How to find out what cause unintentional Table Column to end at last column of sheet?

Brass Contributor

I created a Table from selecting range and added few columns afterwards,

But today, I found my Table Column Ends at last column of sheet.

What can cause this to happen?

4 Replies

@sunnyschindler 

There could be a few reasons why your table column ends at the last column of the sheet unintentionally. Here are some possible causes and how you can investigate them:

  1. Merged Cells: Check if there are any merged cells in the last column of your table. Merged cells can cause issues with table expansion. To check for merged cells, select the last column, and go to the "Home" tab > "Editing" group > click "Find & Select" > choose "Go To Special" > select "Merged Cells." If any merged cells are found, unmerge them and try expanding the table again.
  2. Hidden Columns: Make sure there are no hidden columns between the last column and the rest of the table. You can unhide columns by selecting the adjacent columns, right-clicking, and choosing "Unhide."
  3. Data in the Last Column: Verify that there is no data present in the last column of the sheet beyond the table's intended boundaries. If there is data in the last column, either delete it or move it to the appropriate location within the table.
  4. Incorrect Range Selection: Double-check the range you selected when you created the table. It's possible that the table was inadvertently created with an incorrect range that caused it to end at the last column.
  5. Table Expansion Disabled: Excel has an option that allows or prevents table expansion. To check this, go to the "Table Design" contextual tab that appears when you select any cell within the table. Ensure that the "Resize Table" option is enabled.
  6. Table Name Conflict: Check if there is another table or named range on the sheet that is conflicting with your table. The presence of other tables or named ranges can sometimes interfere with table expansion.
  7. Worksheet Protection: If the worksheet is protected, it may prevent the table from expanding. Check if the worksheet is protected and remove protection if needed.

By investigating these potential causes, you should be able to identify what's preventing your table from expanding beyond the last column of the sheet. The text and the steps are the result of various AI's put together.

 

My answers are voluntary and without guarantee!

 

Hope this will help you

It could've been caused by selecting the entire sheet prior to Insert | table.

Thanks NikolinoDE for help. But I checked your potential causes but unable to find any.
My questions is there:
(1) more potential causes?
(2) non-programming quickstep to detect above?
(3) non-programming quickstep to remove columns to the right? using criteria such as blank columns AND headers with column numbers. IMHO columns which are blank and headers with column numbers can be safely removed without detriment to data.

 

Alternatively, is there production-level code (VBA or Script)?

 

Lastly, would you share screenshot on your item 5? I need help to find"Resize Table" enabled.

Operating System:  19041.1.amd64fre.vb_release.191206-1406 10.0.0.0.2.4
Program: Microsoft Excel, 16.0.15601.20680

 

@sunnyschindler 

(1) Additional Potential Causes: It is possible that the issue is related to the overall sheet settings or specific configurations on your machine. Here are a few more potential causes to consider:

  • Sheet Protection: Check if the sheet is protected or locked. If the sheet is protected, it may prevent the Table from expanding as expected.
  • Compatibility Mode: Ensure that the Excel file is not in Compatibility Mode. Compatibility Mode might limit certain features, including Table functionality. Save the file in the latest Excel format (XLSX) if you are using an older file format.
  • Worksheet Zoom Level: Check the zoom level of the worksheet. A very high or low zoom level might affect the display of the Table. Reset the zoom level to 100% and see if the issue persists.
  • Custom Add-ins or Macros: If there are any custom add-ins or macros installed, they might be interfering with Table behavior. Try disabling them temporarily to see if it makes a difference.

(2) Non-Programming Quickstep to Detect Unintentional Table Column End: To quickly check if there are any blank columns at the end of the Table, you can use the "Ctrl + Arrow" keyboard shortcut. Select the last cell in the header row of the Table (e.g., cell A1), and then press "Ctrl + Right Arrow" and "Ctrl + Down Arrow." If you end up at the last column of the worksheet or an unexpected cell, it indicates that there are blank columns. You can delete them if they are unnecessary.

(3) Non-Programming Quickstep to Remove Columns to the Right: To quickly remove columns to the right of the Table, you can use the "Ctrl + Shift + Right Arrow" keyboard shortcut to select all columns to the right of the Table. Once selected, right-click on any of the selected column headers, and choose "Delete." Make sure you have backed up your data or saved a copy of the file before doing this.

VBA Code to Remove Blank Columns: If you prefer a VBA solution to remove blank columns, you can use the following code snippet as a starting point:

vba code:

Sub RemoveBlankColumns()
    Dim ws As Worksheet
    Dim lastColumn As Long, col As Long

    Set ws = ActiveSheet
    lastColumn = ws.Cells(1, ws.Columns.Count).End(xlToLeft).Column

    For col = lastColumn To 1 Step -1
        If Application.WorksheetFunction.CountA(ws.Columns(col)) = 0 Then
            ws.Columns(col).Delete
        End If
    Next col
End Sub

Please be cautious when using VBA to modify your data, and make sure to test it on a copy of your file first.

Regarding the "Resize Table" option in Excel. The "Resize Table" option may not be available in all versions of Excel. Instead, you can manually adjust the Table size by dragging the handles on the corners of the Table to include the desired columns. If I may recommend, with such problems it is always beneficial if a file (without sensitive data) is inserted.

For a production-level code solution, you may need to hire a professional developer who can analyze your specific case and create a customized script or program to handle the table expansion as per your requirements. The text and the steps are the result of various AI's put together.

 

My answers are voluntary and without guarantee!

 

Hope this will help you.