Thread: Ctrl + arrow key not working

Hi guys,

I have just come across something I have not quite seen before.

I am working with an Excel workbook, and the Ctrl + arrow key function is not working as I would expect. When used it goes the furthest populated cell rather than the next populated cell. So when I am in cell B1 and expect to go to cell B15 when I use Ctrl + down, it ends up in cell B15000, which is the last cell with a value in it.

Now I know that the data is pasted into the Excel sheet from another -non Microsoft- programme. I have tried copying all the data and then using paste-special-values, which worked with similar problems, but that doesn't do anything.

It's not like the data is just one big block that looks like it takes up the whole thing, because it will still sort according to columns. The Find function also works, which suggests it does recognise values in cells. And yet the Ctrl + arrow keys don't work.

Does anybody have any idea what might be going on here? Any suggestions would be most welcome.

Sounds like something is there even though you don't see it. Within an occupied block of cells, The CNTRL + arrow will bring you to the last cell before a true empty. If there are formulas, blanks or other unprinted characters, Excel will continue onward until it sees an empty cell. If you attach a spreadsheet, I might be able to tell you what's in there.

ChemistB

The other way around.

It is skipping populated cells as well as blank cells until it reaches the very last populated cell.

D'OH!

I think I shall get my coat for the day and try again tomorrow. First challenge shall be how to to delete about 100,000 appartently empty cells.

Thank you most kindly for reminding me I can be an idiot.

Cheers guys.

Right, I am awake this morning.

Thanks very much for the help. As all the 'blank' cells contain only spaces, I have used =TRIM() to clear the cells.