Select items in a table with the mouse

Select items in a table with the mouse

Some parts of a table (table: One or more rows of cells commonly used to display numbers and other items for quick reference and analysis. Items in a table are organized into rows and columns.) can only be seen if you display all formatting marks by clicking Show/Hide on the Standard toolbar.

To select:

A cell

Click the left edge of the cell.

A row

Click to the left of the row.

A column

Click the column's top gridline or border.

Multiple cells, rows, or columns

Drag across the cell, row, or column.

Or select multiple items that are not necessarily in order. Click the first cell, row, or column you want, press CTRL, and then click the next cells, rows, or columns you want.

Text in the next cell

Press TAB.

Text in the previous cell

Press SHIFT+TAB

The entire table

Click the table move handle, or drag over the entire table.

Note  You can also select rows, columns, or the entire table by clicking in the table and then using the Select commands on the Table menu, or by using keyboard shortcuts.

Select items in a table by using the keyboard

TAB

Select the next cell's contents

SHIFT+TAB

Select the preceding cell's contents

Hold down SHIFT and press an arrow key repeatedly

Extend a selection to adjacent cells

Click in the column's top or bottom cell. Hold down SHIFT and press the UP ARROW or DOWN ARROW key repeatedly

Select a column

CTRL+SHIFT+F8, and then use the arrow keys; press ESC to cancel selection mode

Extend a selection (or block)

SHIFT+F8

Reduce the selection size

ALT+5 on the numeric keypad (with NUM LOCK off)

Select an entire table