Work with data in worksheets

Last update: 2022-10-04

IMPORTANT

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Text or expressions can be entered into any cell of a worksheet.

All expressions in a worksheet are preceded by an equal sign (=) unless using eval( ), which treats the text in the referenced cell as a expression.

For a full list of metric, dimension, and filter syntax rules, see Query Language Syntax.

To type data into a worksheet

Click twice on a cell in the spreadsheet to enter edit mode. The selected cell is highlighted.
Type or paste the desired data into the cell.

To copy and paste from one cell to another

Right-click the cell containing the data that you want to copy and click Copy.
Right-click the cell into which you want to paste the copied data and click Paste.

Data Workbench automatically updates the references in the new cell to refer to the appropriate columns and rows.

To copy and paste from a group of cells to another

Select the cells containing the data that you want to copy.
Right-click the cells containing the data that you want to copy and click Copy.
Right-click the first cell into which you want to start pasting the copied data and click Paste. The data is pasted into the first cell and below it.

Data Workbench automatically updates the references in the new cell to refer to the appropriate columns and rows.

To insert a column

Right-click a column and click Insert Column. The new column is inserted to the left of the selected column.

To delete a column

Right-click the column that you want to delete and click Delete Column. The column is removed.

To insert a row

Right-click a row and click Insert Row. The new row is inserted above the selected row.

To delete a row

Right-click the row that you want to delete and click Delete Row. The row is removed.

To resize a column

In the column header row, place your cursor over the dividing line to the right of the column whose size you want to change.
Click and drag to the right to increase the width of the column, or to the left to reduce the width of the column.

To format a cell

Menu Option	Description
Number	Applies the selected numeric format to your data, such as time, date, percentage, or decimal. Click Default to remove the selected formatting.
Justify	Justifies the data within the cell to the left, center, or right. The default justification is left. Click Default to remove the selected formatting.
Color	Applies the selected font color to the data within the cell. The default font color is white. Click Default to remove the selected formatting.
Indicator	Creates a metric indicator using this cell. For more information, see Creating Metric Indicators. Click Default to remove the selected formatting.
Input Cell	Makes the selected cell an input cell. For more information, see Creating Input Cells. Click Default to remove the selected formatting.

Keyboard shortcuts

Within worksheets you can use many of the basic editing keyboard shortcuts that you can use in any text editor, such as Notepad or Microsoft Word.

The following table lists the basic keyboard shortcuts that you can use when entering data into a worksheet.

Shortcut	Description
Arrow Keys	Move from cell to cell in your worksheet using the up, down, left and right arrow keys.
F2	Edit the cell by placing your cursor in the cell that you have selected.
Enter	Completes the editing of the cell that you have selected. Your cursor is removed from the cell and the cell contents reflect your editing.
Esc	Cancel the editing of the cell that you have selected. Your cursor is removed from the cell and the cell contents revert to what they were before you began editing.
Delete	Delete the contents of the cell(s).
Ctrl+A	Select the contents of the cell.
Ctrl+c	Copy the contents of the cell(s).
Ctrl+x Shift+Delete	Copy and remove the contents of the cell(s).
Ctrl+v Shift+Insert	Paste the contents of cell(s) that you have copied into the selected cell(s).
Ctrl+z	Undo typing.
Ctrl+Shift+z	Redo typing.