i beam corresponding to the height of the selected group of cells 8 the pointer 6 also changes shape to indicate that an insert is about to occur if the control key is released the original expanded border reappears with its original size and shape as alternate embodiments of the present invention an insert mode could be activated in other ways fig8 illustrates the computer screen after the user has dragged the dark border 9 to the location in the worksheet where the selected group of cells 8 is to be inserted the selected group of cells 8 is inserted between the cells bounded by the i beam the example used in fig8 shows that two columns were inserted into the worksheet corresponding to the two columns of the selected group of cells note that only rows 10 through 16 were affected by the insertion fig9 a and 9b make up a detailed flow diagram of a preferred embodiment of this invention the process begins with block 101 where the user must select a cell or group of cells in the worksheet in block 102 the process creates an outside border around the selected cells as they are selected the background of the cells will be black with the active cell remaining white the active cell is the first cell in which the user positioned the pointer and initially depressed the mouse button the process continues on to block 103 where it queries whether the pointer is positioned over any part of the outside border of the selected group of cells if the pointer is not positioned over any part of the outside border of the selected group of cells the process sets the pointer shape to a plus sign in block 103a the.