Insert, delete, or rename columns

You can insert, rename, delete, and clear columns in a sheet.

You can undo any action until you save changes to the sheet.

A sheet can contain up to 400 columns, 20,000 rows, or 500,000 cells (whichever limit is reached first). 

Insert a new column

1. In your sheet, hover over a column header. 
2. Select the Column Menu .
3. In the Column Menu, select Insert Column Left or Insert Column Right. The New Column form appears.
4. In the New Column form, set the following fields:

   • Name: Enter a name for the column.
      

     You can enter a column name with up to 50 characters. 

   • Column Type: Select a column type. See Column types for details on each type.
     • Text/Number 
     • Dropdown list 
     • Date
     • Duration  
     • Contact list 
     • Checkbox 
     • Symbols 
     • Auto number 
     • Created by 
     • Created date 
     • Latest Comment 
     • Modified by 
     • Modified date
5. If the column type has additional options, they appear below the Column Type field. Set them as you like.
6. Select OK.

The new column appears next to the column you selected.

Insert multiple columns at once

You can insert up to five new columns in a sheet.

1. Highlight the number of existing columns (up to five columns) you want to insert by holding the Ctrl key (or command key, if you’re on a Mac) and selecting existing column headers individually.
2. Hover over any selected column header.
3. Select the Column Menu .
4. In the Column Menu, select Insert x Columns Left or Insert x Columns Right.

The new columns appear. Each new column has the Text/Number column type and is named Column[column number] (e.g., Column12). 

To change the column settings: 

1. Double-click the column header.
2. In the Edit Column Properties form, change any of the following fields:
   • Name
   • Column Type

Change the column width

You can adjust the column width if you're not satisfied with it. Note that you can’t modify the width of default columns, such as the attachments, discussions, or indicators columns. 

To change the column width:

1. Hover your pointer over the column header's side border. 
2. When the column border icon appears, press and hold the icon.
3. Drag the column border icon to create the desired column width. 

Delete a column

You can delete columns or their content. 

You cannot, however, delete these default columns:
- Attachments
- Comments
- Proofs
- Row Action Indicators

To delete a single column

1.  Hover your pointer over the header of the column you want to delete.
2. Select the Column Menu . 
3. In the Column Menu, select Delete Column.

To delete multiple columns

1. Press and hold the Ctrl key (or the command key if you’re on a Mac). 
2. Select up to five column headers.
3. Hover your pointer over any of the highlighted column headers. 
4. Select the Column Menu . 
5. In the Column Menu, select Delete Column.

To clear the content from columns without deleting them 

1. Select one or more columns. 
2. Press the Backspace or Delete key on your keyboard.

The content disappears without deleting any columns.

Rename a column

If you rename a column that reports include, the reports no longer include the column. You must reset the column in a report's criteria to restore the renamed column to a report. 

To rename a column

1. Hover your pointer over the column header. 
2. Select the Column Menu . 

3. In the Column Menu, select Rename Column...
    

   Double-click the column header to open the Column Properties form.

4. In the Name field, enter a new name.
5. Select OK.