How to Deselect a Specific Column After Selecting the Entire Worksheet in Excel 2010?

[happydz]

Hi everyone,

I'm working in Excel 2010 and have selected the entire worksheet (by clicking the box at the top-left corner where the row numbers and column letters meet). Now, I want to deselect a specific column from the selection — for example, column B — without unselecting the entire worksheet.

I've tried holding down the Ctrl key and clicking on the column header (e.g., column B), but it only deselects the B1 cell and doesn't affect the whole column.

I’m looking for a built-in solution or Excel trick that allows me to deselect a specific column (or range of columns) from a full worksheet selection without using VBA, macros, or any scripting.

Is there any way to do this in Excel 2010 using just the standard Excel interface?

Any tips, tricks, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[RoryA]

but it only deselects the B1 cell and doesn't affect the whole column

It doesn't actually do that, it just makes B1 active.

Why do you need to do this? If it's for copying, just hide column B first.

 

[Peter_SSs]

Now, I want to deselect a specific column from the selection — for example, column B — without unselecting the entire worksheet.

I don't think that there is a way to do that with your version. However, if you did want the result of selecting the entire worksheet excluding column B these few steps will do it

1. Select the entire worksheet using that top left box
2. Ctrl+.
3. Holding Shift, press the right arrow twice
4. Drag the bottom scroll bar to the left so you can see column A again
5. Ctrl + click column A label

Edit:
An alternative

1. Select column C
2. Shift+Ctrl+Right arrow
3. Drag bottom scroll bar left
4. Crtl + Click col A

BTW, I don't have Excel 2010 to positively check either of the above.

 

[happydz]

I don't think that there is a way to do that with your version. However, if you did want the result of selecting the entire worksheet excluding column B these few steps will do it

1. Select the entire worksheet using that top left box
2. Ctrl+.
3. Holding Shift, press the right arrow twice
4. Drag the bottom scroll bar to the left so you can see column A again
5. Ctrl + click column A label

View attachment 120881

Edit:
An alternative

1. Select column C
2. Shift+Ctrl+Right arrow
3. Drag bottom scroll bar left
4. Crtl + Click col A

BTW, I don't have Excel 2010 to positively check either of the above.

It did not work

 

[RoryA]

In the absence of clarification: hide column B. Select everything. Press Alt+; then unhide column B.

 

[happydz]

In the absence of clarification: hide column B. Select everything. Press Alt+; then unhide column B.

Did not work

 

[RoryA]

In what way?

 

[happydz]

In what way?

All the ways mentioned did not work for me, maybe because I'm using an old Microsoft Excel 2010 Pro.

 

[RoryA]

I mean in what way didn't it work? What happened? The Alt+; shortcut has been around for decades as a shortcut for: f5, Special... then Visible cells only.

 

[happydz]

I mean in what way didn't it work? What happened? The Alt+; shortcut has been around for decades as a shortcut for: f5, Special... then Visible cells only.

Nothing happens when I do Alt+; shortcut.
Another thing is that when (everything is selected with column B hidden) I try ti unhide the the hidden columns using Format>Hide & Display>Display columns, the column B is still hidden. So I have to manually click and drag the header between A and C in order to let the column B displays.