Managing Worksheets: Tabs, Groups and Cross-Sheet References
Sheet structure
A workbook is a file; worksheets are the pages inside it. Candidates must insert, delete, rename, move, copy, hide and unhide sheets, change tab colour, and reorder by dragging. Double-clicking a tab renames it; right-clicking the tab offers Insert, Delete, Move or Copy, Tab Color and Hide. A copied sheet keeps formulas but, by default, receives a new name such as Sheet1 (2).
Working across sheets
References can cross sheets: =SUM(Jan:Mar!B2) totals B2 across a span of sheets, while =Sheet2!A1 pulls a single cell. Grouping sheets (Ctrl+click or Shift+click tabs, then type) writes the same entry into every selected sheet, which is powerful and dangerous in equal measure.
Traps
- Deleting a sheet is not reliably recoverable with Undo, and formulas pointing at it become #REF!.
- Renaming a sheet normally updates formulas automatically; deleting never does.
- A grouped selection looks almost identical to a normal one, so forgetting to ungroup means later edits hit every sheet.
- Copying a sheet within the same workbook can create confusing duplicate names.
- Hidden sheets still calculate and may still print unless excluded.
Rule of thumb
Set the sheet order first (for example Jan, Feb, Mar, Summary), name tabs before writing cross-sheet formulas, and hold Ctrl while dragging a tab when you need an exact duplicate. Confirm you are ungrouped by clicking one tab and checking the title bar.