Forum Discussion
Problem inserting cells on a worksheet
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I have one worksheet in an excel 2016 workbook that only offers insert row or column but not insert cell. All other sheets are fine. The affected sheet has no filters and I have deleted all columns and rows beyond the last occupied cell. Also sheets are not protected
Any ideas what on this sheet may be causing the issue?
I have one idea, and I'm pretty sure it's the reason: you can't insert a cell. That's why it's not allowed.
Now, think about it: if you inserted a cell now--just a cell--in, let's assume, what is now cell B23. What would your new cell be called? How would you reference it in a formula? Would that one cell that is now two become B23a and B23b (like one may see from time to time on houses that are converted to duplexes)?
In other words, what you're asking doesn't make sense in connection with how spreadsheets work.
So let's back up and ask what it is that causes you to want to insert a cell, to turn a single cell into two. What are you trying to accomplish that has led you to think "I need to insert a cell"? There most certainly will be a way to accomplish that underlying goal and do so within the boundaries of what's possible in Excel. So let's start there.
- Brexcel2415Oct 21, 2023Copper Contributor
Only offering a handy shortcut I use all the time to unfilter a spreadsheet: Alt + A + C. It's probably my favorite shortcut.
- mathetesJul 11, 2023Gold Contributor
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But for the record, and for the sake of clarity, one isn't inserting a cell (as your original posting seemed to be seeking).
When you click on Insert...Cells you get this dialog box, making clear that you're actually inserting a column or a row (with two different options to accomplish either, either shifting rows or columns or inserting rows or columns)
- AnonymousJul 11, 2023From your reply I assume I must have annoyed you. For which I am Sorry
I annoyed myself even more for not spotting the filtered rows which I spent hours to try and resolve yesterday.- mathetesJul 11, 2023Gold Contributor
From your reply I assume I must have annoyed you. For which I am Sorry
Not at all. Your original post in the title used the plural "cells" but in the body of the inquiry used the singular "cell" ---
I have seen others in this forum ask specifically about inserting (or splitting) a (single) cell, and that's not possible, for the reason I gave. You can combine a set of cells, and then choose to split them back, but you can't take a single cell and split it or "insert a cell." I was just trying to clarify in case others stumble across this thread and get confused.