What you will build
Use Google Sheets’ Direction control to switch the current sheet to a right-to-left column layout, then verify that the layout changes while the cell values stay unchanged.
Learning objectives
Open the practice workbook
Practice in your own copy
Make your own Google Sheets copy with the same data, formulas, formatting, filter and frozen header. The original remains unchanged.
Sign in to Google. If the original is not publicly shared, download the full workbook and import it into Google Sheets, or paste the example data into your own sheet.
Hands-on practice
Step 1: On the Google Sheets toolbar, open the toolbar overflow (⋮) if needed, then locate the sheet-level “Sheet right-to-left” control. If right-to-left controls are not available, go to the Google Sheets home screen, open Menu > Settings, turn on “Always show right-to-left controls,” click OK, then reopen this workbook.
Step 2: Click Direction on the toolbar to change the current sheet to a right-to-left column layout. Verify that column A is now on the right side of the grid while the Item and Status values remain unchanged.
Step 3: Click Direction once to compare the left-to-right layout, then click it again so the final workbook state is right-to-left. This setting applies to the current sheet, not every sheet in the workbook.
Checkpoint
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Sample A | Done |
| Sample B | Working |
Checkpoint: the stored values still match this Item/Status table, and in the live sheet column A is displayed on the right side of the grid because the current sheet is set to right-to-left.
Common mistakes and fixes
Correction: use the sheet-level Direction control on the toolbar, then verify both conditions: column A appears on the right and the original Item/Status values are unchanged.
Independent practice
Add one new Item/Status row, switch the sheet left-to-right and back to right-to-left, and confirm that only the column presentation changes. Remove the test row afterward.
Key takeaways
- ✓The sheet-level Direction control changes the column order for the current sheet.
- ✓In right-to-left layout, column A appears on the right side of the grid.
- ✓Changing sheet direction does not change the stored values in the cells.
- ✓If Direction is hidden, enable “Always show right-to-left controls” from the Google Sheets home screen under Menu > Settings.
- ✓Sheet direction and text direction inside a cell are different controls.
Check your understanding
Answer four questions about the practice sheet.
Next lesson
Continue in recommended learning order with Make spreadsheets accessible.
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