Multiple selection

Multiple selection allows you to select the following ranges simultaneously:

: Cells in different rows and columns
: Cells in the same row or column
: Non-adjacent rows or columns
: Regular ranges
: Overlapping ranges
: Irregular ranges

For multiple selection, you can use Ctrl or the Multiple range selection mode.

Using the Ctrl key:

Select the first range from the required ones: a cell, a range of cells, a column, or a row.
Press Ctrl and select the other ranges with the mouse.

Using the Multiple range selection mode:

Select the first range from the required ones: a cell, a range of cells, a column, or a row.
Enable the mode in one of the following ways:
- On the Status bar, click the button and select Multiple range selection.
- Press Shift+F8.
Continue selecting the required ranges using the mouse.
If you want to reset the selection and start over, press Shift and select a new range. The previous selection will be reset. Release Shift and continue the selection.
To complete the selection, disable the mode. To do this, follow the same steps you used to enable it, or press Esc.

By default, the cell where you started the last range selection is designated as the active one. If necessary, you can designate another cell as the active cell.

The specifics of how some operations work with multiple selections are described in the table below.

Functions block	Action	Outcome
Cells, columns, and rows	Resize selected columns or rows by dragging the heading with the mouse	For non-adjacent rows or columns only .
Cells, columns, and rows	Automatic selection of column widths or row heights	The size is selected by the cell content with the most data in each selected column or row.
Cells, columns, and rows	Set the exact column width or row height	The entered size is set for each selected row or column.
Cells, columns, and rows	Set the exact cell size	The entered size is set for each cell of the selected rows or columns.
Cells, columns, and rows	Insert a column on the left or right	Columns are inserted relative to each selected column. The previous selection is discarded and focus is set on the inserted columns. Not applicable for irregular and overlapping ranges .
Cells, columns, and rows	Insert a row from the bottom or top	Rows are inserted relative to each selected row. The previous selection is discarded and focus is set on the inserted rows. Not applicable for overlapping ranges .
Cells, columns, and rows	Insert cells with shift	Insertion is performed only for the range selected last. The focus remains on the selected range.
Cells, columns, and rows	Freeze rows and columns	For non-adjacent rows or columns only .
Cells, columns, and rows	Hide rows and columns	For non-adjacent rows or columns only .
Cells, columns, and rows	Delete rows and columns	Columns or rows in which cells are selected are deleted. Not applicable for overlapping ranges .
Cells, columns, and rows	Delete cells with a shift	Deletion is performed only for the range selected last. The focus remains on the selected range.
Cells, columns, and rows	Copy cells	Only visible cells in the selected ranges are copied. The copied range is selected by an additional focus. Only applies to cells in the same row or column , non-adjacent rows or columns , regular ranges .
Cells, columns, and rows	Cut cells	Only visible cells in the selected ranges are cut. Only applies to cells in the same row or column , non-adjacent rows or columns , regular ranges .
Cells, columns, and rows	Merge cells	Not applicable for cells in different rows and columns and for overlapping ranges .
Cells, columns, and rows	Unmerge cells	All merged cells in the selected range are unmerged.
Actions with data	Input data without double-clicking a cell or input using a Formula bar	The data is entered into the active cell of the range selected last.
Actions with data	Insert a special character	The character is entered in the upper-left cell of the range selected last.
Actions with data	Clear cell content	Data is removed from all visible cells in the selected ranges.
Actions with data	Delete links	Links are removed from all visible cells in the selected ranges.
Actions with data	Number format settings	All operations with numeric formats are available. The settings are applied to all selected cells.
Actions with data	Protect content from changes	Sheet protection (protection from changes, display of formulas) is set once for each cell.
Formatting	Font settings	All operations with fonts are available. The setting is applied to all selected cells.
Formatting	Alignment	All alignment operations are available. The setting is applied to all selected cells.
Formatting	Filling	The settings are applied to all selected cells.
Formatting	Cell border settings	For overlapping ranges , the last selected range replaces all previous border settings.
Formatting	Wrap text	The setting is applied to the content in all selected cells.
Formatting	Copy formatting	Only applies to cells in the same row or column , non-adjacent rows or columns , regular ranges .
Formulas and functions	Enter a formula using the Formula bar	The formula is entered into the active cell of the last selected range.
Formulas and functions	Automatic calculation of functions	Automatic calculation is performed using data in selected cells once, overlapping of selected ranges does not affect the calculation.
Formulas and functions	Recalculation of formulas	The recalculation is performed once for all cells in the selected range.