Excel: Results of AutoSelect Different from CTRL+Arrow

ID: Q81815

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0
Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 4.0, 5.0

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel, you can double-click any border of the active cell to move the selection. When you press SHIFT and double-click any border in the cell, you extend the selection. This feature is called "AutoSelect." When you double-click any of the cell's borders, Microsoft Excel moves the active selection in that direction (if possible).

Using this feature is similar to using CTRL+ARROW (to move the active cell) and SHIFT+CTRL+ the UP, DOWN, LEFT, or RIGHT ARROW keys (to extend a selection).

MORE INFORMATION

When you use AutoSelect, the cell you move to and the cells that are selected may be different from those that are selected when you use CTRL with the arrow keys. Two factors that affect the behavior of the AutoSelect feature are the following:

The way the data is arranged on your worksheet

-and-

Whether the cell you are starting from is blank, and whether adjacent cells are blank.

In most cases CTRL+ARROW will move one cell further than AutoSelect. For example, if you are starting from a blank cell with adjacent blank cells and cells containing data beyond that, CTRL+ARROW will select the next cell with data and AutoSelect will go to the last blank cell before the data begins. If, however, you're starting from a blank cell with adjacent cells containing contiguous data, AutoSelect will move to the last cell containing data, while CTRL+ARROW will move only to the first cell.

Also, CTRL+ARROW will move to the end of the worksheet (row 16384 or column IV) if all the cells in the direction you select are blank. AutoSelect will not move the active cell if all of the cells in the direction you select are blank.

Example

Enter any data into a blank worksheet:


   A1: 1  B1:   C1: 1  D1: 1
   B1:    B2: 1 C2: 1  D2: 1

Select A1. While holding down the CTRL key press the Right Arrow Key.

The active cell is moved to cell C1.

Again select cell A1. Double-click the right border of cell A1.

The active cell is now moved to cell B1.

Try the above steps using cell A2 in place of A1. Note the differences in behavior between the two approaches to navigation.

NOTE: To select cells using AutoSelect, hold down the SHIFT key while double-clicking the border of the active cell. Excel will select the range of cells from the active cell to the last cell selected.

STATUS

This behavior is by design in Microsoft Excel version 4.0. The algorithm was modified this way intentionally to provide greater utility value to both selection and navigation.

REFERENCES

"User's Guide," version 5.0, pages 94-96
"User's Guide 1," version 4.0, pages 96-97

Additional query words: 4.00a


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Last Reviewed: March 24, 1999