When you are working
with large data sets in Excel, a wonderful function to consider using is the
'Freeze Panes' function. This function
is especially useful when you have row and/or column headings that you want
to continue to see as you scroll through your data. Excel gives 3 options for 'Freeze Panes':
1. Freeze Panes
-This
function is useful when you want to freeze both rows and columns and/or have
multiple rows and/or columns to freeze.
Basically this function allows you to choose which data you want to
freeze versus the other two options below where Excel automatically freezes
certain rows/columns.
-To
use this function:
-
Click on the cell where you want the following to happen:
1.
The row(s) above the selected cell will be frozen (the cells must be visible on
the page at this time)
2.
The column(s) to the left of the selected cell will be frozen
-Click
on the View Tab
-Click
on 'Freeze Panes' in the Window section
-You
will be given 3 choices, click 'Freeze Panes' from the menu
-Now
when you scroll, any cells that were above or to the left of your selected cell
should not move
-Example
1
-In
this scenario, I want to freeze the first 2 rows and the first column as they
are headers
-Click
on cell B3
-Click
on the View tab
-In
the Window section click on 'Freeze Panes' icon
-Click
on 'Freeze Panes' from the Freeze Panes menu
-Now
when you scroll down, you will still see your top to rows
-Next,
scroll to the right and you will still see your first column on the left
2. Freeze Top Row
-This
function is useful when you just want to freeze the first row of your data
-To
use this function:
-Click
in any cell on your spreadsheet (no specific cell is needed)
-Click
on the View Tab
-Click
on 'Freeze Panes' in the Window section
-You
will be given 3 choices, click 'Freeze Top Row' from the menu
-Now
when you scroll, the first row will not move
-Example
2
-In
this scenario, I want to freeze only the top row so that I can see the header
as I scroll down through the weeks
-Click
on any cell in the spreadsheet
-Click
on the View tab
-In
the Window section click on 'Freeze Panes' icon
-Click
on 'Freeze Top Row' from the Freeze Panes menu
-Now
when you scroll down, you will continue to see your top row
3. Freeze First
Column
-This
function is useful when you just want to freeze the first column of your data
-To
use this function:
-Click
in any cell on your spreadsheet (no specific cell is needed)
-Click
on the View Tab
-Click
on 'Freeze Panes' in the Window section
-You
will be given 3 choices, click 'Freeze First Column' from the menu
-Now
when you scroll, the first column will not move
-Example
3
-In
this scenario, I want to freeze only the first column so that I can see the
header as I scroll to the right
-Click
on any cell in the spreadsheet
-Click
on the View tab
-In
the Window section click on 'Freeze Panes' icon
-Click
on 'Freeze First Column' from the Freeze Panes menu
-Now
when you scroll to the right, you will continue to see your first column
Now, we've walked
through the steps on how to freeze panes, but what if you want to unfreeze the
panes? In any of the above 3 scenarios,
if you want to unfreeze the panes, follow the steps below:
-Click
in any cell on your spreadsheet (no specific cell is needed)
-Click
on the View Tab
-Click
on 'Freeze Panes' in the Window section
-You
will be given 3 choices, click 'Unfreeze Panes' from the menu
Excel ya later!
