Delete Blank (empty), Hidden Rows, Columns, Sheets

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Delete Blank (empty), Hidden Rows, Columns, Sheets

These delete actions are simple, but they become tedious and error-prone when you have large amount of data. For example:

Delete blank rows, columns, sheets - If a table has thousands of rows, it very hard to find and delete all blank (empty) rows in the middle of the table. It takes a lot of scrolling and still cannot be sure. Same with columns. A long table will make it hard determine if a column is completely empty. With sheets, a large file when tens of sheets makes it tedious to check each one manually.
Delete hidden rows, columns, sheets - Excel does not support the deletion of hidden rows in filter results and subtotal. There is also no way to delete hidden columns and sheets unless you unhide them first, one at a time. This is tedious when you have a wide table with many columns or a large file with many sheets. DigDB allows you to delete the hidden rows, columns, sheets in batch.

Delete blank (empty) rows

Select a range, invoke 'DigDB->Delete->Rows->Empty', DigDB will treat your selected area as a table to find and delete empty rows in it.
Or, click a single cell, then invoke the command. This way DigDB assumes the current sheet's entire data area as a single table to find and delete empty rows in it. (A sheet's entire data area means the area formed by the top and bottom non-empty rows and the left-most and right-most non-empty columns in the current sheet).

Practice file - delete-blank-empty-demo.xls (16k)
All empty rows will be selected to reconfirm before deleting. Click OK to delete.

After empty rows are deleted

Delete blank (empty) columns

Select a range, invoke 'DigDB->Delete->Columns->Empty', DigDB will treat your selected area as a table to find and delete empty columns in it.
Or, click a single cell, then invoke the command. This way DigDB assumes the current sheet's entire data area as a single table to find and delete empty columns in it. (A sheet's entire data area means the area formed by the top and bottom non-empty rows and the left-most and right-most non-empty columns in the current sheet).

Practice file - delete-blank-empty-demo.xls (16k)
All empty columns will be selected to reconfirm before deleting. Click OK to delete. Note that column headers are ignored in determining if a column is empty.

Delete blank (empty) sheets

Invoke 'DigDB->Delete->Sheets->Empty...'

Practice file - delete-blank-empty-demo.xls (16k)
Empty sheets appear in the to-delete pool. Non-empty sheets appear in the to-keep pool. Click OK to delete. or use the 'Add' and 'Remove' to select what to delete.

Delete hidden rows

Click a cell in your table area, invoke 'DigDB->Delete->Rows->Hidden...'. (You can use this delete on AutoFilter, Advanced filter, DigDB filter, table match, Subtotal)

Practice file - delete-hidden-rows-demo.xls (16k)
After deletion:

Delete hidden columns

Click a cell in your table area, invoke 'DigDB->Delete->Columns->Hidden...'

Practice file - delete-hidden-columns-demo.xls (16k)
After deletion:

Delete hidden sheets

Invoke 'DigDB->Delete->Sheets->Hidden...'

Practice file - delete-hidden-sheets-demo.xls (16k)
Hidden sheets appear in the to-delete pool. Visible sheets appear in the to-keep pool. Click OK to delete. or use the 'Add' and 'Remove' to select what to delete.

Click OK to delete hidden sheets.

Need more?

Browse the complete list of DigDB's powerful features listed on the front page.
If you see errors or things not working, check out our error reference page.

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