Edit Multiple Sheets in LibreOffice Calc

Grouping sheets in LibreOffice Calc is an efficient way to apply identical edits, data entries, and formatting across multiple tabs at the same time. This guide covers how to select contiguous and non-contiguous sheets to form a group, what types of modifications synchronize across your selection, and how to safely ungroup sheets once your edits are complete.

How to Select and Group Sheets

To apply edits across multiple sheets simultaneously, you must first create a sheet group by selecting the target tabs at the bottom of the workspace:

• Adjacent Sheets: Click the first sheet tab, hold down the Shift key, and click the last sheet tab in the range. All tabs between and including them will be selected.
• Non-Adjacent Sheets: Click the first sheet tab, hold down the Ctrl key (or Cmd on macOS), and click each individual sheet tab you want to include in the group.
• All Sheets: Right-click any sheet tab and choose Select All Sheets from the context menu.

When sheets are grouped, their tab titles will appear highlighted (typically turning white or a lighter background depending on your desktop theme).

Supported Simultaneous Edits

Once sheets are grouped, any action performed on the currently active sheet is mirrored across all other grouped sheets in the exact same cell locations:

• Data and Formula Entry: Typing a value, text string, or formula into a cell updates that specific cell address on every grouped sheet.
• Cell Formatting: Applying number formats, background colors, borders, font styles, or alignments updates the selected cells across all grouped sheets.
• Structural Adjustments: Inserting or deleting rows, columns, or individual cells applies identical structural changes throughout the group.
• Content Clearing: Selecting a range and pressing Delete or Backspace clears the contents, formats, or objects from all grouped sheets.

How to Ungroup Sheets

Failing to ungroup sheets after completing your edits can lead to accidental data overwrites on background tabs. To exit the grouped editing mode:

• Click an Unselected Sheet: Click any sheet tab that is not part of the active group to clear the selection.
• Deselect All: If all sheets are selected, right-click any sheet tab and select Deselect All.
• Individual Deselection: Hold Ctrl (or Cmd) and click an active sheet tab to remove only that specific sheet from the group.