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Excel - Manager Uses Tiny Blank Columns - Fill with White Font Text to Avoid Disaster - Episode 852

262 views · Published 8 January 2009 · 1:50 · Indexed 20 September 2026

Channel: MrExcel.com · 2009 · Education

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Microsoft Excel Tutorial: Your manager insists on tiny blank columns between each column. Prevent sorting part of your data by filling those blank columns with white font that says "Blank".

Welcome back to the MrExcel netcast, where we tackle all things Excel. Today, I want to address one of my major pet peeves - tiny blank columns. I'm sure many of you have encountered this issue before, where a manager insists on having tiny columns between data because it makes the headings look better. But let me tell you, this is a recipe for disaster. It's just a matter of time before someone accidentally sorts only part of the data set and not the entire thing.

Now, I know this goes against the rules I've laid out in my book - no blank rows, no blank columns. But sometimes, we have to make do with what our managers want. So, here's a great preemptive strike to avoid any sorting mishaps. Select all of those blank cells by going to Special, then Blank cells. Next, we're going to fill those cells with the word "Blank" or any other word you prefer. Then, press Ctrl+Enter to fill all the selected cells. Finally, change the font color to white. This way, it will appear as if the cells are still blank, but in reality, they are filled in and can be sorted with a single click.

I cannot stress enough how much I dislike tiny blank columns. But if your manager insists on having them, this trick will prevent any accidental sorting mishaps. Trust me, it's a lifesaver. Thank you for tuning in to this netcast from MrExcel. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Excel tips and tricks. See you next time!

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Sometimes a manager demands that you insert tiny little columns between the columns of your data set. While I hate this, use the trick in Episode 852 to ensure that the data set sorts correctly.

Table of Contents:
(00:00) Introduction by Bill Jelen
(00:17) Pet peeve: Tiny columns between columns
(00:30) Potential disaster with sorting data
(00:40) Solution: Select and fill blank cells
(01:01) Contiguous block of data for easy sorting
(01:12) Avoiding tiny blank columns
(01:29) Clicking Like really helps the algorithm

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