This article explains how to group a section of data in Excel, so that you can hide it in your document. This can be useful if you have a large file with a lot of data. You can group and hide data in Excel with both the Windows and Mac versions of the program.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Using the Automated Procedure
Step 1. Open the Excel document
To do this, double click on it.
Step 2. Click the Data tab
It is located on the left side of the green bar that occupies the top of the Excel window. Press it and a toolbar will open below the bar.
Step 3. Click the bottom of the Group button
You will find the button on the far right of the section Data. Press it and a menu will appear.
Step 4. Click Auto Structure
It is one of the items on the menu Group.
If a window opens that says "Cannot create structure", the data does not contain a formula compatible with the automatic structure. You will have to resort to manual operation
Step 5. Minimize your data
Click the button [-] at the top or left side of the Excel sheet to hide the grouped data. In many cases, this will only display the last row of data.
Step 6. If necessary, delete the grouping
Click Separate to the right of the button Group, then click Delete structure … in the menu that appears. With this command you will separate and make visible again the data that you had previously minimized or grouped.
Part 2 of 2: Using the Manual Procedure
Step 1. Select the data
Click and drag the cursor from the top and leftmost cell of the data to be grouped to the bottom and rightmost cell.
Step 2. Click Data if you haven't already opened that tab
It's on the left side of the green ribbon at the top of Excel.
Step 3. Click Group on the right side of the toolbar Data.
Step 4. Click Group…
It is one of the items on the menu Group.
Step 5. Select a grouping option
Click Stripes to minimize data vertically, or Columns to minimize them horizontally.
Step 6. Click OK at the bottom of the window that opens
Step 7. Minimize your data
Click the button [-] at the top or left side of Excel to hide the grouped data. Often this will only display the last row of data.
Step 8. Delete the grouping if necessary
Click Separate to the right of the entry Group, then click Delete structure … in the menu that appears. This will separate and make the data that was previously minimized or grouped visible again.
