Select Nonadjacent Excel Columns Using Only the Keyboard in WPS Spreadsheets
Question details
How to select multiple nonconsecutive worksheet columns in WPS Office Spreadsheets without using a mouse.
- Product
- WPS Office Spreadsheets
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user is editing a worksheet and needs to select several nonadjacent columns using keyboard shortcuts only.
- Observed behavior
- The desired nonadjacent columns are selected without mouse input.
Open the workbook in WPS Office Spreadsheets and use the arrow keys to place the active cell in the first column you want to select.
Select Nonadjacent Columns Using F8, Shift+F8, and Ctrl+Space
Use this keyboard-only workflow when you need to select entire columns that are not next to each other without a mouse.
WPS Office Spreadsheets follows the same selection behavior as Excel: F8 turns on Extend Selection, Shift+F8 adds another nonadjacent range, and Ctrl+Space selects the current column.
Press F8 on your keyboard. The status bar should indicate that Extend Selection mode is active.
Make sure the active cell is in the first column you want to select, then press Ctrl+Space to select that entire column.
Press Shift+F8 to add another nonadjacent range, use the arrow keys to move the active cell into the next desired column, then press Ctrl+Space.
Repeat Shift+F8 and Ctrl+Space for each additional column, then press Esc when you have finished selecting columns.
Select Nonadjacent Excel Columns in WPS Office Spreadsheets Using Only the Keyboard
WPS Office Spreadsheets supports the same keyboard selection workflow as Excel, so you can select multiple nonconsecutive columns without switching tools or reaching for a mouse.
- 1. Open your workbook: Launch WPS Office Spreadsheets and open the .xlsx file you need to edit.
- 2. Enable Extend Selection: Press F8 to turn on Extend Selection mode.
- 3. Select the first column: Use the arrow keys to move to the desired column and press Ctrl+Space to select the entire column.
- 4. Add nonadjacent columns: Press Shift+F8, move to the next column with the arrow keys, then press Ctrl+Space. Repeat for each additional column.
- 5. Finish the selection: Press Esc to leave Extend Selection mode while keeping the selected columns ready for formatting or data operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does F8 do in WPS Office Spreadsheets?
F8 toggles Extend Selection mode. When it is active, moving the active cell or using Ctrl+Space extends the selection instead of replacing it with a new cell or column.
How do I select an entire column without using a mouse?
Place the active cell in the column using the arrow keys, then press Ctrl+Space. The entire column is selected.
How do I add another nonadjacent column to an existing selection?
Press Shift+F8 to add another nonadjacent range, move to the next desired column with the arrow keys, and press Ctrl+Space.
Why is my nonadjacent column selection not working?
Make sure F8 is active to enable Extend Selection, then press Shift+F8 before moving to the next column. Also avoid clicking cells with the mouse while building the selection.
How do I exit nonadjacent selection mode?
Press Esc after you finish selecting. This exits Extend Selection mode and keeps the currently selected columns ready for formatting or data actions.
