Can't delete rows

  • Thread starter Thread starter JoAnn
  • Start date Start date
J

JoAnn

Anyone have any idea why I wouldn't be able to delete rows in a worksheet?
It doesn't seem to be protected for row deletion.

I am selecting the whole row (from the left side of the sheet) & then going
to the end of the sheet to grab the bottom.

I have over 6,000 rows in this one sheet! No idea how it happened or how I
can get rid of them (other than copy/paste what I want to save into a new
worksheet).

Thanks!
JoAnn
 
Rows of what? Data or just blank rows?

An Excel worksheet has 65536 rows and 256 columns(2007 version has over one
million rows and 16,384 columns)

None of these can be deleted.

Data can be deleted or cleared but the rows and columns remain the same number.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP
 
Thanks, that explains it! The rows are blank.

My reason for trying to delete them ... the spreadsheet is not set as
"shared" but is being stored in MS Sharepoint & for some reason it takes 1-2
minutes to open from there (opens much faster on my PC).

Thought the number of blank rows was the reason. Now that I know it's
standard for Excel, I'll check our IT department & the Sharepoint Newsgroup
to try to find out why this particular workbook opens so slowly when others
don't.

If you have any idea why that would happen (from an Excel standpoint),
please let me know. I don't have any macros in it (yet) & there are only
about 80 rows of data in one sheet & 20 in another.

Also ... there will be a 3rd "archive" sheet eventually so the workbook
will be growing quite large with time so if there's a limit to overall
workbook size, please let me know.

Thanks for your help!
JoAnn
 
What is the file size now that you have reset the used range on all sheets?

Should be very small if your data is as you state.

I don't work with SharePoint at all so can't speak to that.

Overall workbook size is a function of the resources you have available.

I have heard of workbooks at the 100Mb area.


Gord
 
Apologies for the lack of direction about re-setting the used range on a sheet.

The reason you have such a large used range is the copying of formulas down and
across far more rows and columns than you may reasonably need.

To reset the used range, go to the bottom of your actual data.

Select the row below and SHIFT + End + DownArrow

Edit>Delete>Entire Row.

Do same for all columns to the right of your data.

Do this on all sheets.

Now......important part.........Save/Close and reopen.

What is size of workbook now?

To address the original problem, which is having formulas :just in case" you may
want to read up on "Dynamic Ranges" at Debra Dalgleish's site.

http://www.contextures.on.ca/xlNames01.html#Dynamic

Formulas can be entered that will look at only the used range.


Gord
 
Down from 20,037kb to 93kb

You must have filled a lot of cells with formulas<g>

Good to hear and thanks for the feedback.

Again, apologies for the lack of instruction.

I had just finished giving the insrtructions to another poster and got the tow
of you mixed up.

None too uncommon, I might add.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP
 
Thanks for all your help, Gord ... if I can impose on you a little further ...

I'm having trouble creating a dynamic data range for my worksheet data.

I have manually selected the rows & columns I want to define as the starting
range (A4 through Z109 - I'm ignoring the 1st 3 rows since I use them as
headers).

Then I used Insert > Name > Define to create the dynamic range (called
Used_Data_Range) and entered the following formula:

=OFFSET(DOCs!$A$1,0,0,COUNTA(DOCs!$A:$A),COUNTA(DOCs!$1:$1))

When I check the range, I only get up to Column O and down to Row 110. Even
though there is still populated columns beyond it (the rows below are empty).

What am I doing wrong?

Also ... my understanding is that once this range is set & I start to enter
data in row 110, etc., it will automatically extend the range, carrying over
all formatting, formulas & attributes from within the range providing I have
Extend Data Range Formulas & Formats checked (which I do). Is that correct?
Or do I have to do anything else?

As usual ... thanks for your help!
 
See in-line responses.

Thanks for all your help, Gord ... if I can impose on you a little further ...

I'm having trouble creating a dynamic data range for my worksheet data.

I have manually selected the rows & columns I want to define as the starting
range (A4 through Z109 - I'm ignoring the 1st 3 rows since I use them as
headers).
Click to expand...

Do not pre-select any range.

The purpose of a dynamic range is to let Excel determine the used range based on
the "refers to" formula.
Then I used Insert > Name > Define to create the dynamic range (called
Used_Data_Range) and entered the following formula:

=OFFSET(DOCs!$A$1,0,0,COUNTA(DOCs!$A:$A),COUNTA(DOCs!$1:$1))
Click to expand...

Change to =OFFSET(DOCs!$A$1,3,0,COUNTA(DOCs!$A:$A),COUNTA(DOCs!$1:$1))

The Offset,3,0 means start 3 cells down from A1 and look down from there.

When I check the range, I only get up to Column O and down to Row 110. Even
though there is still populated columns beyond it (the rows below are empty)
Click to expand...

If the COUNTA(DOCs!$1:$1)) which means count across row 1 does not go all the
way across, perhaps your headers in row 1 only go to O1

Try entering a row which extends to the last used column. Maybe $4:$4 ?

Assuming you have data in A1:Z109

F5......enter Used_Data_Range and see what gets selected.
What am I doing wrong?

Also ... my understanding is that once this range is set & I start to enter
data in row 110, etc., it will automatically extend the range, carrying over
all formatting, formulas & attributes from within the range providing I have
Extend Data Range Formulas & Formats checked (which I do). Is that correct?
Or do I have to do anything else?
Click to expand...

Yes, the formatting should follow from above when you enter data in last unused
row.

Not sure where your formulas come into play however?


Gord
 
Do you happen to know what to do if the below does not work?

I am using Excel 2003. The file is 7MB and needs to be smaller.

I followed your directions below.

When I right click the short cut menu options is "Delete Row"

When I do that it does not ask to 'delete entire row'.
I get an hour glass and in the bottom left corner I get "Calculating Cells:
X%"
When it reaches 100% I still have 65536 rows and then columns that go to IV

Please help :-)
 
I never mentioned a right-click and delete row but first you may have to
turn off automatic calculation.

Then follow Shift + End + Downarrow and Edit>Delete>Entire Row.


Gord
 
Are you doing it at the far left row NUMBERS
If desired, send your file to my address below along with this msg and
a clear explanation of what you want and before/after examples.
 
My apologies.

I tried right-click and Edit>
My option there is Edit>Delete Row

Can you tell me how to turn off automatic calculation?
I have already tried clearing formatting and clearing contents in these rows
& columns.

Thank you!
 
In xl2003 menus:
Tools|Option|Calculation tab

Don't forget to turn it back on to automatic when you're done (well, if that's
what you want).
 
After deleting unused rows and columns and saving, closing and reopening
your file size is still very large?

What is current file size under File>Properties>General?

You will always have 256 columns and 65536 rows so don't think that deleting
will remove those cells.


Gord
 
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