How to select two non-adjacent columns in Excel
Excel is one of the most widely used spreadsheet programs in the world, thanks to its versatility and numerous functions. One common operation that can be performed in Excel is selecting two non-adjacent columns.
However, if you are a new Excel user or have never had the need to select two non-adjacent columns, you may have difficulty doing so. In this article, we will show you how to select two non-adjacent columns in Excel easily and quickly.
Let's get started!
Method 1: Selecting Non-Adjacent Columns with Ctrl Key
The most common method for selecting non-adjacent columns in Excel is using the keyboard and Ctrl key. Follow these steps:
- Open your Excel worksheet.
- Select the first column you want to select.
- Hold down the Ctrl key.
- Select the second column you want to select.
- Release the Ctrl key.
This way you will have selected two non-adjacent columns simultaneously. You can repeat the same process to add more columns to your selection.
It is important to note that using this method, columns will be selected discontinuously. This means that if you need to perform an operation on all the columns between those selected, you will need to use a specific Excel formula or function to do so.
Method 2: Selecting Non-Adjacent Columns with the Move and Copy Function
Another method for selecting two non-adjacent columns in Excel is by using the "Move and Copy" function. This option allows you to easily copy one or more columns to another position within the worksheet.
- Select the first column: Start by selecting the first column you want to copy. For example, if you want to copy columns A and C, select column A.
- Click on the "Move and Copy" function: Once you have selected the column, click on the "Home" tab in the ribbon. In the "Clipboard" section, you will find the "Move and Copy" option. Click on this option to open the drop-down menu.
- Choose the "Copy" option: In the drop-down menu, choose the "Copy" option.
- Select the second column: Now select the second column you want to copy. For example, if you want to copy columns A and C, select column C.
- Paste copied columns: After selecting both columns, go to where you want to paste the copied columns. Right-click and choose the "Paste" option.
This method is particularly useful if you want to copy one or more columns to another position within your worksheet. Additionally, you can use the "Move and Copy" function to copy non-adjacent rows as well by following a similar procedure.
Method 3: Selecting Non-Adjacent Columns with Selection via Status Bar
This is another option for selecting non-adjacent columns in Excel. Follow these steps:
- Select the first column you want to include in your selection.
- While holding down the "Ctrl" key, click on the second column you want to select. This will add the second column to the existing selection.
- Continue holding down the "Ctrl" key and click on any other columns you want to add to the selection.
- Once you have completed selecting the columns, release the "Ctrl" key.
- Now, look at the Status Bar at the bottom right of the Excel window. You will see a blue area indicating the selected cells.
This method can be particularly useful if you have many columns to select and want to avoid having to click on each individual column while holding down the "Ctrl" key. Additionally, it allows you to easily see which columns you have selected thanks to the highlighted blue area in the status bar.
Remember that you can always modify your selection using the methods described earlier, even after using this method.
Conclusions
In this article we have seen how to select two non-adjacent columns in Excel. This operation may seem complicated, but it is actually very simple thanks to the use of the "CTRL" function.
First of all, we saw how to select two adjacent columns using the mouse or keyboard. Later, we explained how to select two non-adjacent columns using the "CTRL" function. In both cases, we provided detailed examples to help you better understand the process.
Remember that this technique can be useful in many different situations, such as when you need to copy or paste data from two separate columns. We hope that this article has been helpful to you and that you can use this knowledge to simplify your work with Excel.
Michael Anderson - Software Engineer
My name is Michael Anderson, and I work as a computer engineer in Midland, Texas.
My passion is sharing my knowledge in various areas, and my purpose is to make education accessible to everyone. I believe it is essential to explain complex concepts in a simple and interesting way.
With GlobalHowTo, I aim to motivate and enrich the minds of those who want to learn.
