hiding rows & columns

I am aware of the procedure/method to hide unused rows & columns. But they always re-appear after saving & re-open my LO spreadsheet. Is there a way to lock out these unused rows & columns?

What format do you use to store the spreadsheet? Isn’t that a no-formatting text-only CSV by chance?

Its being saved as an .xls file

Ok, then. I won’t tell you using native ODF format; I just tested myself a simple file, and it worked for me with XLS. Please tell other relevant info: which LO version do you use, and which OS. We have to ask data from you by pieces, as if it’s we tho are interested in help.

Tnx Mike. I’m using LO 5.3.3.2 with W10 ver 1703. You got it! It works when I save as .odf, but NOT if I save as .xls!

Very strange. It works for me with 5.3.3.2 with XLS. I might only guess it’s somehow file-specific (?): some nuance in file (a combination of data revealing a bug in LibreOffice; or a corruption in the data that manifests itself that way). Sorry, cannot assist more. You could still link a test file here, or file a bug at Bugzilla.