How to highlight row and column of the active cell in Excel?
When working with large spreadsheets, it can be challenging to keep track of data in specific rows and columns. Wouldn’t it be helpful if, whenever you selected a cell, the entire row and column automatically highlighted? For example, clicking on cell F11 would highlight row 11 and column F, making it easier to view data in context. This guide walks you through two quick methods to achieve this crosshair highlighting in Excel: using VBA code or the Kutools for Excel add-in.
Highlight the active cell’s row and column with VBA
Highlight the active cell’s row and column with Kutools for Excel
Highlight the active cell’s row and column with VBA
In Excel, there is no built-in function that can help you to crosshair highlight the active cell, but here I introduce a VBA can help you to cross highlight the row and column of the active cell.
1. Press Alt + F11 keys to open Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.
2. Then in the Project pane, double click at the sheet you want to apply this VBA, and then copy and paste below VBA code to the right script. See screenshot:
Tip: If the Project pane is hidden, click View > Project Explorer in Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window to display it.
VBA: Crosshair highlight active cell.
Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
'UpdatebyExtendoffice6/1/2016
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
With Target
.Worksheet.Cells.Interior.ColorIndex = 0
.EntireRow.Interior.Color = vbYellow
.EntireColumn.Interior.Color = vbYellow
End With
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub
3. Then save and close the VBA, and now when you active a cell, its relative row and column are highlighted.
If you want to highlight only the active cell you select, you can use the following VBA.
VBA: Highlight active cell you select
Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
'UpdatebyExtendoffice6/1/2016
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
Target.Worksheet.Cells.Interior.ColorIndex = 0
Target.Interior.Color = vbYellow
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End SubNote: In above VBA codes, the ColorIndex can change as you want.
Highlight the active cell’s row and column with Kutools for Excel
If you are not familiar with VBA, you can try to apply Kutools for Excel’s Reading Layout utility to quickly crosshair highlight active cell.
After free installing Kutools for Excel, please do as below:
Click Kutools > Reading Layout to enable the Reading Layout utility. See screenshot:
Note:
1. Click Kutools > Reading Layout again to disable this utility.
2. Click Kutools > Reading Layout > Reading Layout Settings to specify the shapes, styles and colors as you need in the Reading Layout Settings dialog. See screenshot:
Tip: This utility applies to the whole workbook.
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Demo: Highlight the active cell’s row and column with Kutools for Excel
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