What is the purpose of Excel’s “Freeze Panes” feature?

a) To lock the workbook for editing

b) To protect cells with a password

c) To keep selected rows or columns visible while scrolling

d) To hide selected rows or columns

Show Answer

c) To keep selected rows or columns visible while scrolling

Excel’s “Freeze Panes” feature is used to keep specific rows and columns visible while scrolling through a large worksheet. This feature is helpful when you have a large dataset or worksheet, and you want to keep certain rows or columns visible at all times, so you can easily reference them as you navigate through the data. The primary purpose of the “Freeze Panes” feature is to improve the readability and usability of your spreadsheet. Here’s how it works:

1. Freeze Top Row: If you want to keep the top row (usually containing headers or column labels) visible while scrolling down the worksheet, you can select a cell in the row just below the one you want to freeze. Then, go to the “View” tab and click on “Freeze Panes,” and select “Freeze Top Row.”
2. Freeze First Column: Similarly, if you want to keep the leftmost column (usually containing row labels or identifiers) visible while scrolling to the right, you can select a cell in the column just to the right of the one you want to freeze. Then, go to the “View” tab and click on “Freeze Panes,” and select “Freeze First Column.”
3. Freeze Both Rows and Columns: If you want to keep both rows and columns visible as you scroll, you can select a cell below and to the right of the rows and columns you want to freeze. Then, go to the “View” tab and click on “Freeze Panes,” and select “Freeze Panes.”

By freezing panes, you can maintain a reference point in your worksheet, making it easier to work with large amounts of data. This feature is particularly valuable for data analysis and data entry tasks, as it allows you to keep important labels or identifiers visible no matter where you are in the spreadsheet.