Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Microsoft 365. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Spreading Out a Table.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated May 22, 2021)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Microsoft 365
Sometimes you may get a worksheet from someone else, and you need some room to work on the information provided. For instance, you may find it helpful to add some blank rows between each of the original rows in the original data. While this can be done rather easily using the Insert menu, it can quickly become tedious—particularly if you have a large number of rows that you want to spread out.
The following macro will help you tremendously in this situation. All you need to do is select the first row in the data. When you run the macro, it asks you how many blank rows you want to insert between the original rows. When you provide a number, the macro steps through the data and starts inserting blank rows. The macro stops when the first blank cell after the original data is detected.
Sub SpreadOut() Dim iBlanks As Integer Dim J As Integer iBlanks = InputBox("How many blank rows?", "Insert Rows") ActiveCell.Offset(1, 0).Select While ActiveCell.Value > "" And iBlanks > 0 For J = 1 To iBlanks Selection.EntireRow.Insert Next J ActiveCell.Offset(iBlanks + 1, 0).Select Wend End Sub
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (10005) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Spreading Out a Table.
Solve Real Business Problems Master business modeling and analysis techniques with Excel and transform data into bottom-line results. This hands-on, scenario-focused guide shows you how to use the latest Excel tools to integrate data from multiple tables. Check out Microsoft Excel 2013 Data Analysis and Business Modeling today!
Import data from another program, and you could end up with a lot of blank columns in your data. Here's the quickest way ...
Discover MoreExcel provides a few ways that you can freeze or split what you see in your worksheet. The appropriateness of these tools ...
Discover MoreWant an easy way to insert a new row in a worksheet and copy everything from the row above? (You end up with two ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2021-05-22 19:14:53
Ken Reed
How can this macro be expanded to format the row height to be different from the original row height in the worksheet?
2021-05-22 08:51:42
Alan Cannon
I prefer to increase the row height, which doesn't add rows to the worksheet but still spreads out the data. This way the data can still be sorted if needed.
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2024 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments