Editing Information
Editing Cells
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Double click on the cell or press [F2] to edit it. The insertion point (black flashing bar) indicates
where your typing will start. Press [Ctrl]+[Backspace] to delete the cell contents if required.
Specifying Cells
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Cells have to be specified in formulae in order for Quattro Pro to know which cell to operate on.
Relative Addresses
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Unless you specify otherwise, Quattro Pro will assume all cell references in formulae are relative.
That is, each cell's position is referred to in relation to the position of the cell containing the
formula. So, for example, if you copy a formula which adds the 5 cells directly above it to a
different location, it will then add the 5 cells directly above its new location.
Absolute Addresses
- If you do not wish a formula to adjust its cell references when it is copied, you can make the cells
references absolute.
To refer to a cell by its absolute address, prefix the row or column reference by a $ character.
Alternatively, press the [F4] key while the insertion point is anywhere inside the cell address to
make it absolute. The [F4] key runs a macro called {ABS}, and repeated presses will run through
the range of absolute referencing for each part of the cell address. Try it and see!
For example:
- $A$1
- Will always refer to the cell A1
- $A1
- Will always refer to column A, but the row can adjust
- A$1
- Will always refer to row 1, but the column can adjust
- A1
- The row and column can adjust
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Specifying Blocks
It is a good idea to name blocks instead of referring to the addresses of the boundary cells.
Blocks are referred to in the following format: A:A1..D3 which means the block on page A from
cell A1 (top left) to cell D3 (bottom right).
Blocks on Other Pages
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Blocks on other pages should be referred to by the prefix of their page name and a colon. For
example, A:A3..D7 refers to the block A3 to D7 on page A. If the page is named, (the name
appears in the page tab), then this name must be used.
Blocks in Other Notebooks
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To refer to a cell or block in another notebook, the name of the notebook should be put first in
square brackets, followed by the page name, colon and then block reference. For example
[RECRUIT]B:C3..F27 refers to the block C3 to F27 in page B of the Recruit notebook. The
notebook should be in the same directory as the referenced notebook.
Named Blocks
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It is useful to name blocks as then you can refer to them by name, rather than trying to remember
the bounds of the cell addresses. Blocks can be named by the quick menu, [Names...] menu
item, or under the [Block] menu.
For example, to refer to a named block in a different notebook you can write
[RECRUIT]B:SalesFigs where SalesFigs is the block C3..F27.
Non-contiguous Blocks
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A non-contiguous block is a block which is made up of several blocks in different parts of the
spreadsheet page. To select non-contiguous blocks, press [Ctrl] key as you click and drag on the
subsequent block(s).
3-D Blocks - Grouping Pages
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A 3-D block is a block which spans several pages in your NoteBook. Hold [Shift] key down as you
click on the final tab in the NoteBook to paste a block into several pages.
To Group several pages, select them (hold [Shift] as you click on the final page in the group - the
tabs then appear underlined) then select [Define Group] under the [Notebook] menu. If you
change to [Group Mode] under the [View] menu, you can then 'drill' new cell information into all
these grouped pages by pressing [Ctrl]+[Enter] after you type into a new cell.
Tip: Beware however that you may overwrite the contents of some cells. Select Undo if this happens,
and move the offending cells to a position where they will not be overwritten.
Copying
You can copy information from one cell or block via the ClipBoard. The ClipBoard stores the data
so that it can be pasted as many times as you want into any other notebook page or even a
different Windows application.
Select the object to be copied and click the Copy button on the ToolBar (or choose [Edit][Copy]).
Paste the ClipBoard contents by going to the first cell to receive the data and clicking the Paste
button on the ToolBar (or choose [Edit][Paste]). If you select a block before pasting, only the
selected block will receive the ClipBoard contents. If you accidentally overwrite some cells when
you paste you should immediately undo your last action (see Undo and Redo below).
Moving
You can move data is two ways. Cut and Paste (via the ClipBoard) or Drag and Drop.
Cut and Paste is similar to Copy and Paste, except the data is physically cut (copied and deleted)
before it is pasted.
Drag and Drop is quicker, but you are confined to moving the data in a single page only. To drag
and drop, select the block, hold the left mouse button down for a few moments without moving
the cursor until the cursor changes to a hand, and then drag the block to its new location,
(indicated by the box). Release the mouse button to drop the block. You can also copy the data
by holding [Ctrl] key down as you drag and drop.
To move a page, drag and drop the page tab. If you hold [Ctrl] key down you can copy the page
contents, but the page will be given a new name, as there can't be duplicates!
Deleting
Select the cell or block and press [Del] (or choose [Edit][Clear]).
To delete a whole row, column or page, either partially or completely, select [Block][Delete] and
choose your options. Alternatively, click on the delete button .
Undo and Redo
There is only one level of Undo available. Make sure Undo is enabled, in the Application
Properties box.
Undo the last action by clicking the Undo button , or selecting [Edit][Undo].
When you undo an
action you have the option to Redo it.