4.3.1 Arranging the Worksheet: Columns and Rows

Arrange-Wks

This page covers basic column and row manipulation.

Appending columns

To append columns to the worksheet, do one of the following:

• Select Column: Add New Columns (adds n columns).
• Click the Add New Columns button on the Standard toolbar (adds 1 column).
• Right-click inside the worksheet window, to the right of the worksheet grid and select Add New Column from the shortcut menu (adds 1 column).

Columns are added as Y column(s), to the right of the last worksheet column. Each new column is named alphabetically (A, B, C, ... X, Y, Z, AA, BB, CC, ...), starting with the first letter that is not already used as a worksheet column name.

Inserting columns

• To insert a column, highlight the column to the immediate right of the desired insertion point, then select Edit: Insert or right-click and select Insert from the shortcut menu. The new column is designated as a Y column, regardless of the designation of the highlighted column.
• To insert n columns in a specific location in the worksheet, repeat the above procedure n times or highlight n columns to the immediate right of the column insertion point and choose Edit: Insert or right-click and select Insert from the shortcut menu.

Deleting columns

• To delete one or more columns from the worksheet, highlight column(s) to be deleted, then select Edit: Delete or right-click and select Delete.

Note that when you delete columns (datasets) from the worksheet, any other visual representation of the datasets will also be deleted from the project. Thus, if you delete a column of data that also displays as a data plot in a graph window, the data plot is deleted from the graph window.

Inserting rows

• To insert a single row in a specific location in the worksheet, highlight the row that is directly below your desired insertion point and select Edit: Insert or right-click and select Insert from the shortcut menu.
• To insert n rows in a specific location in the worksheet, repeat the above procedure n times or highlight n rows to the beneath the row insertion point and select Edit: Insert or right-click and select Insert from the shortcut menu.

Deleting rows

• To delete one or more rows from the worksheet, highlight the row(s), then select Edit: Delete or right-click and select Delete.

Moving columns/Rows

Moving columns

• To move a column or conjunctive columns to the left or to the right, highlight the column, then click the Move Left or Move Right buttons on the Column toolbar.
• To move a column to the first or last position in the worksheet, highlight the column, then choose Column: Move Columns: Move to Last or Column: Move Columns: Move to First. Or click the Move to Last or Move to First buttons on the Column toolbar.

Moving rows

• To move a row or conjunctive rows up/down, highlight the row and select Move Row Up / Move Row Down button from mini toolbar.

Note that there are a couple of restrictions:

• If you have imported data using a Data Connector, you will have to click on the green Connector icon and Unlock Imported Data before you can move rows.
• Analysis report sheets in which Recalculation is enabled do not allow moving of rows.

Changing column width

• To change the width of a column, point to the space between the column headings. When the pointer becomes a double-headed arrow, drag the edge of the column heading. Note that all selected columns are adjusted to a common width.

• Alternately, double-click on the column to open The Column Properties dialog box and enter your value in the Width field. This value is in units of characters (i.e. the max number of characters that will be displayed).

Changing the row header width and height

• To change the width of the row headings, double-click inside the worksheet window but to the right of the worksheet grid. In the Worksheet Properties dialog box, type the desired value in the Row Header Width text box. The text box value is in units of 1/10 of the text height.
• To change the height of the row headings, drag the row headers to change the height (affects only a single row at a time).

Transposing the columns and rows

• To transpose the columns and rows in the active worksheet, select Restructure : Transpose. This menu command exchanges the worksheet columns with rows, and the rows with columns.

If, prior to transposing, the worksheet contains more row values than columns, Origin adds the necessary columns to the worksheet during the transpose process. Origin names these added columns alphabetically, starting with the first letter that is not already used as a column name in the worksheet.