<p>When working with data in Excel, it is often the case that columns are <em>compressed</em>. This can happen when cells are merged together, or when data is <a href="https://support.office.com/en-us/article/wrap-text-in-a-cell-7b1f2f61-7c42-4a95-947f-1eb7b84450b2">wrapped</a>. Columns can also become compressed when they are <a href="https://support.office.com/en-us/article/hide-or-unhide-columns-and-rows-in-excel-16c0d22d-5f84-4e8b-bfcc-2bc08bb5f62f">hidden</a> or <a href="https://support.office.com/en-us/article/grouping-and-outlining-data-in-excel-9b6e05f3-32b8-4ce6-bf91-605bb171096a">outlined</a>; both of these actions will compress the column to the left of the hidden or outlined column.

Compressed columns can cause a number of problems when working with data in Excel. For one, they can make it difficult to select the data you want to work with. This is because the selection box will only include the visible cells, and not the hidden or merged cells. This can also make it difficult to <a href="https://support.office.com/en-us/article/sort--filter--or--do--other--data--operations--on--hidden--or--filtered--cells----excel----microsoft----365-----office----365-----microsoft------windows------10------8------1------7------vista------xp----3fe39462-------33ce0111-------ed1fae23-------ba830781-------4baec706-------db0e20fa-------aa0e0333-------cfcd208b-------fa890463--------fa890463--------cfcd208b--------aa0e0333--------db0e20fa--------4baec706--------ba830781--------ed1fae23--------33ce0111---------3fe39462---------743149d3---------743149d3---------3fe39462---------33ce0111---------ed1fae23---------ba830781---------4baec706---------db0e20fa---------aa0e0333---------cfcd208b---------fa890463----------fa890463----------cfcd208b----------aa0e0333----------db0e20fa----------4baec706----------ba830781----------ed1fae23----------33ce0111-----------3fe39462-----------743149d3-----------743149d3-----------3fe39462-----------33ce0111-----------ed1fae23-----------ba830781-----------4baec706-----------db0e20fa-----------aa0e0333-----------cfcd208b-----------fa890463------------fa890463------------cfcd208b------------aa0e0333------------db0e20fa------------4baec706------------ba830781------------ed1fae23------------33ce0111-------------3fe39462-------------743149d3-------------743149d3-------------3fe39462-------------33ce0111-------------ed1fae23-------------ba830781-------------4baec706-------------db0e20fa-------------aa0e0333-------------cfcd208b-------------fa890463--------------

Another problem that can be caused by compressed columns is that they can make it difficult to see all of the data in a column at once. This is because only the visible cells will be shown, and any hidden or merged cells will be omitted from view. This can make it difficult to spot errors or trends in the data, as well as making it more difficult to work with large amounts of data.

There are a few ways to counter compressed columns in Excel. One way is to <a href="https://support.office.com/enus/article/unhide---rows---columns---or---sheets----excel----microsoft----365-----office----365-----microsoft------windows------10------8------1------7------vista------xp----5be34c13-------25c75de5-------fb950884-------6af27349-------ee90765c--------ee90765c--------6af27349--------fb950884--------25c75de5---------5be34c13---------dc90742d---------dc90742d---------5be34c13---------25c75de5--------fb950884--------6af27349--------ee90765c----------

This will allow you to see all of the data in a column at once, making it easier to spot errors or trends. Another way to counter compressed columns is to <a href="https://support.office.com/enus//article//adjust---rows---columns---or---cells----excel----microsoft----365-----office----365-----microsoft------windows------10------8------1------7------vista------xp----58dd4714-------48dd4714-------28dd4714 -------08dd4714 --------88dd4714 ---------68dd4714 --------48dd4714 -------28dd4714 -------08dd4714 --------88dd4714 ---------68dd4714 ------------58dd4714 --------------

This will allow you to adjust the height or width of rows and columns, respectively, so that all of the data in a column is visible. Finally, another way to counter compressed columns is to <a href="