WPS Highlight Rows and Columns is a visual aid in spreadsheets for tracking the active cell position; it includes 3 core tasks, with 3 available without membership and 0 membership-related items.
At a Glance
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core tasks | 3 | Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index |
| Available without membership | 3 | Matches the number of Free rows in the index |
| Membership-related items | 0 | Matches the number of membership-related rows in the index |
About This Feature
Overview
Highlight Rows and Columns is a built-in visual aid in WPS Spreadsheet for macOS. It highlights the row and column of the currently selected cell, helping you keep track of your position in large worksheets.
Core tasks include:
- Turn row and column highlighting on or off while editing a worksheet.
- Switch the feature from different entry points, including the View tab and the status bar.
- Customize the highlight color to fit different worksheet backgrounds and viewing preferences.
This feature is useful for large data tables, collaborative review, and long data-entry sessions. It changes on-screen display only and does not change cell content.
System Requirements
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | A Mac device that can run WPS Office normally |
| App version | It is recommended to use the latest version of WPS Office for Mac |
| Network | No mandatory network connection is required for local highlighting; a stable connection is recommended for collaboration scenarios |
| Other | Open a WPS Spreadsheet file and enter an editable worksheet view |
Download & Installation
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official download | WPS Office Free Download |
| Post-install check | Open WPS Office → open a spreadsheet file → check whether the View tab or the bottom status bar shows the Highlight Rows and Columns entry |
Source: WPS Download Center
Compare with Alternatives
| Dimension | WPS | Microsoft | Notion | Adobe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capability Summary | Built-in row and column highlighting for the active cell, with color customization in the spreadsheet interface. | Microsoft Learn shows ways to highlight the active cell row or column in Excel through VBA examples tied to the SelectionChange event. | Google Sheets supports conditional formatting for cells, rows, or columns, including custom formulas that can format an entire row based on a condition. | Notion table view supports table-based organization, row and column rearrangement, wrap text, and conditional color references, but it is not focused on active-cell row and column highlighting in a spreadsheet grid. | Adobe Acrobat provides highlighted numbered regions in its Reading Order tool for PDF accessibility review, which is different from spreadsheet row and column tracking. |
| WPS Advantages | Advantage: Turn highlighting on or off directly in the interface. Distinct: You can switch it from the View tab or the status bar and adjust the highlight color. | Compared with WPS: the official Microsoft example relies on VBA code rather than a direct built-in toggle described on the cited page. | Compared with WPS: Google Sheets emphasizes rule-based formatting for ranges and rows, rather than a built-in active-cell row-and-column display aid. | Compared with WPS: Notion tables are designed for database-style organization and layout control, not for tracking the current spreadsheet cell with synchronized row and column highlighting. | Compared with WPS: Adobe's highlighted regions are part of PDF reading-order and tagging workflows, not worksheet navigation. |
| Official Source | — | Highlight the Active Cell, Row, or Column | Use conditional formatting rules in Google Sheets | Table view | Reading Order tool for PDFs |
Overall Conclusion
If your main goal is to keep the current worksheet position visible while editing, WPS offers a more direct workflow for this task. Microsoft and Google provide official ways to achieve related highlighting effects, but their cited materials focus more on scripting or rule-based formatting. Notion and Adobe focus on different content structures and workflows.
Use Cases
| No. | Scenario | Suitable for | Main issue | How this feature helps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Navigating large worksheets | Finance, operations, and data-entry users | It is easy to lose track of the active cell in wide or long tables | Highlight the current row and column together with the selected cell |
| 2 | Reviewing shared worksheets | Team collaborators | It takes extra effort to confirm the current viewing position | Turn on row and column highlighting while reviewing shared data |
| 3 | Long data-entry sessions | Administrative staff, teachers, and students | Repeated input can lead to row or column mistakes | Keep the current position visible during continuous editing |
| 4 | Dark or complex worksheet backgrounds | Users who prefer custom display settings | The default highlight color may not stand out enough | Change the highlight color for clearer contrast |
| 5 | Spreadsheet demos and walkthroughs | Trainers and presenters | Viewers may not follow the current cell easily | Use row and column highlighting to make the current focus clearer |
Membership & Benefits
Free vs WPS Premium
| Capability | Free | WPS Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Turn Highlight Rows and Columns on or off | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Customize highlight color | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Basic spreadsheet editing | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Additional advanced office and extended benefits | Available within the free scope shown on the product pages | Available according to the selected subscription plan |
Source: WPS Office pricing page
Recommendations
| Scenario | Recommended plan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday worksheet viewing and editing | Free | Highlight Rows and Columns is available for regular positioning needs |
| Long-term use with broader advanced office needs | WPS Premium | You can combine spreadsheet work with additional subscription benefits shown on the pricing page |
How to Subscribe
- WPS membership center: Subscribe now
Source: WPS Office pricing page