Selecting Excel Table Components is slightly different from selecting normal ranges in a worksheet, because we have 3 Excel Table Components which are special ranges:

• Headers Row
• Data Body Range
• Totals Row

To select the entire Excel Defined Table, you have to go to the upper – left cell of the Defined Table, and place your cursor over the top – left corner of that cell, Excel will display the Selection Arrow instead of the usual cursor icon: You should remember this Selection Arrow, it’s the same arrow used for selecting entire worksheet rows or columns. Click once to select the Data Body Range of the table, if you click again, Excel will select the entire Defined Table, including the Headers Row and the Totals Row.

Select the table using the Keyboard

To select the entire table, another alternative is to select any cell within the table, and press CTRL+A keys once, to select the Data Body Range. Pressing CTRL+A again will select the entire table, including the Headers Row and the Totals Row. Take a look at the video below, this will replace 1000 words (or at least 500… 🙂 ) :  

Selecting multiple columns in an Excel Defined Table:

I consider this to be the a tricky task… Mostly, because it’s not as intuitive as it seems, especially when you intend to select multiple columns including the Headers Row and the Totals Row. Allow me to explain: To select multiple columns, ONLY the Data Body Range, you have to perform these steps:

• select the ENTIRE first column, including the Header Cell
• Click and hold the mouse button when the selection arrow appears, then
• Drag the cursor across all needed columns.

To select multiple columns, INCLUDING Totals Row and the Header Cell, you have to perform these steps:

• select ONLY the Data Body Range of the first column,
• Click and hold the mouse button when the selection arrow appears, then
• Drag the cursor across all needed columns.

In conclusion, if you want to select only the Data Body Range of multiple columns, you have to select the entire first column then click and drag… But if you want to select entire multiple columns, you have to select only the Data Body Range of the first column then click and drag… Sounds twisted to me, but this happens because when you execute the click and drag method, Excel will switch your selection. How does this sound to you? Enjoy Catalin