Inserting and Deleting Cell Contents

Inserting and Deleting Cell Contents

You can insert new, blank cells anywhere on the worksheet in order to enter new data or data you forgot to enter earlier. Inserting cells moves the remaining cells in the column or row in the direction of your choice, and Excel adjusts any formulas so they refer to the correct cells. You can also delete cells if you find you don't need them; deleting cells shifts the remaining cells to the left or up ”just the opposite of inserting cells. When you delete a cell, Excel removes the actual cell from the worksheet.

Insert a Cell

Select the cell or cells where you want to insert the new cell(s).

Click the Insert menu, and then click Cells.

Click the option you want.

• Shift Cells Right to move cells to the right one column.

• Shift Cells Down to move cells down one row.

• Entire Row to move the entire row down one row.

• Entire Column to move entire column over one column.

Click OK.

See Also

See " Replace Cell Contents " on page 47 for information on substituting replacement text in a cell.

Delete a Cell

Select the cell or range you want to delete.

Click the Edit menu, and then click Delete.

Click the option you want.

• Shift Cells Left to move the remaining cells to the left.

• Shift Cells Up to move the remaining cells up.

• Entire Row to delete the entire row.

• Entire Column to delete the entire column.

Click OK.

Did You Know?

There is a difference between deleting a cell and clearing a cell . Deleting a cell is different from clearing a cell: deleting removes the cells from the worksheet; clearing removes only the cell contents, or format, or both.