Too many columns and I cant get rid of them.

**Yebel** · 02-04-2016, 01:31 PM

Please see the attached screen shot. i have these large excel files with 1000's of rows with many blank rows acting as dividers between the rows which contains cells with data. I know how to delate the empty rows manually but have no idea how to get rid of all the extra columns that seem to be redundant i.e. there are more columns than fields.

I just want to make this giant mess into a simple (but large) table of columns and rows.

Please help. I am at my wit's end.

Screen Shot 2016-01-30 at 7.35.05 PM.png

**alansidman** · 02-04-2016, 01:45 PM

Hi and welcome to the forum

Pictures are of little value. Honestly, no one wants to re-type your data to try and solve your issue. Additionally, we would only be guessing at how your data was structured, ie. formulas, formatting, etc.

Please attach a sample file that represents what you have. The structure of your attachment should be the same structure as your actual data. Any proprietary information should be changed.

Include in the attachment any code you're currently using (whether it works or not) and an "After" of what you wish the output to be.

To attach a file to your post,
click advanced (next to quick post),
scroll down until you see "manage file",
click that and select "add files" (top right corner).
click "select files" find your file, click "open" click "upload" click 'done" bottom right. click "submit reply"

Once the upload is completed the file name will appear below the input boxes in this window.
You can then close the window to return to the new post screen.

**hemesh** · 02-04-2016, 01:45 PM

There work around may be
First select column B then click find and select at the end of home tab then click go to special---> click on Blanks then click home tab-> cells----> delete cells Hit entire row

**Yebel** · 02-04-2016, 01:54 PM

Okay. I wil try that.

**Yebel** · 02-04-2016, 02:42 PM

I think I have just attached a sample file to the post. It should be pretty apparent from first sight that there are way more columns than there are fields.

**MrShorty** · 02-04-2016, 03:00 PM

I'm not exactly sure what you are referring to. I do see a lot of "merged cells", where cells are merged across several Excel columns. If I understand what you are trying to do, perhaps the first step is to go through and "unmerge" all of those cells. I think you can do this by selecting the entire sheet (ctrl A), then click on the "merge and center" button (Home tab -> Alignment group) to turn the merge and center off. Then you should be able to go through and delete the redundant columns and adjust the column widths of the remaining columns.