We find that no matter how well we plan the structure and design of a spreadsheet layout....stuff happens! Perhaps you have found yourself in the situation where the data already entered in a column should have been entered in a different column. Prior to learning the "column-shift" trick, we (1) inserted a blank column, (2) copied the errant column, (3) pasted it into the blank column space, and (4) deleted the extra column...several steps.
There is a much quicker way that also give me complete control of the order of my columns. It also preserves formulas and functions.
Consider the following example:
The original plan was to list the people alphabetically. Unfortunately, the "Carol" column should be displayed before the "Fran" column.
The process of shifting the "Carol column" between Betty and Fran is fairly easy.
The
first thing to do is to select the Carol column by clicking
on the F.
With this column selected, we hold the Shift key and drag the left edge of the selected column to its new location.
When we are satisfied, we release the mouse and the column has moved to its new home alphabetically between Betty and Fran!
Note, the first couple of times you try this you might not be successful. It is kinda scary to be messing with an entire column of data you just entered. Remember the Undo command if you create a problem for yourself. It is a confidence booster to save your work on your Hard Drive. You know you could always return to your former version!
Return | See a Movie of the Process