CCNC/CCNC Module 4/Spreadsheets2/Cells/Selection

Selection in a worksheet

Selection, whether of cells, rows or columns, is a key operation when working with spreadsheets. Selection is the first action that you perform if you wish to do any of the other operations, such as delete, insert, copy or change font. Essentially therefore, selecting is not an end in itself, rather it is a step towards performing the operation that you are really interested in.

Now do it

Select a single cell

This one is simple: just a click and you are done.

• Click on the cell you want to select.

(: Can we show it how it done through some animation)

Tip: Whether you are selecting a single cell, a row a column or an entire worksheet, you can easily recognise the selected area because it is highlighted

Select a range of cells

We use the term 'range' to refer to a series of cells that you are interested in working on. The range may extend along a column or along a row. or more than one columns or rows. It may consist of cells that are adjacent or close to each other, or that are non-adjacent, that is separated and spread out over the worksheet.

Select a range of adjacent cells

You can do this in one of 3 ways:

EITHER

• Identify the cells that you are targeting for the range.
• Click on the first cell of the range.
• Hold down the left mouse button and drag the cursor to the last cell of the range

OR

• Click on the first cell of the range
• Hold down the Shift key and use the direction arrows to move to the last cell of the range

OR

• Click on the first cell of the range
• Hold Down the Shift Key and click on the last cell of the range.

SCREENSHOT

Whichever way you choose, the selected cells will be highlighted on the worksheet.

Select a range of non-adjacent cells

• Identify the cells that you are targetting for the range
• Hold down the Shift Key and click on the first cell of the target range.
• Release the Shift key
• Hold down the Ctrl Key andf click on each of the cells you wish to select.

The following screen shows the selection of a number of non-adjacent cells.

SCREENSHOT

Tip: As you go through, you will notice that in many instances there are alternative ways of performing the same action. Just choose the one that you are comfortable with

Selecting a row, a range of adjacent rows, a range of non-adjacent rows

This follows the same pattern as the operations for the cells.

Select a single row

• Click on the row number.

Select a range of adjacent rows

• Click on the row number of the first of the rows
• Hold down the Shift key and click on the row number of the final row.

Select a range of non-adjacent rows

• Click the row number of the first row you wish to select
• Hold down the CTRL key and click on the row numbers of the other rows you wish to select.

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Selecting a column, a range of adjacent columns, a range of non-adjacent columns

The pattern is repeated.

Select a single column

• Click on the column letter

Select a range of adjacent columns

• Click on the column letter of the first of the columns
• Hold down the Shify Key and click on the column letter of the final column.

Select a range of non-adjacent columns

• Click on the column letter of the first column you wish to select.
• Hold down the CTRL key and click on the column letters of the other columns you wish to select.

The following screen illustrates a number of non-adjacent columns selected

SCREENSHOT

Selecting an entire worksheet

You can do this in either of two ways

EITHER

• Hold down CTRL and press A

OR

• Click on Edit in the Menu Bar (The drop down menu appears)
• Click on Select All

Tip: For subsequent operations that use the Menu Bar, we will use the standard notation that is simpler to write. It will look like this Edit->Select All