Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Unhiding a Single Column.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated June 8, 2019)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
I regularly hide and unhide columns in my worksheets. If I have an entire range of columns hidden, I find it a bother to unhide a single column out of all those hidden. For instance, if I hide columns C:M, and I want to unhide column F, then I need to unhide the entire range and then re-hide C:E and G:M. (There are other ways I could accomplish the same task, but none of them are particularly endearing.)
However, I find that a single column can be unhidden very easily using a macro. Consider the following:
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here:
Sub UnhideSingleColumn()
Dim Col As String
Dim rng As Range
StartHere:
Col = InputBox("Enter column to unhide.", "Unhide Column")
If Col = "" Then Exit Sub
On Error Resume Next
' if not a valid range, an error occurs
Set rng = ActiveSheet.Columns(Col)
If Err.Number <> 0 Then
On Error GoTo 0
Err.Clear
MsgBox "Invalid input! Please input a valid column."
GoTo StartHere
End If
rng.EntireColumn.Hidden = False
MsgBox "Column " & UCase(Col) & " is now visible.", _
vbOKOnly, "Unhide Specified Column"
Set rng = Nothing
On Error GoTo 0
End Sub
The macro prompts the user for which column should be made visible, and then tries to select that column. If the column cannot be selected, then an error is generated, and the user is again asked for input. If the column can be selected, then its .Hidden property is turned off, thereby making the column visible.
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2405) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Unhiding a Single Column.
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