Why Group Worksheets in Excel? Examples of What You Can Do
If you have ever needed to make the same change to multiple worksheets, then you know how tedious it can be. Maybe you need to update a header or footer on each sheet. Or perhaps you need to enter the same formula in each worksheet. Grouping worksheets in Excel can save you a lot of time and effort.
Here are some examples of what you can do when you group worksheets:
- Edit data: You can enter data in one worksheet and have it appear in all the other grouped worksheets.
- Apply formatting: Change the font, color, or other formatting options and have those changes apply to all the grouped worksheets.
- Use formulas: Enter a formula in one cell, and it will automatically be applied to all the other sheets with the same regions or cells.
- Move, copy or delete multiple sheets: You can quickly select and move, copy or delete all the grouped worksheets at once.
- Print out sheets: When you group worksheets, you can print them all at the same time.
- Correct mistakes: Have you ever accidentally made a typo on one worksheet and copied it to your other worksheets before realizing it? If you group worksheets, you can fix the typo in one place and have it update on all the other sheets.
Now that you know the benefits, let’s move on to the instructions for how to group worksheets in Excel. It’s easy to do!
How to Group Worksheets in Excel
Many Excel users don’t even know this feature exists. Grouping worksheets is a simple way to save time when you need to make the same changes to multiple sheets. Here’s how to group worksheets in Excel.
To select multiple sheets that are next to each other, click the first tab, hold down the Shift key, and then click the last tab. To select sheets that are not next to each other, click the first tab, hold down the Ctrl key, and then click the other tabs. Release Ctrl when you’re done. That’s it! You’ve successfully grouped the worksheets.
The grouped sheets will appear with a white background on the list of tabs, while those outside the group will have a gray background. The name of your workbook will also gain the word Group after it.
How to Ungroup the Sheets
If you need to make changes to just one sheet in the group, you can ungroup them. To do this, right-click any tab in the group and select Ungroup Sheets at the bottom of the menu. The sheets will no longer be grouped. You can now make changes to just one sheet without affecting the others.
How to Group All Worksheets Within a File
If there are too many sheets to click one by one, you can select them all at once. First, right-click on any sheet tab. At the bottom of the menu, you’ll see the option Select All Sheets. When you click it, all the sheets will be grouped.
You can now edit them all simultaneously, but you need to stay on the sheet you started on. When you switch to another one, they’ll be ungrouped automatically. This rule doesn’t apply to the previous method where you grouped some worksheets but not others.
Now that you know how to group worksheets in Excel, give it a try on your next project. This simple tip can save you a lot of time and frustration. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask in the comments below!
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