To hide columns in Excel without using the right-click menu, you can use a keyboard shortcut. This method is quite simple and can be done in just a few steps.
1. First, open your Excel spreadsheet and navigate to the worksheet where you want to hide the columns.
2. Next, select the column or columns that you want to hide. You can do this by clicking on the letter at the top of the column to select the entire column.
3. Once you have selected the column, press and hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard.
4. While still holding down the Ctrl key, press and release the number 0 (zero) key on the top row of your keyboard, not the number pad.
5. The column containing the active cell should now be hidden from view. You can check if it worked by scrolling horizontally to see if the column is no longer visible.
It’s important to note that this keyboard shortcut only hides the selected column or columns from view but does not delete the data within those columns. The hidden columns can be easily unhidden later if needed.
If you want to hide multiple non-adjacent columns, you can use the Ctrl key to select them individually. Simply press and hold the Ctrl key, then click on the letter at the top of each column you want to hide. Once you have selected all the desired columns, follow the same steps mentioned above to hide them.
Additionally, you can also use this method to hide rows in Excel. Just select the row or rows you want to hide instead of columns, and use the Ctrl+0 keyboard shortcut to hide them.
Hiding columns or rows in Excel can be useful when you want to focus on specific data or simplify the view of your spreadsheet. It can also be helpful when you need to hide sensitive information from others who have access to your file.
Remember to save your work regularly to avoid any accidental data loss, and always make a backup of your important files.