How To Indent In Google Sheets

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When it comes to Excel, we all know how handy the ‘Tab’ key is, especially when it comes to creating a well-structured spreadsheet. But when you switch to Google Sheets, you might feel lost as there is no direct way to indent in it. But don’t worry! In this blog post, we will explore how to indent text in Google Sheets.

Method 1: Using a custom formula

Google Sheets doesn’t provide a straightforward way to indent cells, but we can use a custom formula to add spaces before our text.

Consider the example where the text is in cell A1 that you want to indent. Here is the custom function you can use:

    = "  " & A1

Here, we’re adding two spaces before the text in cell A1. You can add as many spaces as you want to increase the indentation.

Method 2: Using the CHAR function

Another way to indent in Google Sheets is by using the CHAR function. The CHAR function takes the ASCII value and returns the corresponding character. The ASCII value for a tab space is 9.

Here’s how to do it:

    =CHAR(9)&A1

With this formula, you’re adding a tab space before the text in cell A1.

Method 3: Using custom number formatting

You can also indent text in Google Sheets by using custom number formatting. Follow these steps:

  1. Select the cell or range of cells you want to indent.
  2. Click on the Format menu, then select Number, then More Formats, and finally Custom number format.
  3. In the dialog box that opens, input an underscore followed by a quotation mark, and a space, like this: _ ” “
  4. Click on Apply.

Your text will now be indented in the selected cells.

Conclusion

Although Google Sheets doesn’t offer a straightforward way to indent like Excel does, these methods provide a few workarounds. Whether you’re using a custom formula, the CHAR function, or custom number formatting, you now have the tools to make your spreadsheets look more organized and professional.