Calc: limit number of columns and rows

users
#1

Dear all,
a spreadsheet has thousands of lines and hundreds of columns. Most users (like me) don’t need that many cells. Is there any way to limit the amount of lines and rows in a specific file?

Thanks a lot!

Lorenzo

#2

what for?

AFAIK the software uses only memory necessary for the current used
cells. IOW, unused cells "cost" nothing.

#3

Thanks for your reply Jean-Francois.

It is actually an usability improvement I’m after. If you are using a mouse with an inertial scrolling (such as an Apple mouse or trackpad) and you want to get to the end of your sheet, you can do a strong stroke with your finger. Problem is, you don’t get to the end of your used field, most of the time you end up in the middle of nowhere among unused cells…. It would be nice to limit the size of your sheet then…

Thanks again

Lorenzo

#4

Wouldn't it be much easier to use the keyboard? IE, Ctrl+End will set
the active cell to the bottom right angle of the used cell area.

I'm fond of keystrokes because, among other qualities, they don't break
the workflow... YMMV.

#5

Yes, I guess it would be easier… if no limit can be set…

#6

a spreadsheet has thousands of lines and hundreds of columns. Most users (like me) don't need that many cells. Is there any way to limit the amount of lines and rows in a specific file?

As has been suggested, there is usually no overhead in having so many rows and columns. Until they are used, they exist only in the screen display and are not (explicitly) saved in the document file.

It is actually an usability improvement I'm after. If you are using a mouse with an inertial scrolling (such as an Apple mouse or trackpad) and you want to get to the end of your sheet, you can do a strong stroke with your finger. Problem is, you don't get to the end of your used field, most of the time you end up in the middle of nowhere among unused cells…. It would be nice to limit the size of your sheet then…

Someone has already beaten me to the suggestion of Ctrl+End, which moves to the last occupied cell.

Another idea is to hide the rows and columns beyond those you are using; this is easily done using Format | Row > | Hide and Format | Column >

Hide. Ctrl+down-arrow and Ctrl+right-arrow

usually move to the last row and column respectively, but will move to the last unhidden row and column if you have hidden the rest. I hope (and believe) that you will find that your mouse action is also limited to the unhidden region of your sheet.

I trust this helps.

Brian Barker

#7

Brian,
correct me if I’m wrong but it looks like hiding the unwanted cells makes the scrolling really slow…

Thanks

Lorenzo

#8

a spreadsheet has thousands of lines and hundreds of columns. Most users (like me) don't need that many cells. Is there any way to limit the amount of lines and rows in a specific file?

As has been suggested, there is usually no overhead in having so many rows and columns. Until they are used, they exist only in the screen display and are not (explicitly) saved in the document file.

It is actually an usability improvement I'm after. If you are using a mouse with an inertial scrolling (such as an Apple mouse or trackpad) and you want to get to the end of your sheet, you can do a strong stroke with your finger. Problem is, you don't get to the end of your used field, most of the time you end up in the middle of nowhere among unused cells…. It would be nice to limit the size of your sheet then…

Someone has already beaten me to the suggestion of Ctrl+End, which moves to the last occupied cell.

Another idea is to hide the rows and columns beyond those you are using; this is easily done using Format | Row > | Hide and Format | Column > | Hide. Ctrl+down-arrow and Ctrl+right-arrow usually move to the last row and column respectively, but will move to the last unhidden row and column if you have hidden the rest. I hope (and believe) that you will find that your mouse action is also limited to the unhidden region of your sheet.

I trust this helps.

Brian Barker

> Brian,
> correct me if I’m wrong but it looks like hiding the unwanted cells makes the scrolling really slow…
>
> Thanks
>
> Lorenzo

not it does not make thing slow, at least it does not in my test......

How many rows/columns are in your situation?
And how many cells have forumulas in them (which should not make a difference...) ?

#9

I don't find this problem. Do others? (I see already that one contributor doesn't.) Is the behaviour you see perhaps unique to your particular scrolling technique?

Brian Barker

#10

Yes, that is possible as I'm using inertial and continuous scrolling... I guess if you scroll in steps you don't see this...