Need more columns

T

Tom Brown

I deleted the extra columns to the right of my worksheet and now I need to
add about 10 more columns to the worksheet. The online help does not
address this, only "Insert columns." I want to "Add Columns."

TIA,

Tom
 
B

Bob Phillips

Every spreadsheet automatically has 256 columns, no more, no less. You can
add to get more than this, but you can insert in front of a column, but
these means that the equivalent number drop off the end.

--

HTH

RP
(remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct)
 
R

Ron Coderre

The later versions of Excel have 256 columns and 65,536 rows. Those are
hard-coded limits. You can't really delete a "column". What you are really
doing is deleteing everything in a column and shifting the columns from the
right over to replace the deleted data. Even inserting columns just moves
the contents and formatting of the columns over to clear space for the "new"
column. In either case, there are still 256 columns, though.

If you already are using all 256 columns....then you just ran out of columns.

Is that what happened or do you have a different issue?

***********
Regards,
Ron
 
D

David McRitchie

Hi Tom,
You can enter data into any column up to 256 columns (column IV)
Excel keeps track of a high water mark and unless reset that high-water
mark determines how big your file actually is. Use of Ctrl+End will
show your last used cell location. There is no add because those
columns to the right are available. There is a limit of 256 columns
so none can be added.

Insert columns on the other hand inserts additional columns before
a selection. You still have 256 columns total, as you have an equal
number of columns on the right that are lost maintaining 256 columns.

Hope that answers your post. You might also look in your Excel Help
at specification limits.
 
T

Tom Brown

Actually, I think I did delete the columns. I highlighted all the columns
to the right of column H and right-clicked and selected Delete. Now, when I
try to Insert a column, it tells me that "To prevent possible loss of data,
Microsoft Excel cannot shift nonblank cells off the spreadsheet."

I selected Ctrl-End to find the last nonblank cell and it was H40. After
focusing on A1 and saving the spreadsheet, I was able to insert one column.
But, to insert more columns, I have to do the Ctrl-End and save routine. I
would like to add columns to the right of column H.

Obviously, I am nowhere near the 256 column limit. At this time I only have
10 columns, having added 3 just now. But, I am puzzled why it is so hard to
ADD columns.

Thanks,

Tom
 
T

Tom Brown

Thanks for the reply David. Please see my reply to Ron for further info.

Thanks,

Tom

David McRitchie said:
Hi Tom,
You can enter data into any column up to 256 columns (column IV)
Excel keeps track of a high water mark and unless reset that high-water
mark determines how big your file actually is. Use of Ctrl+End will
show your last used cell location. There is no add because those
columns to the right are available. There is a limit of 256 columns
so none can be added.

Insert columns on the other hand inserts additional columns before
a selection. You still have 256 columns total, as you have an equal
number of columns on the right that are lost maintaining 256 columns.

Hope that answers your post. You might also look in your Excel Help
at specification limits.
---
HTH,
David McRitchie, Microsoft MVP - Excel [site changed Nov. 2001]
My Excel Pages: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/excel.htm
Search Page: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/search.htm

Tom Brown said:
I deleted the extra columns to the right of my worksheet and now I need
to
add about 10 more columns to the worksheet. The online help does not
address this, only "Insert columns." I want to "Add Columns."

TIA,

Tom
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
T

Tom Brown

I even tried to copy the entire worksheet and paste it to a new worksheet
and the new worksheet has the same number of columns as the original ... not
enough.

TIA,

Tom
 
T

Tom Brown

Ok, I think I have to 'fess up' to a mistake.

Apparently, at some time in the past on this sheet, I elected to HIDE all
the columns to the right of the active ones. That is what made my Last
Nonblank Cell M40 instead of IV34. I also had formatting (color) on some
rows and that was causing problems with the insert and giving me the error
message.

I'm sorry to cause all the trouble but you guys sure helped me learn a bit
about Excel today.

Thanks,

Tom
 
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