Problem: I need to rearrange some rows or columns. Do you have anything faster than the other methods you've described?
Strategy: You might find this method faster than the others:
- Select an entire row by pressing Shift+Spacebar or select an entire column by pressing Ctrl+Spacebar.
- Grab the thick border around the row or column. Hold down the Shift key and drag the row/column to a new location. When you use Shift+drag, Excel will basically cut the cells and then insert them where you release the mouse. Gotcha: The Shift+drag is critical. If you simply drag, you will do a cut and paste. If you Ctrl+drag, you will do a copy and paste. Both of these will overwrite the destination cells. Only Shift+drag will insert the cells.
- Shift-drag the border.
- You've selected the entire row. Grab the top border while holding down Shift. As you drag, an insertion cursor shows where the row would be moved to.
- Release the mouse. Excel will insert the row and shift the other rows down.