Error: Data entered into two sheets simultaneously

[TEaston]

I’ve just been summarizing the strengths the students found in my course. The strengths were pasted in Column A of Sheet1, with each student's comments in a cell. I was summarizing them on Sheet2. When I finished summarizing one student’s comments, I entered the number “1” in Column B of Sheet1.

I used the "New Window" and "Arrange All" commands, so that I could have Sheet1 on the left part of the screen and Sheet2 on the right.

Here's the error: the “1”s I entered into Sheet1 were also entered into the same cell in Sheet2. This is not what I want; I want the data I enter to go only into Sheet1!

This “cross-talk” seems to have been one way. What I typed into Sheet2 did not appear in Sheet1.

Finally, I created a new workbook and reproduced the two-worksheet setup described above. This time, what I typed into Sheet1 didn't appear in Sheet2.

I'm using Excel 2010 and Windows XP.

What might I have done to turn this strange behavior on?

Todd

 

[xenou]

Hi,
Generally this behavior occurs when you select two sheets. You can reproduce this by holding the control key as you select one tab, and then select the other tab (still holding the control key). In Excel this is called "grouped sheets". You ungroup the sheets by either selecting any other ungrouped sheet (if there is another sheet not in the group), or by right-clicking a grouped sheet and selecting "ungroup" from the short menu.

It *can* be a (and is) a useful way to do work on many sheets at once, if they share the same structure. It can also be a disaster if you forget to ungroup your sheets or group them by accident.

ξ

 

[TEaston]

Thanks, xenou! I was able to reproduce the behavior.

I bet this is the explanation. I must have selected both sheets without realizing it.

Todd

 

[xenou]

No problem -- glad I could help. Keep Excelling.