Which of the following would you do if viewing every column is essential to the worksheet's function?

Turning off hiding of columns is the appropriate choice when viewing every column is essential to the worksheet's function. This action ensures that no columns can be hidden by users, which maintains full visibility of the data contained in the worksheet. A situation where all data columns need to be visible might involve strict reporting requirements or comprehensive data analysis, where missing information could lead to errors or misinterpretations.

Protecting the visibility of columns is vital for ensuring that all users see the same information and can make decisions based on complete data sets. As a result, it eliminates the risk of someone inadvertently hiding a column that contains critical data, safeguarding data integrity and accessibility. While allowing users to hide columns could be advantageous in some contexts to reduce clutter, it contradicts the requirement of full visibility. Similarly, enabling sorting or showing gridlines may enhance usability, but they do not directly address the requirement to view every column without the risk of them being hidden.