Hiding comments and indicators in Excel 2013 can be useful when you want a cleaner look for your spreadsheet, or if you’re sharing it with someone and you don’t want them to see the comments. It’s a simple process that involves a few clicks, and in no time, you’ll have a comment-free sheet.
Step by Step Tutorial on Hiding Comments and Indicators in Excel 2013
Before we dive into the steps, it’s important to note that hiding comments and indicators will not delete them; they will merely be invisible until you choose to show them again.
Step 1: Open your Excel spreadsheet
Open the spreadsheet where you want to hide the comments and indicators.
When you open your spreadsheet, you’ll see the cells with comments have a small red triangle in the corner. Those are the indicators that you’re going to hide.
Step 2: Go to the ‘Review’ tab
Click on the ‘Review’ tab in the Excel ribbon at the top of the screen.
The Review tab has several options related to comments and changes, including ‘Show All Comments’ and ‘Delete’.
Step 3: Click on ‘Show All Comments’
Click on the ‘Show All Comments’ button.
This will toggle the visibility of comments. If they were visible, they’ll now be hidden, and vice versa.
Step 4: Click on ‘Show/Hide Comment’ or ‘Delete’
If you want to hide individual comments, right-click on the cell and choose ‘Hide Comment’. Alternatively, you can delete the comment entirely by clicking ‘Delete’.
Hiding individual comments is useful when you want to keep some comments visible for context, while others are not necessary.
After completing these steps, your Excel sheet will no longer display comments or their indicators. You can always reverse this action by following the same steps and clicking ‘Show All Comments’ again.
Tips for Hiding Comments and Indicators in Excel 2013
- Remember that hiding comments does not delete them; they’re just out of sight.
- You can also hide comments by right-clicking the cell and selecting ‘Hide Comment’.
- If you want to delete a comment permanently, you can do so by right-clicking the cell and choosing ‘Delete Comment’.
- To quickly hide all comments, use the keyboard shortcut ‘Ctrl + Shift + O’.
- If you’re sharing the spreadsheet, remember to unhide any comments that may be necessary for the recipient to see.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which cells have comments if the indicators are hidden?
You can still find the cells with comments by reviewing the list of comments in the ‘Review’ tab under ‘Previous’ and ‘Next’.
Can I hide comments from specific people when sharing the spreadsheet?
No, hiding comments in Excel 2013 is not user-specific. It hides comments for anyone viewing the spreadsheet.
Will hiding comments affect the way my spreadsheet prints?
No, hiding comments will not affect printing unless the ‘Print Comments’ option is selected in your print settings.
Is there a way to password protect hidden comments?
Excel does not have a feature to password protect hidden comments. However, you can protect the entire sheet or workbook with a password.
If I hide comments, will they still be included if I convert the Excel file to a PDF?
It depends on your PDF conversion settings. Ensure that comments are not included in the conversion options if you don’t want them to appear.
Summary
- Open your Excel spreadsheet.
- Go to the ‘Review’ tab.
- Click on ‘Show All Comments’ to toggle comments visibility.
- Right-click on the cell and choose ‘Hide Comment’ or ‘Delete’ for individual comments.
Conclusion
Excel 2013 offers a straightforward way to manage the visibility of comments and indicators in your spreadsheets, giving you control over what information is displayed. Whether you’re aiming for a cleaner look or sharing your spreadsheet with others, knowing how to hide comments and indicators is a handy skill. As we’ve seen, it’s not a complicated process, but it’s essential to remember that these comments aren’t deleted – they’re just out of sight. Make sure to leverage the tips provided to ensure you’re making the most out of Excel’s comment features. Also, keep in mind the FAQs addressed to help you navigate potential queries you might have in the future. Excel 2013’s functionality in handling comments is just one example of how this software can be customized to suit your specific needs.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.