Selecting Cells with the Keyboard

The keyboard may be used to select cells. Selected cells are indicated by reverse video (white background becomes black, etc.).

To Select

Process

Single cells

Click in the cell to select it, or use the arrow keys to select a cell. The selected cell will have a thick outline around it.

A rectangular block of cells

Move the active cell to one corner of the block. While holding down the SHIFT key, use the movement keys to position the opposite corner of the block. The movement keys include the ARROW keys, PAGE UP, PAGE DOWN, HOME, and END, but not TAB and SHIFT+TAB. When the block has been sized, release the SHIFT key. To resize the block, see the instructions below.

Several adjacent rows

Select the first or last row. Then, while holding down the SHIFT key, use the vertical movement keys. These include up ARROW, down ARROW, page up, page down, HOME, and END.

Several adjacent columns

Select the first or last column. Then, while holding down the SHIFT key, use the right and left ARROW keys.

Resize the Last Selected Block

To resize the last selected block, hold down the SHIFT key while using the movement keys (as appropriate to the type of block). The last block cannot be resized if the active cell has been moved.

Deselect All Selected Cells

To deselect all selected cells, left-click anywhere within the worksheet or move the active cell with an ARROW key or other movement key.

See Also

Selecting Cells

Selecting Cells with the Mouse