Add and delete rows and columns in Calc

This article is a simple tutorial on how to add rows and columns in LibreOffice Calc. This is a function that is common to just about every spreadsheet application. LibreOffice has three ways of performing these functions
It covers the following:

Inserting Rows

There are several ways to insert a row.

  • Through the Sheet menu
  • Through the Standard toolbar
  • Through the right-click menu

Sheet menu

Insert one row:Add one row through the Sheet menu in LibreOffice Calc

  1. Click a cell in a row that you want to insert a row above or below.
  2. Click the Sheet menu.
  3. Highlight the Insert Rows sub-menu.
  4. Choose either Rows Above or Rows Below.

Insert multiple rows:

  1. Click on a cell in the row you want to insert rows above or below.
  2. Hold down the left mouse button.
    Add multiple rows LibreOffice Calc; before
    In this image, two rows were highlighted so two rows can be inserted above the Bear, Tiger row.

    Then drag the mouse down until cells in the number of rows you want to insert are highlighted. For example, if you want to insert three rows, highlight three cells that are stacked on top of each other.

  3. Click the Sheet menu.
    Insert multiple rows LibreOffice Calc; after
    The previous image shows that the Bear, Tiger and Dolphin, Whale rows were selected. After Rows Above was clicked, two rows are above the Bear, Tiger row.
  4. Highlight the Insert Rows sub-menu.
  5. Choose either Rows Above or Rows Below.

The same number of rows you highlighted will now be inserted above or below the top row that was selected.

Standard toolbar

The Standard toolbar has an Insert Row Above, Insert Row Below icons or a Row Operations (Row) icon. Row Operations contains Insert Rows Above and Insert Rows Below.

Add one row standard toolbar LibreOffice Calc
Insert one row:

  1. Click a cell in a row that you want to insert a row above or below.
  2. Click the Row Operations icon, if the toolbar has one. If not, go to the next step.
  3. Click either the Insert Rows Above or Insert Rows Below icons.

If you want to insert multiple rows:

Add multiple rows LibreOffice Calc; before
In this image, two rows were highlighted so two rows can be inserted above the Bear, Tiger row.
  1. Click on a cell in the row you want to insert rows above or below.
  2. Hold down the left mouse button. Then drag the mouse down until cells in the number of rows you want to insert are highlighted. For example, if you want to insert three rows, highlight three cells that are stacked on top of each
    Insert multiple rows LibreOffice Calc; after
    The previous image shows that the Bear, Tiger and Dolphin, Whale rows were selected. After Rows Above was clicked, two rows are above the Bear, Tiger row.

    other.

  3. Click the Row Operations icon, if the toolbar has one. If not, go to the next step.
  4. Click either the Insert Rows Above or Insert Rows Below icon.

Right-click menu

This way is a little different than the other two because you do not select individual or groups of cells.Add rows LibreOffice Calc, one row
Insert one row:

  1. First select the entire row that you want to insert a row above or below. Simply click the number for that row that is in the far left column.
  2. Click the right mouse button.
  3. Click either Insert Rows Above or Insert Rows Below.

Insert multiple rows:

  1. Click on the row you want to insert rows above or below and hold down the left mouse button.
  2. Drag the mouse until the same number of rows is selected that you want to insert. For example, if you want to insert five rows, drag the mouse so five rows are selected.
  3. Release the left mouse button, and click the right mouse button.
  4. Click either Insert Rows Above or Insert Rows Below.

Delete Rows

Like inserting rows, there are three ways to delete rows. Each method only deletes selected rows, so if only one cell is selected, only one row will be deleted.

  • Through the Sheet menu
  • Through the Standard toolbar
  • Through the right-click menu

Sheet menu

Deleting one row:

  1. Click a cell in the row you wish to delete.Delete rows LibreOffice Calc, Sheet menu
  2. Click the Sheet menu.
  3. Click the Delete Rows item.

Deleting multiple rows:

  1. Select a cell in each row you wish to delete.

If the rows are on top of each other:

  1. You can click on a cell in the top row you wish to delete.
  2. Hold down the left mouse button and drag the mouse downward until cells in each row you wish to delete are selected. You can also hold the Shift key down and click on cells in each row you wish to delete.

If the rows are not on top of each other:

  1. Click a cell in the top row you wish to delete.
  2. Then hold down the Ctrl key (Cmd key for Mac) on your keyboard and click cells in rows you wish to delete.Delete multiple rows LibreOffice Calc
  1. Click the Sheet menu.
  2. Click the Delete Rows item.

Standard toolbar

Delete one row LibreOffice Calc, Standard toolbar

Deleting one row:

  1. Click a cell in the row you wish to delete.
  2. Click the Row Operations icon, if the toolbar has one. If not, go to the next step.
  3. Click the Delete Rows icon.

Deleting multiple rows:

  1. Select a cell in each row you wish to delete.

If the rows are on top of each other:

  1. You can click on a cell in the top row you wish to delete.
  2. Hold down the left mouse button and drag the mouse downward until cells in each row you wish to delete are selected. You can also hold the Shift key down and click on cells in each row you wish to delete.

If the rows are not on top of each other

  1. Click a cell in the top row you wish to delete.
  2. Then hold down the Ctrl key (Cmd for Mac) on your keyboard.
  3. Click cells in rows you wish to delete.
  1. Click the Row Operations icon, if the toolbar has one. If not, go to the next step.
  2. Click the Delete Rows icon.

Right-click menu

For one row:

  1. First select the entire row that you want to insert a row above or below. Simply click the number for that row that is in the far left column.
  2. Click the right mouse button with the cursor over the far left column and the number for the selected row. If you do not a different menu will appear that does not contain the Delete Rows item.
  3. Click the Delete Rows item.

For deleting more than one row:

Delete multiple rows LibreOffice Calc, right-click menu

  1. Click the far left column in each row you wish to delete.

If the rows are on top of each other:

  1. You can  click on  the far left column in the top row you wish to delete.
  2. Hold down the left mouse button and drag the mouse downward until all the rows you wish to delete are selected. You can also hold the Shift key down and click on the far left column in each row you wish to delete.

If the rows are not on top of each other:

  1. Click the far left column in the top row you wish to delete.
  2. Then hold down the Ctrl key (Cmd for Mac) on your keyboard.
  3. Click the far left column in rows you wish to delete.
  1. Click the right mouse button with the cursor over the far left column and the number for one of the selected rows. If you do not, a different menu will appear that does not contain the Delete Rows item.
  2. Click the Delete Rows item.

Insert columns

Inserting columns can be done three different ways.

  • Through Sheet menu
  • Through the Standard toolbar
  • Through the right-click menu

Sheet menu

Insert one column:Add one column LibreOffice Calc, Sheet menu

  1. Click on a cell in the column you want to insert a new column to the left or right of.
  2. Click the Sheet menu.
  3. Highlight the Insert Columns sub-menu.
  4. Click either Columns Left or Columns Right.

Insert multiple columns:

  1. Click on a cell in the column, where you want to insert columns to the left or right of.
  2. Hold down the left mouse button and drag the mouse to the right until cells in columns that are equal to the number of columns you want to insert are selected. For example, if you want to to insert five columns, select five cells in five adjacent columns.You also can hold down the Shift button and click on the cells in each column to select them.
  3. Click the Sheet menu.
  4. Highlight the Insert Columns sub-menu.
  5. Click either Columns Left or Columns Right.

Standard toolbar

Insert column LibreOffice Calc, Standard toolbar

The Standard toolbar has the Insert Columns Left or Insert Columns Right. However, in some operating systems, they may be located in the Column Operations drop-down menu.

Insert one column:

  1. Click a cell in a column that you want to insert a to the left or right of.
  2. Click the Column Operations icon, if the toolbar has one. If not, go to the next step.
  3. Click either the Insert Columns Left or Insert Columns Right icons.

Insert multiple columns:

  1. Click on a cell in the row you want to insert columns to the left or right of.Insert multiple columns LibreOffice Calc, before
  2. Hold down the left mouse button. Then drag the mouse to the right until cells in the number of columns you want to insert are highlighted. For example, if you want to insert three columns, highlight three cells that are adjacent.
  3. Click the Column Operations icon, if the toolbar has one. If not, go to the next step.
  4. Click either the Insert Columns Left or Insert Columns Right icon.

Right-click menu

As with rows, you must select the entire column, rather than individual cells, to use the right-click menu.
For one column:Insert one column LibreOffice Calc, right-click menu

  1. First select the entire column that you want to insert a column to the left or right of. Simply click the letter for that column that is the top row.
  2. Click the right mouse button with the cursor over the top row and the letter of the selected row. If you do not a different menu will appear that does not contain Insert Columns Left or Insert Columns Right items.
  3. Click either the Insert Columns Left or Insert Columns Right item.

Inserting multiple columns:

  1. Click on the top row of the column you want to insert columns to the left or right of and hold down the left mouse button.
  2. Drag the mouse right until the same number of columns is selected that you want to insert. For example, if you want to insert five columns, drag the mouse so five columns are selected.
  3. Release the left mouse button, and click the right mouse button with the cursor over the top row and the letter of the selected row. If you do not a different menu will appear that does not contain Insert Columns Left or Insert Columns Right items.
  4. Click either the Insert Columns Left or Insert Columns Right item.

Delete columns

Like inserting rows, there are three ways to delete columns. Each method only deletes selected columns, so if only one cell is selected, only one column will be deleted.

  • Through the Sheet menu
  • Through the Standard toolbar
  • Through the right-click menu

Sheet menu

Deleting one column:Delete one column LibreOffice Calc, Sheet menu

  1. Click a cell in the column you wish to delete.
  2. Click the Sheet menu.
  3. Click the Delete Columns item.

Deleting multiple columns:

  1. Select a cell in each column you wish to delete.

If the columns are adjacent:

  1. You can click on a cell in the column to the farthest left you wish to delete.
  2. Hold down the left mouse button and drag the mouse to the right until cells in each column you wish to delete are selected. You can also hold the Shift key down and click on cells in each column you wish to delete.

If the columns are not adjacent:

  1. Click a cell in the column that is the farthest left of the ones you wish to delete.Delete columns LibreOffice Calc, non-adjacent
  2. Then hold down the Ctrl key (Cmd for Mac) on your keyboard.
  3. Click cells in columns you wish to delete.
  1. Click the Sheet menu.
  2. Click the Delete Rows item.

Standard toolbar

Delete column LibreOffice Calc, standard toolbar

Deleting one column:

  1. Click a cell in the column you wish to delete.
  2. Click the Column Operations icon, if the toolbar has one. If not, go to the next step.
  3. Click the Delete Columns icon.

For deleting more than one column:

  1. Select a cell in each column you wish to delete.

If the columns are adjacent:

  1. You can click on a cell in the column to the farthest left you wish to delete.
  2. Hold down the left mouse button and drag the mouse to the right until cells in each column you wish to delete are selected. You can also hold the Shift key down and click on cells in each column you wish to delete.

If the columns are not adjacent: Delete columns LibreOffice Calc, non-adjacent

  1. Click a cell in the column that is the farthest left of the ones you wish to delete.
  2. Then hold down the Ctrl key (Cmd for Mac) on your keyboard.
  3. Click cells in columns you wish to delete.
  1. Click the Column Operations icon, if the toolbar has one. If not, go to the next step.
  2. Click the Delete Columns icon.

Right-click menu

Deleting one column:Delete columns LibreOffice Calc, right-click menu

  1. First select the entire column that you want to insert a column to the left or right of. Simply click the letter for that column that is the top row.
  2. Click the right mouse button with the cursor over the top row and the letter for the selected row. If you do not a different menu will appear that does not contain Insert Columns Left or Insert Columns Right items.
  3. Click the Delete Columns item.

Deleting multiple columns:

  1. Click the letter in the top row in the farthest left column you wish to delete.

If the rows are on top of each other:

  1. You can click on a cell in the column to the farthest left you wish to delete.
  2. Hold down the left mouse button and drag the mouse to the right until cells in each column you wish to delete are selected. You can also hold the Shift key down and click on cells in each column you wish to delete.

If the columns are not adjacent:Delete columns LibreOffice Calc, non-adjacent

  1. Hold down the Ctrl key (Cmd for Mac) on your keyboard.
  2. Click the letter in the top wow in each column you wish to delete.
  1. Click the right mouse button with the cursor over letter and top row of one of the selected columns. If you do not, a different menu will appear that does not contain the Delete Rows item.
  2. Click the Delete Columns item.

LibreOffice Calc: Inserting and deleting multiple rows and columns from OS-College on Vimeo.

Adding icons to Standard toolbar

As mentioned earlier in this article, not every operating system has the same icons in the Standard toolbar. The instance of LibreOffice running on your computer may not have an Insert Row Below icon, Column Operations icon, or one of the previously mentioned icons.

This section demonstrates how to add icons to the Standard toolbar.Customize toolbar LibreOffice Calc

  1. Click the View menu.
  2. Highlight the Toolbars sub-menu.
  3. Click the Customize item in the Toolbars sub-menu. This opens the Customize window.
  4. In the Customize window, click the Toolbars tab, if it is not already selected.
  5. In the Toolbar drop-down menu in the LibreOffice Calc Toolbars section, click on it and select Standard, if it is not already selected.
  6. In the Toolbar Content section, scroll down until you see the following items:
  • Rows Above
  • Rows Below
  • Columns Left
  • Columns Right
  • Delete Rows
  • Delete Columns
  • Row or Row Operations
  • Column or Column Operations

In some versions of LibreOffice, the icons that are currently will have a check in the box to the left of them.

  1. To add an icon in other versions, click the “Add” or “Add Command” button. This opens the Add Commands window. This has two lists: Category and Commands.
  2. Search through the Commands list until you find one of the items in step six that you want to add.

Customize window LibreOffice Calc, toolbar tab

  • You can find all of them in All Categories.
  • The Insert Rows and Insert Columns icons are in the Insert category.
  • Column (Column Operations) and Row (Row Operations) are in the Options category.
  1. After inserting all the desired commands, click the Close button. This will return you to the Customize window.
  2. Click on each icon that has newly been inserted in the list.
  3. Click the up and down arrow buttons to move each item up and down in the list. This changes where each icon is placed in the toolbar.
  4. When you are done, click the OK button.