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When you move or copy rows and columns, Microsoft Excel moves or copies all the data that they contain, including formulas and their resulting values, comments, cell formats, and hidden cells.

You can use the Cut command or Copy command to move or copy selected rows and columns, but you can also move or copy them by using the mouse.

What do you want to do?

Move or copy rows and columns

Move or copy rows and columns by using the mouse

Move or copy rows and columns

1. Select the row or column that you want to move or copy.

   How to select rows or columns

   To select	Do this
   An entire row or column	Click the row or column heading. Row heading  Column heading
   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.

   
   
2. Do one of the following:
   • To move rows or columns, click Cut on the Standard toolbar (toolbar: A bar with buttons and options that you use to carry out commands. To display a toolbar, press ALT and then SHIFT+F10.), or press CTRL+X.
   • To copy rows or columns, click Copy on the Standard toolbar, or press CTRL+C.
3. Select a row or column below or to the right of where you want to move or copy your selection.
4. Do one of the following:
   • When you are moving rows or columns, click Cut Cells on the Insert menu.
   • When you are copying rows or columns, click Copied Cells on the Insert menu.

   Note  If you click Paste on the Standard toolbar or press CTRL+V instead of clicking a command on the Insert menu, you will replace any contents of the destination cells.

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Move or copy rows and columns by using the mouse

1. Select the row or column that you want to move or copy.

   How to select rows or columns

   To select	Do this
   An entire row or column	Click the row or column heading. Row heading  Column heading
   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.

   
   
2. Do one of the following:
   • To move rows or columns, point to the border of the selection. When the pointer becomes a move pointer , drag the rows or columns to another location.
   • To copy rows or columns, hold down CTRL while you point to the border of the selection. When the pointer becomes a copy pointer , drag the rows or columns to another location.

     Important  Make sure that you hold down CTRL during the entire drag-and-drop operation. If you release CTRL before you release the mouse button, you will move the rows or columns instead of copying them.

Notes

• When you use the mouse to insert copied or cut columns or rows, the existing contents of the destination cells is replaced. To insert copied or cut rows and columns without replacing the existing contents, you should use the Cut Cells command or the Copied cells command on the Insert menu.
• You cannot move or copy nonadjacent rows and columns by using the mouse.

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