Hiding (lots of) rows and columns

Hi folks

Is there an easy way to hide ALL the rows and columns that you are not
actually using?

I have carefully designed a screen layout (on several sheets) so that there
is no need for the user to manually scroll around the sheet to navigate. For
example, a particular sheet only makes use of cells A1:J20.

I discovered that selecting, say, row 24, then using [Ctrl] [Shift]
[down-arrow] selects all the rows from 24 through to 65536. Selecting
Format|Row|Hide did as required. Fine.

I then selected column L (i.e. cells L1:L23) and then did [Ctrl] [Shift]
[right-arrow] to select all the unused columns (L through to IV). When I do
Format|Column|Hide I get an message "Cannot shift objects off sheet". What
is the problem? Does it mean that there is a cell within the range I am
trying to hide that has contents? I shouldn't have, and I can't see
anything. Have I gone "too close to the edge"?

Thanks for your help. I am using Excel XP (v 2002).

Phil

You probably have a comment in a cell somewhere in L:IV - use edit/goto
special, select Comments, and delete them if you want to hide those columns!

"Phil C" wrote in message
...
Hi folks

Is there an easy way to hide ALL the rows and columns that you are not
actually using?

I have carefully designed a screen layout (on several sheets) so that
there
is no need for the user to manually scroll around the sheet to navigate.
For
example, a particular sheet only makes use of cells A1:J20.

I discovered that selecting, say, row 24, then using [Ctrl] [Shift]
[down-arrow] selects all the rows from 24 through to 65536. Selecting
Format|Row|Hide did as required. Fine.

I then selected column L (i.e. cells L1:L23) and then did [Ctrl] [Shift]
[right-arrow] to select all the unused columns (L through to IV). When I
do
Format|Column|Hide I get an message "Cannot shift objects off sheet". What
is the problem? Does it mean that there is a cell within the range I am
trying to hide that has contents? I shouldn't have, and I can't see
anything. Have I gone "too close to the edge"?

Thanks for your help. I am using Excel XP (v 2002).

Phil

Thanks Bob, you put me on the right track. It finally dawned on me what the
problems was....

If a 'comment box' extends into a column that you are trying to hide you get
the "Cannot shift objects off sheet" error.
The cell with the comment attached could be several columns clear of the
columns you are trying to hide.

Phil




"Bob Umlas" wrote in message
...
You probably have a comment in a cell somewhere in L:IV - use edit/goto
special, select Comments, and delete them if you want to hide those
columns!

"Phil C" wrote in message
...
Hi folks

Is there an easy way to hide ALL the rows and columns that you are not
actually using?

I have carefully designed a screen layout (on several sheets) so that
there
is no need for the user to manually scroll around the sheet to navigate.
For
example, a particular sheet only makes use of cells A1:J20.

I discovered that selecting, say, row 24, then using [Ctrl] [Shift]
[down-arrow] selects all the rows from 24 through to 65536. Selecting
Format|Row|Hide did as required. Fine.

I then selected column L (i.e. cells L1:L23) and then did [Ctrl] [Shift]
[right-arrow] to select all the unused columns (L through to IV). When I
do
Format|Column|Hide I get an message "Cannot shift objects off sheet".
What
is the problem? Does it mean that there is a cell within the range I am
trying to hide that has contents? I shouldn't have, and I can't see
anything. Have I gone "too close to the edge"?

Thanks for your help. I am using Excel XP (v 2002).

Phil