2 Issues: Excel unable to delete columns & Excel IF Function

Question

I have 2 issues that I can't seem to figure out.

Issue 1: Excel Unable to Delete Columns

Details: I've removed details from a table and the different rows in that table that don't have information in them are still colored by row. I saw a recent video that describes how to make information into a table but that isn't helping me with removing those columns. I keep trying to remove them and it won't even give me the delete option.

Issue 2: Excel IF Function

Details: I'm trying to figure out a formula. Basically, For each person, there are 3 columns that i'm tracking as a yes/no kind of thing they are getting. I wanted to just put in an "X" in the box if they are getting and leave it empty if they aren't. The 4th column I want to look at the first 3 and if it sees 1 "X", it displays 33% in this 4th box. If it sees 2 "Xs" from 2 columns, it should display 66% in that 4th box, and if all 3 have an "X", it should say 100%. I'm not sure why no matter what formula, if function, array, or count formula it won't work. This is just a specific question, I can't seem to find the answer online either....Please help. Thanks

Answer 1

Hello,

to delete a column in a spreadsheet, right-click the column heading, where you see the column letter. This should open a context menu where you see the "Delete" command. If the delete command is grayed out, the worksheet may be protected and you need to unprotect it first via Review ribbon > Unprotect Sheet.

For the formula:

=COUNTA(A1:C1)*0.333333

Format the result as percentage. Note that due to rounding it will probably show 67% than 66%.

Answer 2

Hi April,

You may try the formula mentioned by Teylyn. If it cannot completely meet your requirement, we suggest you post the formula question in a new thread. So, community members and our engineers can discuss the IF formula further with you in that thread. Other customers who have the same question can also find that thread easier. In this thread, let’s focus on the “cannot delete specific columns” issue. Thanks for your understanding.

To better understand the situation, I’d like to confirm the following things:

1. Open Excel>File>Account>capture a screenshot of all information under Product Information. Meanwhile, what is the version of your operating system?
2. Could you share with the URL of video which you use as reference?
3. If it’s convenient, could you provide us with that sheet via replying to my private message? We want to test the same file from our side.

Best regards,

Tim

Answer 3

Thanks a lot. We use a tracker for information at my job that was created a long time ago by someone else and we're trying to make things more efficient with changes that have been made and I was at a loss what to do. For the first issue, deleting was greyed out but i'm still not sure what you mean by review ribbon to unprotect the sheet. Can you be a little more clear please?

For the second issue, I tried it out in our tracker and just changed the ranged the of the data and it worked. You are awesome! super happy now :)

Answer 4

With "Review ribbon" I'm referring to the ribbon tab called "Review". It has commands to protect/unprotect sheets. Typically, not being able to delete things on a sheet is due to the sheet being protected. Click Review > Unprotect sheet.

Note that some commands are not available if you edit the workbook in Excel online in the browser, but only when you open the workbook with Excel desktop.

Answer 5

Thank you for the screenshot. I went there but there was no option to unprotect the sheet yet somehow it doesn't let delete the columns. so weird. Below is a snapshot of columns and rows i'm trying to delete. I'm not trying to delete what's in front of them, just the extra columns that don't apply anymore. Even if I unmerge every section 1 at a time, it still won't let me undelete even a column.

One more question if that's okay for the screenshot below. The % formula works great but now i'm getting a REF# error. I Know the Remaining Levels Tab is suppose to look at the Date Done Column for each level/table in the my excel tracker and if a Date is entered, count it and subtract that from the Remaining Levels. I have a total of 6 table sections with a Date Done Data column. Part of the formula is in the screenshot below but i have no idea how to find the table names and rename them and get the #REF! to go away. Any ideas?