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A good many of the worksheets that are created Excel contain headings in the top row of the sheet. Normally, whenever we scroll down the sheet, any headings at the top will disappear. Similarly, if one scrolls to the right, any headings on the left will disappear. Excel’s Freeze Panes command, which is located in the View Tab of the Excel Ribbon, allows you to freeze our headings so that, as we scroll the sheet, headings remain in view.

Excel offers us three options: firstly, we can choose “Freeze Top Row”. A bold horizontal line is then displayed underneath the first row which extends into the row headings. As we scroll down the worksheet, the headings at the top of the sheet remain in view. Similarly, we can choose “Freeze First Column”. This time, the bold line extends to the right of the first column and into the column heading area. Then, as we scroll to the right, the first column remains frozen so that we can see the headings it contains and compare them with the data in the adjacent cells. To return to normal scrolling, we simply choose “Unfreeze Panes” in the “Freeze Panes” drop-down menu.

As well as freezing a single row or column, it is also possible to freeze an arbitrary number of rows and columns. To do this, you simply highlight the cell below the last row you want frozen and to the right of the last column you want frozen. So, for example, if you want to to freeze the first row and the first column, you just select cell “B2″. Once you have highlighted the cell, in the “Freeze Panes” drop-down menu, you would then choose “Freeze Panes”.

This time, there are two bold lines: one indicating the column that is frozen and one indicating the row that is frozen. Then, as we scroll down the first row remains frozen and, similarly, when we scroll to the right the first column remains frozen. Once again, to return to normal behaviour, we simply choose “Unfreeze Panes” in the “Freeze Panes” drop-down menu.

Since this command allows you to freeze any number of rows or columns, if you are ever working on a large worksheet perhaps containing multiple row and column headings, you will probably find it pretty much an essential feature.

The writer of this article is a developer and trainer with TrainingCompany.Com, an independent computer training company offering Microsoft Excel 2007Classes in London and throughout the UK.