Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated March 8, 2025)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Do you need to always jump to the first cell right after all the data you've already put in your worksheet? For instance, if you have a worksheet that contains data in A1:G251, do you ever need to jump to cell A252 so that you can start entering data?
Moving to the first cell in row 252 is easy, provided there is data in all the cells in A1:A251. But if there can be empty cells in column A, then jumping to A252 can be a bit more difficult. In that case, you might be interested in a macro that makes jumping to the first cell of the empty row after your data quite easy:
Sub FindFirstCellNextRow() Dim x As Integer x = ActiveSheet.UsedRange.Rows.Count ActiveCell.SpecialCells(xlLastCell).Select ActiveCell.EntireRow.Cells(1, 1).Offset(1, 0).Activate End Sub
The first two lines effectively recompute the "last cell" in the worksheet and then the next two lines select that cell and jump to the cell in column A that is one row down.
Assign the macro to a keyboard shortcut, and you'll always be just one keystroke away from jumping to the first truly empty row in the worksheet.
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2407) 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: Jumping to the Start of the Next Data Entry Row.
Dive Deep into Macros! Make Excel do things you thought were impossible, discover techniques you won't find anywhere else, and create powerful automated reports. Bill Jelen and Tracy Syrstad help you instantly visualize information to make it actionable. You’ll find step-by-step instructions, real-world case studies, and 50 workbooks packed with examples and solutions. Check out Microsoft Excel 2019 VBA and Macros today!
When doing data entry into a worksheet, you might want to enter dates without the need to type the separators that are ...
Discover MoreWant a quick way to enter a series of single digits into consecutive cells? The best approach is with a macro, and this ...
Discover MoreWhen you type information into a cell, Excel tries to figure out what type of information you are entering. If Excel can ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments