How to Shift Columns in Excel

If you’re a frequent user of Microsoft Excel, you may find yourself needing to rearrange or shift columns around in your spreadsheets. Whether you’re organizing data, correcting errors, or simply reformatting your table, knowing how to efficiently shift columns will save you time and effort. In this blog post, we’ll provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to do just that using both simple and more advanced techniques in Excel.

Locating the Column and Cells You Want to Shift

Before we begin, ensure you know the columns and cells, you want to move before you start working on them. Once you find the column you want to move, observe the current location on the spreadsheet.

Shifting Columns in Excel Using Drag and Drop Method

The easiest and fastest way to shift columns is by using drag and drop method. First, highlight the column you want to move. Click on the edge of the column, and drag it to its new location, while holding the mouse button down. Release the mouse button to drop the column in the new location. The existing adjacent columns will automatically shift accordingly.

Shifting Columns with the Cut and Paste Method

Another way to shift columns is by using the cut and paste method. Begin by selecting the data you want to cut by highlighting it. Press Ctrl+X to cut the data from its current location. Next, click on the column where you want to move the data, and press Ctrl+V to paste. The data will appear in the new location, and the adjacent columns will shift accordingly.

Shifting Nonadjacent Columns

If you want to shift nonadjacent columns, you need to select them both. Highlight the columns you want to move by holding down the ‘Ctrl’ key and clicking on each column header. After selecting the multiple columns, click on a selected column’s edge, and drag the columns to their new location while holding the mouse button down.

Shifting Columns with Right-Click Method

You can also easily move columns by simply right-clicking on the column header you want to move. From the drop-down list that appears, click on ‘Cut’ option if you want to remove or cut the column from its current location. Click on ‘Insert Cut Cells’ option to paste your column in a new location. You can use this method to move both adjacent and nonadjacent columns.

Final Thoughts

Now you know how to shift columns in Excel. You can take advantage of any of these methods, depending on your preferences and the latest version of Microsoft Excel you’re using. You can save useful time and complete your work faster with these steps.

Keyboard Shortcuts to Shift Columns in Excel

Excel has several keyboard shortcuts that make shifting columns a quick and easy task. Here are a few to try:

• Alt + H, then O, then C: Cut the selected column(s).
• Alt + I, then R: Insert the cut column(s) into the new location.
• Alt + H, then I, then M: Move the selected column(s) to another location.

Undo/Redo

If you make any mistakes when shifting columns, Excel has the undo and redo options to help you fix them. You can either click the ‘Undo’ button on the toolbar or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Z to undo the last action you performed. To redo the action, click the ‘Redo’ button or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Y.

Take Advantage of Excel’s Other Features to Organize Your Data

While shifting columns is a great way to organize your data, Excel has many other features that you can use to make your data even more functional. For instance, you can sort your data alphabetically, numerically, or chronologically using Excel’s sort feature. You can also filter your data to hide items that are not relevant to you, or use conditional formatting to highlight certain cells based on specific conditions.

Conclusion

Shifting columns in Excel is a fundamental skill that every Excel user should know. Whether you’re rearranging data, correcting errors, or just formatting your table, Excel has several methods that you can use to shift your columns easily and quickly. We’ve shared four methods that you can use to shift columns in Excel, so you can choose the one that works best for you. Remember to make use of Excel’s other features to make your data more comprehensive and functional, and don’t hesitate to use the undo and redo options if you make any mistakes. Happy shifting!

FAQs about Shifting Columns in Excel

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about shifting columns in Excel:

Can I shift multiple columns at once?

Yes, you can easily shift multiple columns at once using any of the methods we’ve shared here. Select the columns you want to move, and use the cut and paste, drag and drop, or right-click method to move the columns to the new location.

What happens to the data in the shifted columns?

The data in the shifted columns will move along with the columns. If you use the drag and drop or cut and paste method, the data will move to the new location with the column. If you use the right-click method, you’ll need to choose whether to cut or copy the column and data, then choose where to insert it in the new location.

Is it possible to undo a column shift?

Yes, you can undo a column shift by pressing ‘Ctrl+Z’ or clicking the ‘Undo’ button on the toolbar. This will move the column back to its original location and restore any data that was moved with the column.

Can I shift columns in a protected worksheet?

It depends on the level of protection on the worksheet. If you have permission to make changes to the contents of a cell, you can shift columns in that worksheet. However, if the worksheet is protected to the point where you cannot make any changes, you won’t be able to shift columns.

What other organizational features does Excel offer besides shifting columns?

Excel has several organizational features that can help you make sense of your data. Some of these features include sorting data by alphabetical, numerical, or chronological order; filtering out items that you don’t need to see; and conditional formatting, which highlights cells based on specific criteria. All of these features can be found under the ‘Data’ tab in the Excel ribbon.