Moving columns in Excel is straightforward, offering several methods to reposition your data effectively. Here's how you can accomplish this:
Using Drag and Drop
The most common way to move columns is by using your mouse.
Basic Drag and Drop:
- Select the Column: Click on the column header (the letter at the top of the column) you wish to move. The entire column will be highlighted.
- Drag: Click and hold on the highlighted column header. A cursor with a small box attached should appear.
- Move: Drag the column to the new desired location. You'll see a vertical line indicating where the column will be inserted.
- Release: Release the mouse button to drop the column into its new position.
Note: This will overwrite any content in the columns if you drag and drop directly to the new column location.
Drag and Drop with SHIFT key to insert:
To insert the column instead of overwriting existing data, you should use the SHIFT key. This method will move the column while creating space for the column:
- Select the Column: Select the column you wish to move.
- Drag: Click and hold on the highlighted column header.
- Press SHIFT: Press and hold the SHIFT key while dragging the column.
- Move: Drag your row or column between existing rows or columns. Excel makes space for the new row or column. You'll see a vertical line indicating where the column will be inserted, and a light shade will indicate the space that will be inserted.
- Release: Release the mouse button and the SHIFT key to drop the column into its new position.
Alternative Method using OPTION Key
- According to the reference, you can hold down the OPTION key and drag the rows or columns to another location but it is not clear what the functionality of this method is.
Example:
Let's say you have columns A, B, C, D, and you want to move column C to be between columns A and B.
| Column A | Column B | Column C | Column D |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data A1 | Data B1 | Data C1 | Data D1 |
| Data A2 | Data B2 | Data C2 | Data D2 |
Using Drag and Drop with SHIFT:
- Select column C
- Drag column C while pressing SHIFT.
- Move to between column A and B.
- Release the mouse button and SHIFT key.
The Result:
| Column A | Column C | Column B | Column D |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data A1 | Data C1 | Data B1 | Data D1 |
| Data A2 | Data C2 | Data B2 | Data D2 |
Summary
In conclusion, moving columns in Excel is easy to do by using either the standard drag-and-drop method or by dragging while holding the SHIFT key to insert the column to a new location without overwriting data. The OPTION key also affects this operation but the reference provided is unclear.
