Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. 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: Selecting Noncontiguous Ranges with the Keyboard.
Most people know that you can select a noncontiguous range of cells by using the mouse. All you need to do is click the first cell in the range and then hold down the Ctrl key as you click other cells in the range. (This is often referred to as creating a selection set of cells.)
Some folks don't like using the mouse that much. If you are in that camp, you may wonder if there is a way to select a noncontiguous range simply by using the keyboard. Fortunately there is, but very few folks know about it. Provided that you know the addresses of the cells you want in the range, follow these steps:
Figure 1. The Go To dialog box.
As an example, if you wanted your noncontiguous range to include cells A7, B2, F14 through G22, and T18, you would enter the following into the Reference box:
A7,B2,F14:G22,T18
Clicking OK then selects all these cells. In addition, the last cell that you entered is the "active cell" in the selected range.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (10919) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, and 2013. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Selecting Noncontiguous Ranges with the Keyboard.
Program Successfully in Excel! John Walkenbach's name is synonymous with excellence in deciphering complex technical topics. With this comprehensive guide, "Mr. Spreadsheet" shows how to maximize your Excel experience using professional spreadsheet application development tips from his own personal bookshelf. Check out Excel 2013 Power Programming with VBA today!
Entering data in a worksheet can be time consuming. One of the tools that Excel provides to make entry easier is ...
Discover MoreExcel allows you to edit the contents of a cell in two places—the cell itself or in the Formula bar. If you want to ...
Discover MoreSeparating text values in one cell into a group of other cells is a common need when dealing with text. Excel provides a ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2015-01-12 09:02:22
Rich Williams
Another way:
Select cell(s),
hit shift+F8,
move cursor to new area
hold shift+arrow keys
2014-12-08 10:05:49
Charley
@ Geoffrey: Way over 50; have known what "noncontiguous" meant for quite some time. Also know what "nonadjacent" means . . . :-)
2014-12-07 10:31:56
awyatt
Geoffrey: Another synonym is "nonadjacent." However, the terms "contiguous" and "noncontiguous" were decided upon decades ago by common usage.
English is a funny language.
-Allen
2014-12-07 10:30:40
awyatt
AMC: That works when using the mouse (as partially mentioned in the first paragraph), but this tip is about using the keyboard only, without using the mouse.
-Allen
2014-12-07 06:54:35
AMC
Just hold down your CTRL key as you select the cells. Holding CTRL gives you noncontiguous selections; SHIFT gives you contiguous selections.
2014-12-07 05:26:05
Geoffrey Lane
Why do computer help sources always have to use words like noncontiguous when a simple, not touching will do?
Over 50's find this very hard to understand.
2014-12-06 11:25:20
Peter
That should have been the range A2:A7,F2:F7
2014-12-06 11:11:51
Peter Atherton
That is interesting. Note also that A2:A7,F2:F2 leaves F2 as the active cell.
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 © 2019 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. 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: 
Comments