But, with the right method, you can choose to only copy the visible cells. Read on to learn how to skip hidden cells when copying in Google Sheets.
Why Skip Invisible Cells When Copying?
There can be several reasons why you may want to skip the invisible cells when copying. It can be advantageous when you want to gather data from other spreadsheets and put it together in a single sheet. Alternatively, you could create a separate spreadsheet containing only one type of data, or filter the data to use in another part of the spreadsheet.
How to Copy and Paste Only Visible Cells in Google Sheets
The fastest way to copy and paste without including hidden columns or rows is to select the cell ranges separately while holding down the Ctrl key. The guides below will make it clear.
In this example, we have a spreadsheet containing the names of customers and their other information. However, we only need their Name, City, and Phone Number, so we have hidden the columns in between. Here are the steps you need to follow to copy only the visible cells in Google Sheets:
Press and hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard. Click and drag over the first range of data before the hidden column or row. In our example above, we first highlighted A1:A11. As a result, we make sure that the selected visible data does not overlap with the hidden columns. With Ctrl still held, highlight the rest of the data within a separate range. Now that the desired cells are selected, we need to copy them. You can either right-click on the cells and click on Copy or use the Ctrl + C keyboard shortcut. Now, click on the desired location where you want to paste the cells. Paste them there by right-clicking and then clicking on Paste. You can also use the Ctrl + V keyboard shortcut to do this.
Selecting the individual cell ranges (with Ctrl or Command held in) rather than the whole data set will exclude the hidden rows. This occurs simply because we have not selected the hidden cells at all. We instead chose to include the cell ranges around the hidden cells.
One thing to note is that there won’t be any extra spaces to account for the missing columns and rows. They will be copied as one block of cells.
Also, as your sheet contains hidden rows or columns, ensure that when you paste the values, you don’t paste them in an area containing hidden rows or columns. The data that would fit into those sections will automatically be hidden.
How to Copy Cells Without Hidden Rows and Columns in Google Sheets
You can also copy data in Google Sheets by holding Ctrl or Command and selecting cells separately by a range from different areas and moving them into another section (Press Ctrl + V), even if there are no hidden rows or columns.
This can be super handy if you need to take data from two separate tables and move them into one area. It also works as a way to remove data from a table to turn into a graph with only the important data points included.
How to Filter Data to Copy in Google Sheets
A lot of times, we have to filter out the data to find the necessary data. Using filters in your Google Sheets will allow you to analyze and sort your data without the need to scroll through your sheet manually. Applying filters to your spreadsheet also stops the unneeded data from cluttering up your screen.
In this example, we have a set of data with 4 columns containing the data of a few of the students applying for admission to a university. We wish to use a filter to find the students who wish to join Computer Sciences, and we want to make a copy of the data onto a separate part of the spreadsheet. Doing this is very simple and requires you to follow a few simple steps:
First, we need to apply the filter. To do this, select the cells containing the data. Click on the Data menu in the main top bar. There, click on Create a filter in the dropdown menu. This will show a funnel-like icon beside the header bars. Click on the one beside the heading where you wish to apply the filter. In this case, it is the Department column. A small window will open, allowing you to choose the filter you wish to apply. Here, we only want to see the students enrolled in Computer Science. Uncheck the other possible results of Economics, Marketing, and Statistics. Click on the green OK button to apply the filter. Click and drag your cursor to select the cells you wish to copy. Right-click inside the selection, then click on Copy, or use the Ctrl + C shortcut. Now, click on the cell that is going to be the first entry of the pasted dataset. Right-click and then click on Paste or use the Ctrl + V shortcut.
As you will see, you don’t have to select the cells individually. All you have to do is copy and paste the values, and it will only include the filtered results. I.e., Google Sheets will only include the visible rows and columns in a copy-paste when you use a filter.
Copying Effectively Saves Time
Both methods above will help you shave collective hours off your spreadsheet work. Filters are really important when working with large data sets, and if this guide gave you a head start on learning about them, that’s a good thing. The same applies to continued selection by holding Ctrl or Command.
