5 Ways to Insert a Sheet Tab in Google Sheets

Google Sheets is an exceptional tool for organizing data and performing calculations. Whether you’re tracking inventory, managing budgets, or keeping track of daily tasks, Google Sheets has got you covered. One of the most common tasks for Sheets users is inserting new sheets into their workbooks. In this article, we will explore five different ways to add a new sheet in Google Sheets and make your life easier!

Insert a Sheet from the Insert Menu

If you’re wondering where to find the option to insert a sheet, look no further than the Insert menu. It’s that simple! Just click on the Insert tab in your workbook and select the New Sheet option. Sheets will add the new sheet directly to the right of your active sheet and shift the existing sheets over.

💡 Tip: When you’re working with a workbook that has many sheets, you might want to create a table of contents to list all the sheets for easy navigation!

Insert a Sheet Using the Plus Sign

Another effortless way to add a new sheet to your workbook is by using the Plus icon. Located at the bottom of your workbook, to the left of all the existing sheet tabs, the Plus icon is always within reach. To insert a new sheet, simply left-click on the Plus icon, and presto! The new sheet will be added right next to the active sheet.

Insert a Sheet Using the Keyboard Shortcut

Google Sheets is packed with useful keyboard shortcuts that can save you time and effort. Learning the shortcut to insert a new sheet is definitely worth it! To quickly add a new sheet, press Shift + F11 on your keyboard. This will add the new sheet to the right of your active sheet.

Insert a Sheet by Copying an Existing Sheet

Sometimes, you may not want a blank sheet but rather a copy of an existing one. Google Sheets makes it a breeze to duplicate any sheet. To create a new sheet that’s an exact copy of another, follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the sheet tab you want to copy.
2. Select Copy to from the options.
3. Choose Existing spreadsheet from the options.

Google Sheets will create a duplicate sheet that includes all the data, formulas, charts, and any other objects from the original sheet. This feature can be a huge time-saver compared to starting from scratch.

Insert Sheets Using Apps Scripts

Google Sheets provides powerful automation capabilities through Apps Scripts. With Apps Scripts, you can create custom functions that can be used within the Google Sheets interface. One such function is insertSheet(), which allows you to insert a new sheet into your workbook. By leveraging this function, you can automate the creation and naming of multiple sheets based on the active range in your workbook.

The code snippet below demonstrates how to utilize Apps Scripts to achieve this:

function insertSheets() {
  var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
  var selection = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getSelection();
  var activeRange = selection.getActiveRange();
  var sheetNames = activeRange.getValues();

  for (var i=0 ; i<sheetNames.length ; i++){
    ss.insertSheet(sheetNames[i][0]);
  }
}

function onOpen() {
  var spreadsheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActive();
  var menuItems = [
    {name: 'Create Sheets from Active Range', functionName: 'insertSheets'}
  ];

  spreadsheet.addMenu('Add Sheet', menuItems);
}

The code not only creates sheets based on the first column of any selected range but also adds a custom menu item to the workbook’s front end. This allows users to easily run the script while working with the spreadsheet. Automating the creation of multiple sheets has never been easier!

Conclusions

Adding new sheets to your spreadsheet solutions is a common task that can be done in various ways in Google Sheets. Whether you prefer using the Insert menu, the Plus icon, a keyboard shortcut, making copies of existing sheets, or leveraging Apps Scripts, all methods will seamlessly add a sheet right next to the active one.

Which method do you find the easiest? Let us know in the comments if any of these techniques have helped boost your productivity. For more useful tips and tricks on Google Sheets, visit Mr Reviews, your go-to resource for all things Google Sheets.