MS-Excel / Excel 2003

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Inserting or deleting rows and columns

Sometimes you create a new list only to discover after the fact that you left out a column of data that you need. No problem at all: All you have to do is position the cell pointer in a cell somewhere in the column in front of where you want the missing column to appear. Click the List button on the List toolbar and choose Insert → Column from its menu. Excel then inserts a new column, scooting all the other list columns to the right over one to make room for it. The new column is automatically given a generic column heading (such as Column1, Column2, and the like). All you have to do is replace this generic name with one of your own.

To delete an unneeded column from your list, position the cell pointer in one of its cells, click the List button on the List toolbar, and then choose Delete → Column from its menu. Excel immediately deletes the column (and all the data it contains), pulling all the existing list columns on the right to fill the gap. Note that when deleting a column from a list, Excel does not warn you when you're about to delete data with the column's removal. If you do this in error, you have to rely on the Edit → Undo Delete Column command (Ctrl+Z) to bring the column with the data back.

You can insert and delete rows in the list the same way you insert and delete columns. Position the cell pointer in a cell somewhere in the row where you want to insert a new one, click the List button on the List toolbar, and then choose Insert → Row from its menu. To remove a row (and all its data), choose Delete → Row from the menu instead.

The great thing about inserting and deleting rows and columns within an Excel list is that you don't have to worry about adversely affecting existing data in the same rows and columns. Keep in mind that editing the structure is always limited to the boundaries of that list.