How to Store and Retrieve Data in Microsoft Excel for the iPad

Modify columns and rows

A new worksheet has columns of equal width and rows of equal height. A standard letter-size printed page displays approximately 9 columns and 47 rows at the default sizes. The number of columns and rows visible on screen varies based on the dimensions and resolution of your screen. The content that you enter in a worksheet will rarely fit perfectly in the default structure, especially if you’re entering text content.

Resize columns and rows

After you enter data in a worksheet, you can easily modify the structure of the worksheet to fit the content. You can change the size of columns and rows so their content is visible on screen and when printed. You can change the width of a column or height of a row manually or by using the AutoFit feature to size the column or row to fit its contents.

To fit a column or row to its contents

1. Double-tap the column or row heading.

   Or

   Select the column or row, and then tap AutoFit on the shortcut bar.

To change the width of a column

1. Select the column. Notice the handle that appears on the right side of the column heading.
2. Drag the handle to the left to make the column narrower or to the right to make the column wider.

To change the height of a row

1. Select the row. Notice the handle that appears below the row heading.
2. Drag the handle upward to make the row shorter or downward to make the row taller.

Insert and delete columns and rows

After you populate a data range or table, you can easily insert additional columns or rows into the range or table without overwriting existing data; existing columns shift to the right and rows shift down. Excel automatically updates any references in the workbook to the cells that shift to accommodate the insertion.

You can specify the insertion location for columns or rows, or the columns or rows you want to delete, by selecting them, or by selecting only representative cells.

If a column or row containing the data you want to insert already exists, you can move that column or row to a different location or copy it to another location. When you delete columns or rows, Excel shifts the remaining content to fill the gap and updates any cell references in the workbook to reflect the change.

To insert a blank column

1. Select the column, or any cell in the column, that is in the position where you want to insert the blank column.

   TIP

   

   If you want to insert multiple columns in one location, drag the selection handle to the right to select the number of columns you want to insert.

2. On the shortcut bar, tap Insert Left.

   Or

   On the Home tab, tap the Insert & Delete Cells button, and then tap Insert Sheet Columns.

To move or copy a column to another location

1. Select the column you want to move or copy.

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   If you want to move or copy multiple contiguous columns, drag the selection handles to select the adjacent columns.

2. On the shortcut bar, do one of the following:

   • If you want to move the selected column, tap Cut.
   • If you want to duplicate the selected column, tap Copy.
3. Select the column that is in the position where you want to place the column.

4. On the shortcut bar, tap Insert Left.

   Or

   On the Home tab, tap the Insert & Delete Cells button, and then tap Insert Sheet Columns.

To insert a blank row

1. Select the row, or any cell in the row, that is in the position where you want to insert the blank row.

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   If you want to insert multiple rows in the same location, drag the selection handle down to select the same number of rows that you want to insert.

2. On the shortcut bar, tap Insert Above.

   Or

   On the Home tab, tap the Insert & Delete Cells button, and then tap Insert Sheet Rows.

To move or copy a row to another location

1. Select the row you want to move or copy.

   TIP

   

   If you want to move or copy multiple contiguous rows, drag the selection handles to select the adjacent rows.

2. On the shortcut bar, do one of the following:

   • If you want to move the selected row, tap Cut.
   • If you want to duplicate the selected row, tap Copy.
3. Select the row that is in the position where you want to place the cut or copied rows.

4. On the shortcut bar, tap Insert Above.

   Or

   On the Home tab, tap the Insert & Delete Cells button, and then tap Insert Sheet Rows.

To delete a column

1. Select the column, or any cell in the column, that you want to delete.

   TIP

   

   If you want to delete multiple contiguous columns, drag the selection handles to select the adjacent columns or cells.

2. On the Home tab, tap the Insert & Delete Cells button, and then tap Delete Sheet Columns.

To delete a row

1. Select the row, or any cell in the row, that you want to delete.

   TIP

   

   If you want to delete multiple contiguous rows, drag the selection handles to select the adjacent rows or cells.

2. On the Home tab, tap the Insert & Delete Cells button, and then tap Delete Sheet Rows.

Hide and unhide columns and rows

If a data range includes a column or row of information that you either don’t want to display or don’t want to include in a chart, but that you don’t want to delete, you can hide it instead. The headings of a hidden column or row don’t change, so you can identify locations of hidden columns and rows by the missing headings and the thick lines that replace them.

To hide a column or row

1. Tap the heading of the column or row you want to hide.

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   If you want to hide multiple contiguous columns or rows, drag the selection handles to select the adjacent columns or rows.

2. On the shortcut bar, tap Hide.

To unhide a hidden column or row

1. Tap the column heading to the left of the hidden column, then drag the right selection handle to the right to select the next visible column.

   Or

   Tap the row heading above the hidden row, then drag the lower selection handle down to select the next visible row.

2. On the shortcut bar, tap Unhide.