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Locate and select cells that meet specific conditions
 

You can use the Go To command to quickly locate and select all cells that contain specific types of data (such as formulas) or only cells that meet specific criteria (such as the last cell on the worksheet (worksheet: The primary document that you use in Excel to store and work with data. Also called a spreadsheet. A worksheet consists of cells that are organized into columns and rows; a worksheet is always stored in a workbook.) that contains data or formatting).

  1. To select the area that you want to search for specific cells, do one of the following:
    • To search the entire worksheet, click any cell.
    • To search within a range (range: Two or more cells on a sheet. The cells in a range can be adjacent or nonadjacent.), rows, or columns, select the range, rows, or columns that you want.

      ShowHow to select a range, row, or column

      To select Do this
      A range (range: Two or more cells on a sheet. The cells in a range can be adjacent or nonadjacent.) of cells Click the first cell in the range, and then drag to the last cell, or hold down SHIFT while you use the arrow keys to extend the selection.

      You can also select the first cell in the range and then press F8 to extend the selection by using the arrow keys.

      A large range of cells Click the first cell in the range, and then hold down SHIFT while you click the last cell in the range. You can scroll to make the last cell visible.
      Nonadjacent cells or cell ranges Select the first cell or range of cells, and then hold down CTRL while you select the other cells or ranges.

      You can also select the first cell or range of cells and then press SHIFT+F8 to add another nonadjacent cell or range to the selection.

      Note  You cannot cancel the selection of a cell or range of cells in a nonadjacent selection without canceling the entire selection.

      An entire row or column Click the row or column heading.

      Worksheet showing row heading and column heading

      Callout 1 Row heading 

      Callout 2Column heading 

      You can also select cells in a row or column by selecting the first cell and then pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ARROW KEY (RIGHT ARROW or LEFT ARROW for rows, UP ARROW or DOWN ARROW for columns).

      Adjacent rows or columns Drag across the row or column headings. Or select the first row or column; then hold down SHIFT while you select the last row or column.
      Nonadjacent rows or columns Click the column or row heading of the first row or column in your selection; then hold down CTRL while you click the column or row headings of other rows or columns that you want to add to the selection.
      Cells to the last used cell on the worksheet (lower-right corner)Select the first cell, and then press CTRL+SHIFT+END to extend the selection of cells to the last used cell on the worksheet (lower-right corner).
      Cells to the beginning of the worksheetSelect the first cell, and then press CTRL+SHIFT+HOME to extend the selection of cells to the beginning of the worksheet.
      More or fewer cells than the active selection Hold down SHIFT and click the last cell that you want to include in the new selection. The rectangular range between the active cell (active cell: The selected cell in which data is entered when you begin typing. Only one cell is active at a time. The active cell is bounded by a heavy border.) and the cell that you click becomes the new selection.

      Note  To cancel a selection of cells, click any cell on the worksheet.

  2. On the Edit menu, click Go To, or press CTRL+G.
  3. Click Special.
  4. In the Go To Special dialog box, click one of the following options.
    ClickTo select
    CommentsCells that contain comments.
    ConstantsCells that contain constants (constant: A value that is not calculated and, therefore, does not change. For example, the number 210, and the text "Quarterly Earnings" are constants. An expression, or a value resulting from an expression, is not a constant.).
    FormulasCells that contain formulas (formula: A sequence of values, cell references, names, functions, or operators in a cell that together produce a new value. A formula always begins with an equal sign (=).).

    Note  The check boxes below Formulas define the type of formula that you want to select.

    BlanksBlank cells.
    Current regionThe current region (current region: The block of filled-in cells that includes the currently selected cell or cells. The region extends in all directions to the first empty row or column.), such as an entire list.
    Current arrayAn entire array (array: Used to build single formulas that produce multiple results or that operate on a group of arguments that are arranged in rows and columns. An array range shares a common formula; an array constant is a group of constants used as an argument.) if the active cell (active cell: The selected cell in which data is entered when you begin typing. Only one cell is active at a time. The active cell is bounded by a heavy border.) is contained in an array.
    ObjectsGraphics objects, including charts and buttons, on the worksheet and in text boxes.
    Row differencesAll cells that differ from the active cell in a selected row. There is always one active cell in a selection, whether this is a range, row, or column. By pressing ENTER or TAB, you can change the location of the active cell, which by default is the first cell in a row.

    If more than one row is selected, the comparison is done for each individual row of that selection, and the cell used in the comparison for each additional row is located in the same column as the active cell.

    Column differencesAll cells that differ from the active cell in a selected column. There is always one active cell in a selection, whether this is a range, row, or column. By pressing ENTER or TAB, you can change the location of the active cell, which by default is the first cell in a column.

    If more than one column is selected, the comparison is done for each individual column of that selection, and the cell used in the comparison for each additional column is located in the same row as the active cell.

    PrecedentsCells that are referenced by the formula in the active cell. Under Dependents, do one of the following:

    Click Direct only to find only cells that are directly referenced by formulas.

    Click All levels to find all cells that are directly or indirectly referenced by the cells in the selection.

    DependentsCells with formulas that refer to the active cell.

    Click Direct only to find only cells with formulas that refer directly to the active cell.

    Click All levels to find all cells that directly or indirectly refer to the active cell.

    Last cellThe last cell on the worksheet that contains data or formatting.
    Visible cells onlyOnly cells that are visible in a range that crosses hidden rows or columns.
    Conditional formatsOnly cells that have conditional formats applied. Under Data validation, do one of the following:

    Click All to find all cells that have conditional formats applied.

    Click Same to find cells that have the same conditional formats as the currently selected cell.

    Data validationOnly cells that have data validation rules applied.

    Click All to find all cells that have data validation applied.

    Click Same to find cells that have the same data validation as the currently selected cell.

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