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Ctrl + arrow key not working

  1. #1
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    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.

  2. #2
    Forum Expert oldchippy's Avatar
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    Hi,

    Are you saying that there are blank spaces in between the number and it is skipping past these? If that's the case then those "blank" cells are not blank they have a space or other "blank" characters
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  3. #3
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    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

  4. #4
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    The other way around.

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

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    Forum Expert oldchippy's Avatar
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    Hi,

    Just try selecting the "blank" cells, press the delete key, then see if it works now

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    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.

  7. #7
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  8. #8
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    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.

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    Re: Ctrl + arrow key not working

    I just came across this thread, because I was having issues with the Ctrl + Arrow. For me it appeared to be a scrlk key issue. If that key is engaged, then Ctrl + Arrow works like page down, page up. Which is great when going left to right, but not so helpful going up and down.

    I hope this helps people in the future, as I have found that while a "Fresh Start" does help, it's usually the reboot that fixed the "issue" and no one finds what the real fix is.

  10. #10
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    Re: Ctrl + arrow key not working

    Thanks a lot for your tip, davbran. Turned out that was the issue I had. It's all working fine now.

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