I've got a spreadsheet of 1688 rows.

I only want rows 1, 9, 17, 25, 33, etc. (deleting 7 lines between each one I want to keep).

I don't want to just delete the contents of the other lines, I want to delete the lines themselves, so that I end up with current rows 1, 9, 17 etc. being 1, 2, 3 etc.

Is this possible?

Thanks!

Uh you, just click on the first row number and drag down to the last of the seven rows until those rows are highlighted then right-click and select Delete.

Edit: unless you were looking to automate the process then I'm not up to VB snuff. :(

Thank you for posting your question to the Ask Me Help Desk.

You should be able to do this task. Try this:

1. highlight the rows you want to delete
2. right click
3. choose delete

Your once 'row' 9 should become 'row 2'

etc.

Sorry NeedKarma, we must have been posting at the same time. Had I seen your post I would not have posted myself.

Thanks Guys. Yes, I'm looking to automate, if possible.


1. highlight the rows you want to delete

That's exactly what I'm trying to avoid. I've got 1688 rows.

I realize I can also select everything then deselect rows 1, 9, 17 etc, which would be less work... but still a lot...

... so no way to tell Excel to "delete everything except every 8th row?"

OK think of this from a different angle.
What makes these lines different from the rest?
It maybe a simple case of using an auto filter to select the lines you want to delete and then just nuking them as mentioned previously ;)

Eg the lines you want have #1 in the A column and the others don't.
Select auto filter and then use the drop down to select the other lines deleting as you go ;)

Thanks for that. I've never used the filter before. I'll play with it and see if I can get it to cooperate.

Failing that mail it to me and I'll do it for you.
I know how you "old" boys have difficulty with new functionality ;)

Record a macro to do the selected function and then just put it in a loooop!

Using relative references start the recorder using tools -> macro -> record new macro

When finished you can just repeat the macro or edit the code to make it loop a certain number of times automatically!

I did this for loads of spreadsheets in my previous job and it works a treat. If you use it a lot you can assign hotkeys to the macro or a button on a toolbar!

Curly and Stu, thanks so much... but I played with each long enough to realize that in that time I could have been quite a way through the list selecting and deleting the rows... so I'll just gut it out and delete the unneeded rows manually. My guess is that it will only take about 3 beers :p

Rickj a good book to read is Excel for Dummies full of lots of info and tips ;)