If you work with data in Microsoft Excel, you know how important it is to be able to edit cells quickly and efficiently. Luckily, there are a number of keyboard shortcuts that can help you with this task. In this article, we’ll share 15 of the best keyboard shortcuts for editing cells in Excel.
1. To select a cell, simply press the letter of the column followed by the row number. For example, to select cell B5, press “5B”.
2. To select a range of cells, press the first cell in the range, then hold down the “Shift” key and press the last cell in the range. For example, to select cells B5 through B7, press “5B” and then “7B” while holding down the “Shift” key.
3. To select an entire column, press the letter of the column followed by “Ctrl+Spacebar”. For example, to select column B, press “B” and then “Ctrl+Spacebar”.
4. To select an entire row, press the row number followed by “Shift+Spacebar”. For example, to select row 5, press “5” and then “Shift+Spacebar”.
5. To insert a new column, press “Ctrl+Shift+ plus sign (+)”.
6. To insert a new row, press “Ctrl+Shift+ minus sign (-)”.
7. To delete a column, press “Ctrl+Shift+ minus sign (-)” while the column is selected.
8. To delete a row, press “Ctrl+Shift+ minus sign (-)” while the row is selected.
9. To edit the contents of a cell, simply press “F2” while the cell is selected.
10. To enter a new line within a cell, press “Alt+Enter”.
11. To apply the general number format to a cell, press “Ctrl+Shift+~”.
12. To apply the currency format to a cell, press “Ctrl+Shift+$”.
13. To apply the percentage format to a cell, press “Ctrl+Shift+%”.
14. To apply the exponential format to a cell, press “Ctrl+Shift+^”.
15. To apply the date format to a cell, press “Ctrl+Shift+#”.
These are just a few of the many keyboard shortcuts that can save you time when editing cells in Excel. For a complete list of shortcuts, consult the Excel help documentation or ask your IT department for assistance.
Excel is a powerful tool for managing and analyzing data, but it can be time-consuming to navigate through all the menus and options. That’s where keyboard shortcuts come in handy. By using keyboard shortcuts, you can quickly and easily edit cells in Excel without having to use your mouse. In this article, we’ll cover 15 keyboard shortcuts for editing cells in Excel.
1. F2
The F2 key is one of the most useful keyboard shortcuts in Excel. It allows you to edit the contents of a cell directly, without having to double-click on the cell or use the formula bar. Simply select the cell you want to edit and press F2.
2. Ctrl + X, Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V
These three keyboard shortcuts are the standard cut, copy, and paste shortcuts that you’re probably already familiar with. They work just like they do in other programs, allowing you to quickly move or duplicate data within your Excel spreadsheet.
3. Ctrl + Z
If you make a mistake while editing a cell, you can quickly undo your changes by pressing Ctrl + Z. This keyboard shortcut is a lifesaver when you accidentally delete or overwrite important data.
4. Ctrl + D
The Ctrl + D keyboard shortcut allows you to quickly fill down a formula or value from the cell above. Simply select the cell you want to fill and press Ctrl + D.
5. Ctrl + R
The Ctrl + R keyboard shortcut works just like Ctrl + D, but it fills to the right instead of down. This is useful when you have a series of data that you want to duplicate across a row.
6. Ctrl + ;
If you need to enter the current date into a cell, you can use the Ctrl + ; keyboard shortcut. This will insert the current date into the selected cell.
7. Ctrl + Shift + :
If you need to enter the current time into a cell, you can use the Ctrl + Shift + : keyboard shortcut. This will insert the current time into the selected cell.
8. Alt + Enter
If you need to enter multiple lines of text into a cell, you can use the Alt + Enter keyboard shortcut. This will create a line break within the cell, allowing you to enter multiple lines of text.
9. Ctrl + Shift + ~
If you need to switch between displaying values and displaying formulas in your spreadsheet, you can use the Ctrl + Shift + ~ keyboard shortcut. This will toggle between the two display modes.
10. Ctrl + Shift + $
If you need to format a cell as currency, you can use the Ctrl + Shift + $ keyboard shortcut. This will apply the default currency format to the selected cell.
11. Ctrl + Shift + %
If you need to format a cell as a percentage, you can use the Ctrl + Shift + % keyboard shortcut. This will apply the default percentage format to the selected cell.
12. Ctrl + Shift + #
If you need to format a cell as a date, you can use the Ctrl + Shift + # keyboard shortcut. This will apply the default date format to the selected cell.
13. Ctrl + Shift + @
If you need to format a cell as a time, you can use the Ctrl + Shift + @ keyboard shortcut. This will apply the default time format to the selected cell.
14. Ctrl + Shift + *
If you need to select the current region (the contiguous range of cells that contain data) in your spreadsheet, you can use the Ctrl + Shift + * keyboard shortcut. This will select the current region.
15. Ctrl + Shift + :
If you need to insert the current time into a cell as a static value (rather than a formula), you can use the Ctrl + Shift + ; keyboard shortcut. This will insert the current time as a static value.
By using these keyboard shortcuts, you can save time and work more efficiently in Excel. Whether you’re editing cells, formatting data, or navigating your spreadsheet, these shortcuts will help you get the job done faster and with less hassle.
