Some people find it easier to use keyboard shortcut keys, such as [Ctrl-C] for copy, rather than using the equivalent menu option. Other shortcuts are used instead of mouse operations. Over time we have found that we are likely to use a mixture of techniques. We find that some things are just so much easier to do if you can remember the shortcut key!
Here are some of the particularly useful Excel shortcuts:
| Function Keys |
Result |
| F1 |
Opens help |
| F2 |
Places cell in Edit mode |
| F3 |
Displays a list of named cells and ranges. This is a particularly fast and useful way of inserting a range name into a dialog box or formula |
| F4 |
This key has two modes: When editing a cell reference in a formula it cycles through the 4 absolute/relative/mixed forms (eg B4, $B$4, B$4, $B4). This is much easier than typing $ signs around your cell references!
When not editing it repeats the last command or action |
| F5 |
Opens the Go To dialogue box. Allows you to easily Go To named cells, ranges, cell references or to select 'special' ranges (such as the last cell, or all the cells in a range) |
| F7 |
Opens the spell check dialogue box |
| F9 |
Recalculates a spreadsheet (sometimes BIG spreadsheets work much faster if put into manual rather than automatic calculation mode) |
| F11 |
Charts the current selection |
| F12 |
A quick way to Save As |
| Ctrl Keys |
Result |
| CTRL+; |
Enters the current date |
| CTRL+SHIFT+: |
Enter the current time |
| CTRL+SHIFT+* |
Selects the current region around the active cell (the data area enclosed by blank rows and blank columns) |
| CTRL+ARROW KEY |
Moves in the arrow direction to the edge of the current region |
| CTRL+SHIFT+ARROW KEY |
Either selects in arrow direction to next empty cell or if next cell is empty to the next non-empty cell |
| CTRL+~> |
Toggles display from cell values to formulas |
This list is very incomplete and searching for "shortcuts" in Excel's help will give you many more.