Introduction

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Insert rows and columns
• Delete rows and columns

Inserting a row

You can insert a row in a spreadsheet anywhere you need it. Excel moves the existing rows down to make room for the new one.

To insert a row:

• Click anywhere in the row below where you want to insert the new row.
• Choose InsertRows from the menu bar.
  
  
• A new row is inserted above the cell(s) you originally selected.

OR

• Click anywhere in the row below where you want to insert the new row.
• Right-click and choose Insert from the shortcut menu.
  
  
• The Insert dialog box opens.
  
  
• Choose Entire Row.
• Click OK.
• A new row is inserted above the cell(s) you originally selected.
  
  

Select multiple rows before choosing Insert to add rows quickly. Excel inserts the same number of new rows you originally selected.

Inserting a column

In Excel, you can insert a column anywhere you need it. Excel moves the existing columns to make room for the new one.

To insert a column:

• Click anywhere in the column where you want to insert a new column.
• Choose InsertColumns from the menu bar.
  
  
• A new column is inserted to the left of the existing column.

OR

• Click anywhere in the column where you want to insert a new column.
• Right-click and choose Insert from the shortcut menu.
  
  
• The Insert dialog box opens.
  
  
• Click Entire Column in the Insert dialog box.
• Click OK.
• A new column is inserted to the left of the existing column.
  
  

You can also select multiple columns before choosing Insert to add columns quickly. Excel inserts the same number of new columns you originally selected.

Deleting columns and rows

Columns and rows are deleted in much the same manner as inserting columns and rows.

To delete a row and all information in it:

• Select a cell in the row to be deleted.
• Choose EditDelete from the menu bar.
• Click Entire Row in the Delete dialog box.
  
  
• Click OK.

To delete a column and all information in it:

• Select a cell in the column to be deleted.
• Choose EditDelete from the menu bar.
• Click Entire Column in the Delete dialog box.
  
  
• Click OK.

Challenge!

• In column A, type the following names in cells A1, A2, A3, and A4, respectively:
  
  Mary in cell A1
  Bob in cell A2
  Susan in cell A3
  John in cell A4
• In column B, type the following numbers next to each name entered in column A:
  
  44 in cell B1 to the right of Mary's name
  28 in cell B2 to the right of Bob's name
  36 in cell B3 to the right of Susan's name
  89 in cell B4 to the right of John's name
• Insert a column between columns A and B. Type the following numbers in the new column B:
  
  76 in cell B1 to the right of Mary's name
  57 in cell B2 to the right of Bob's name
  29 in cell B3 to the right of Susan's name
  61 in cell B4 to the right of John's name
• Insert a row between rows 2 and 3. Type the following numbers in the new row 3:
  Rick in cell A3
  45 in cell B3
  58 in cell C3