Delete column

[mtpaper]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

SCENARIO 1: this works fine
a1.d1 are merged cells, with text originating in A1
e1.i1 are merged cells, with text originating in e1

When I delete column C, everything is okey-dokey.

SCNENARIO 2: this doesn't work fine
a1.d1 are merged cells, with text originating in A1
a2.d2 are merged cells, with text originating in A2
e1.i1 are merged cells, with text originating in e1
e2.i2 are merged cells,with text originating in e2

When I delete Column C, my titles go kersplooty
The text from A1 is replaced with the text from e1
The text from a2 is replaced with the text from e2

Attempted Work-arounds
1. I tried hiding column c, but that's not helpful; same result happens
2. I can shrink Column C's width, but that certainly isn't a very elegant solution for 2008.
3. I selected a range of c3.c20, and deleted, shifting entire column - but that isn't constructive since my merged A1.d1 and a2.d2 cells didn't adjust as well (so my merged title don't cover the correspoding contents).

Any ideas for suggested alternative ways to do this?
This is a frequent work-flow for me...

the merged cells at the top are a heading, then then individual columns pertain to that heading...

Thanks -
Marion in NY

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

SCENARIO 1: this works fine
a1.d1 are merged cells, with text originating in A1
e1.i1 are merged cells, with text originating in e1

When I delete column C, everything is okey-dokey.

SCNENARIO 2: this doesn't work fine
a1.d1 are merged cells, with text originating in A1
a2.d2 are merged cells, with text originating in A2
e1.i1 are merged cells, with text originating in e1
e2.i2 are merged cells,with text originating in e2

When I delete Column C, my titles go kersplooty
The text from A1 is replaced with the text from e1
The text from a2 is replaced with the text from e2

Attempted Work-arounds
1. I tried hiding column c, but that's not helpful; same result happens
2. I can shrink Column C's width, but that certainly isn't a very elegant
solution for 2008.
3. I selected a range of c3.c20, and deleted, shifting entire column - but
that isn't constructive since my merged A1.d1 and a2.d2 cells didn't adjust
as well (so my merged title don't cover the correspoding contents).

Any ideas for suggested alternative ways to do this?
This is a frequent work-flow for me...

the merged cells at the top are a heading, then then individual columns
pertain to that heading...

This is one reason why you should never, ever, use merged cells. They're
the spawn of the devil, and you will be cursed forever if you attempt
them even once in a production app...

Seriously, they're bad news. Friends don't let friends merge cells. They
cause all kinds of trouble, with copying, pasting, deleting, inserting,
selecting, etc.

Instead, use Center Across Selection (Format/Cells/Alignment/Horizontal)

As to your question, I can't reproduce either of your scenarios because,
with A11 merged, I can't select *just* column C in order to delete it
- A1,B1 and D1 are selected as well, and trying to delete them raises an
error. How are *you* doing so?

 

[mtpaper]

@J.E. - I like your explanation of merged cells! They were fine but I'll cease and desist immediately!

The example was so odd when I was using the merged columns, since Example 1 worked fine and Example 2 didn't. Seemed like if it worked for one, it should have worked for Example 2.

The why I selected *just* column C to delete it was by clicking on the C at the top of the column. I can see that the column is lit - as well as A2.e2 (but not a1.e1)

On my old Excel, since the text was in a1 and a2, only column C was affected by the delete. If I had tried to delete column a, then of course my titles were obliterated.