
2. Press the delete key on your keyboard.

or

3. Right-click on the row or column and then click on Clear Contents.

Deleting a Cell

To delete a cell follow these instructions:

1. Right-click on the cell you want to delete and select Delete from the drop down menu.
2. Now decide if you want the remaining cells to be shifted up or shifted to the left.  Select whichever option you want from the menu.                                                                 

Inserting a Cell

To insert a cell do this:

1. Right-click on the cell where you want a new cell inserted.
2. Click Insert on the drop down menu.                        
3. Choose to move the other cells down or to the right.                                                            

To Delete an Entire Row or Column

If you want to delete an entire row or column:

1. Select the row or column to be deleted.
2. Select Delete from the drop down menu.                                                                  
3. The remaining rows will shift up or the remaining columns will shift to the right.

To Insert and Entire Row or Column

If you want to insert a new row or column then:

1. Highlight the row or column where you want the new row or column to be inserted.
2. Right-click on the row or column.
3. Select Insert from the drop down menu.                                                                   
4. The other columns will shift to the left or the other rows will shift down.

To Delete More than One Row or Column

1. Click and hold you mouse button on the row or column heading of the first row or column you wish to delete.
2. Drag your mouse button until all the rows or columns you want to delete are highlighted.
3. Right-click on the highlighted rows or columns and select Delete.
4. Again the remaining rows will shift up or the remaining columns will shift to the right.