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How do I stop the cursor from jumping to the bottom of the worksheet?

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    How do I stop the cursor from jumping to the bottom of the worksheet?

    I am using Excel 2010, but I have noticed this phenomenon in other versions. I have a very lengthy speadsheet. I want to edit a cell at line 461. I position my cursor on the cell and double click. Often this works fine and I am in the cell with an editing cursor showing. But once in a while I find that it jumps down to the very last line. If I do this in a sparsely populated column, it can sometimes jump down to the last blank cell before a cell with data. If I could get control of this feature it would be useful. I would like to know the name of this feature. And I would like a clue as to how to control which behavior, jumping or cell opening, I get. I *think* that I have seen it jump up to the top on occasion, but I cannot get that behavior to happen right now. I hope someone knows what I'm talking about. I sure don't. Thanks in advance. And Happy New Year to everyone!
    Last edited by AliGW; 01-01-2017 at 12:59 PM. Reason: Change of thread title needed

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    Re: Flying Leap

    I think you're double-clicking the edge of the cell rather than in the cell. Double-clicking the bottom border will take you to the last blank cell in that column before one with data. The top border takes you up.

    Happy New Year to you too
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    I recently started a new job so am a bit busy and may not reply quickly. Sorry - it's not personal - I will reply eventually.
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    Re: Flying Leap

    Select a cell in the middle of some data, and carefully move the mouse cursor so that you align with the top edge of the cell - can you see that the cursor changes shape to show 4 arrows? The same happens if you move the cursor to the bottom edge of the cell, or to the right-hand or left-hand edges of the cell. Now, if you double-click the mouse while you have one of those shapes showing, Excel will move the cursor up (or down, left, or right, depending on which edge you have aligned to) to the end of contiguous data in that direction.

    So, I suspect that you double-clicked while the cursor was on the edge of the cell, rather than in the middle of the cell.

    Hope this helps.

    Pete

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    Re: Flying Leap

    I predict that a certain member will come by and post an objection to the thread title.
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    Re: Flying Leap

    Thanks, everyone! I now understand and have control of this feature. I look forward to understanding Tony's cryptic remark. I think "flying leap" is as good a name as any for this feature. And no one suggested an alternative. I'm going to go jump around on my spreadsheet some more...

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    Re: Flying Leap

    You can get more information by searching for "Move or Scroll through a worksheet" in Excel Help.

    Thanks for the rep, and Happy New Year.

    Pete

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    Re: Flying Leap

    Glad we could help. Thanks for the feedback and the rep.

    If you're happy that your question's been answered, please take a moment to mark the thread as Solved so others know there's an answer here (instructions in my sig). Thanks.

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    Re: Flying Leap

    Quote Originally Posted by Tony Valko View Post
    I predict that a certain member will come by and post an objection to the thread title.
    You are right, Tony: had I seen the thread before it was solved, I would have. I do happen to agree with the forum rule regarding thread titles for the reason given in the rules, but even if I didn't, as a moderator, I am duty bound to ensure that forum rules are followed. It goes with the territory. It's nothing personal and it ensures that the forum is easier to search. As the thread is already solved, I've changed the thread title on the OP's behalf.
    Last edited by AliGW; 01-01-2017 at 01:00 PM.
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    Re: Flying Leap

    I think I preferred the other title, Paul.

    If that takes care of your original question, please take a moment to select Thread Tools from the menu above your first post and mark this thread as SOLVED.

    Pete

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    Re: How do I stop the cursor from jumping to the bottom of the worksheet?

    Thanks, Pete. I respect the mod's decision to rename the thread, but I am still calling this feature "Flying Leap". If there is a more official name though I would like to know it.

    My impression has been that I had this problem mostly with larger spreadsheets and now I understand why. I am exacerbating my problem because, with these larger spreadsheets, I zoom to 60% to get more lines on my screen. This makes it easier to trigger a flying leap by accident. Because the spreadsheet is larger I am likely to leap very far away. And, since there is no way to undo a flying leap, it sometimes is a real chore finding my way back. As a compromise, I have decided to zoom only to 80%. I just wanted to mention zooming in case it benefits anyone else.

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    Re: How do I stop the cursor from jumping to the bottom of the worksheet?

    Sorry to keep a Solved thread going, but I just thought I'd note that it is possible to turn this functionality off - though it also disables a more useful function, so you probably won't want to. If you go to File > Options > Advanced, then de-select 'Enable fill handle and cell drag-and-drop,' double-clicking on the edge of the cell will no longer do the 'flying leap' - but you also won't be able to fill series quickly, etc.
    A better option, if you like to be zoomed to 60%, would be to get into the habit of single-clicking in the cell and pressing F2, which takes you into Edit mode. That's my normal method, though I realise it may not suit your way of working.
    Good luck with however you decide to proceed...

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    Re: How do I stop the cursor from jumping to the bottom of the worksheet?

    Actually now that I have control of the flying leap, it is rather useful. In contrast, I rarely use the fill functionality except during initial setup. The advantage of double clicking is that I can point to the character within the cell that I want to change. Not only is the cell opened for editing, but my cursor is where I want it (or very close). I have taking the "point at the character" somewhat too literally and I will be easily able to start pointing near the vertical center. Trying to point directly at a period or a comma in a 60% zoomed cell seems, in retrospect, to be asking for trouble. It's actually amazing that I perceived the flying leap as rare.

    Also I want to point out that I never actually see the cursor change to 4 arrow cursor. So let's say that I have a cell selected in column E but a typo in column B has caught my eye. I move the mouse over to column B and I get the large cross plus sign cursor. I get that plus sign (which is not transparent) positioned over a period and then rapidly double-click. Even at 60% zoom, I wind up with the cell opened for editing with the cursor either before or after the period most of the time. But maybe one time in five I wind up at the bottom of the column. Excel may change the cursor to the 4 arrow cursor between clicks, but it's faster than my eye can follow.

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    Re: How do I stop the cursor from jumping to the bottom of the worksheet?

    My solution to this is to have the following macro in my person macro workbook:

    Please Login or Register  to view this content.
    I've assigned it a keyboard shortcut, so I can turn on/off the feature when I need it.

    HTH

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