Microsoft Excel is widely used in day-to-day operations worldwide. When using Microsoft Excel one might notice that there times when you thought there should have been a function shortcut key to get a task to work. Keeping this in mind, below I have compiled a number of shortcut keys that would definitely make Excel tasks easier and quicker to handle. A few CTRL + Combination keys have also been included apart from the other useful shortcut keys keeping
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Function Shortcut Keys |
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Key |
Description |
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F1 |
Displays the Help task pane. |
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CTRL+F1 |
Closes and reopens the current task pane. |
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ALT+F1 |
Creates a chart of the data in the current range. |
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ALT+SHIFT+F1 |
Inserts a new worksheet. |
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F2 |
Edits the active cell and positions the insertion point at the end of the cell contents. It also moves the insertion point into the Formula Bar when editing in a cell is turned off. |
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SHIFT+F2 |
Edits a cell comment. |
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F3 |
Pastes a defined name into a formula. |
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SHIFT+F3 |
Displays the Insert Function dialog box. |
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F4 |
Repeats the last command or action, if possible. |
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CTRL+F4 |
Closes the selected workbook window. |
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CTRL+F5 |
Restores the window size of the selected workbook window. |
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F6 |
Switches to the next pane in a worksheet that has been split (Window menu, Split command). |
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SHIFT+F6 |
Switches to the previous pane in a worksheet that has been split. |
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CTRL+F6 |
Switches to the next workbook window when more than one workbook window is open. |
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SHIFT+F6 |
Note When the task pane is visible, F6 and SHIFT+F6 include that pane when switching between panes. |
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F7 |
Displays the Spelling dialog box to check spelling in the active worksheet or selected range. |
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CTRL+F7 |
Performs the Move command on the workbook window when it is not maximized. Use the arrow Keys to move the window, and when finished press ESC. |
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F8 |
Turns extend mode on or off. In extend mode; EXT appears in the status line, and the arrow Keys extend the selection. |
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SHIFT+F8 |
Enables you to add a non-adjacent cell or range to a selection of cells by using the arrow Keys. |
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CTRL+F8 |
Performs the Size command (on the Control menu for the workbook window) when a workbook is not maximized. |
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ALT+F8 |
Displays the Macro dialog box to run, edit, or delete a macro. |
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F9 |
Calculates all worksheets in all open workbooks. |
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F9 |
F9 followed by ENTER (or followed by CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER for array formulas) calculates the selected a portion of a formula and replaces the selected portion with the calculated value. |
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SHIFT+F9 |
Calculates the active worksheet. |
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CTRL+ALT+F9 |
Calculates all worksheets in all open workbooks, regardless of whether they have changed since the last calculation. |
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CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+F9 |
Rechecks dependent formulas, and then calculates all cells in all open workbooks, including cells not marked as needing to be calculated. |
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CTRL+F9 |
Minimizes a workbook window to an icon. |
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F10 |
Selects the menu bar or closes an open menu and submenu at the same time. |
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SHIFT+F10 |
Displays the shortcut menu for a selected item. |
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ALT+SHIFT+F10 |
Displays the menu or message for a smart tag. If more than one smart tag is present, it switches to the next smart tag and displays its menu or message. |
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CTRL+F10 |
Maximizes or restores the selected workbook window. |
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F11 |
Creates a chart of the data in the current range. |
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SHIFT+F11 |
Inserts a new worksheet. |
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ALT+F11 |
Opens the Visual Basic Editor, in which you can create a macro by using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). |
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ALT+SHIFT+F11 |
Opens the Microsoft Script Editor, where you can add text, edit HTML tags, and modify any script code. |
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F12 |
Displays the Save As dialog box. |
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CTRL + Key Shortcut Description |
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Key |
Description |
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CTRL+( |
Unhide any hidden rows within the selection. |
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CTRL+) |
Unhide any hidden columns within the selection. |
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CTRL+& |
Applies the outline border to the selected cells. |
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CTRL+_ |
Removes the outline border from the selected cells. |
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CTRL+~ |
Applies the General number format. |
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CTRL+$ |
Applies the Currency format with two decimal places (negative numbers in parentheses). |
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CTRL+% |
Applies the Percentage format with no decimal places. |
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CTRL+^ |
Applies the Exponential number format with two decimal places. |
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CTRL+# |
Applies the Date format with the day, month, and year. |
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CTRL+@ |
Applies the Time format with the hour and minute, and AM or PM. |
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CTRL+! |
Applies the Number format with two decimal places, thousands separator, and minus sign (-) for negative values. |
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CTRL+- |
Displays the Delete dialog box to delete the selected cells. |
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CTRL+* |
Selects the current region around the active cell (the data area enclosed by blank rows and blank columns). |
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CTRL+: |
Enters the current time. |
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CTRL+; |
Enters the current date. |
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CTRL+` |
Alternates between displaying cell values and displaying formulas in the worksheet. |
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CTRL+’ |
Copies a formula from the cell above the active cell into the cell or the Formula Bar. |
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CTRL+” |
Copies the value from the cell above the active cell into the cell or the Formula Bar. |
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CTRL++ |
Displays the Insert dialog box to insert blank cells. |
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CTRL+1 |
Displays the Format Cells dialog box. |
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CTRL+2 |
Applies or removes bold formatting. |
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CTRL+3 |
Applies or removes italic formatting. |
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CTRL+4 |
Applies or removes underlining. |
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CTRL+5 |
Applies or removes strikethrough. |
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CTRL+6 |
Alternates between hiding objects, displaying objects, and displaying placeholders for objects. |
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CTRL+7 |
Displays or hides the Standard toolbar. |
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CTRL+8 |
Displays or hides the outline symbols. |
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CTRL+9 |
Hides the selected rows. |
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CTRL+0 |
Hides the selected columns. |
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CTRL+A |
Selects the entire worksheet. |
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CTRL+A |
If the worksheet contains data, CTRL+A selects the current region. Pressing CTRL+A a second time selects the entire worksheet. |
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CTRL+B |
Applies or removes bold formatting. |
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CTRL+C |
Copies the selected cells. |
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CTRL+C |
CTRL+C followed by another CTRL+C displays the Microsoft Office Clipboard. |
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CTRL+D |
Uses the Fill Down command to copy the contents and format of the topmost cell of a selected range into the cells below. |
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CTRL+F |
Displays the Find dialog box. |
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CTRL+G |
Displays the Go To dialog box. |
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F5 |
F5 also displays this dialog box. |
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CTRL+H |
Displays the Find and Replace dialog box. |
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CTRL+I |
Applies or removes italic formatting. |
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CTRL+K |
Displays the Insert Hyperlink dialog box for new hyperlinks or the Edit Hyperlink dialog box for selected existing hyperlinks. |
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CTRL+L |
Displays the Create List dialog box. |
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CTRL+N |
Creates a new, blank file. |
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CTRL+O |
Displays the Open dialog box to open or find a file. |
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CTRL+SHIFT+O |
Selects all cells that contain comments. |
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CTRL+P |
Displays the Print dialog box. |
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CTRL+R |
Uses the Fill Right command to copy the contents and format of the leftmost cell of a selected range into the cells to the right. |
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CTRL+S |
Saves the active file with its current file name, location, and file format. |
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CTRL+U |
Applies or removes underlining. |
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CTRL+V |
Inserts the contents of the Clipboard at the insertion point and replaces any selection. Available only after you cut or copied an object, text, or cell contents. |
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CTRL+W |
Closes the selected workbook window. |
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CTRL+X |
Cuts the selected cells. |
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CTRL+Y |
Repeats the last command or action, if possible. |
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CTRL+Z |
Uses the Undo command to reverse the last command or to delete the last entry you typed. |
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CTRL+SHIFT+Z |
Uses the Undo or Redo command to reverse or restore the last automatic correction when AutoCorrect Smart Tags are displayed. |
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Other useful shortcut Keys |
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Key |
Description |
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ARROW KEYS |
Move one cell up, down, left, or right in a worksheet. |
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CTRL+ARROW KEY |
Moves to the edge of the current data region (data region: A range of cells that contains data and that is bounded by empty cells or datasheet borders.) in a worksheet. |
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SHIFT+ARROW KEY |
Extends the selection of cells by one cell. |
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CTRL+SHIFT+ARROW KEY |
Extends the selection of cells to the last nonblank cell in the same column or row as the active cell. |
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CTRL+SHIFT+ARROW KEY |
LEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROW selects the menu to the left or right when a menu is visible. When a submenu is open, these arrow Keys switch between the main menu and the submenu. |
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CTRL+SHIFT+ARROW KEY |
DOWN ARROW or UP ARROW selects the next or previous command when a menu or submenu is open. |
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CTRL+SHIFT+ARROW KEY |
In a dialog box, arrow Keys move between options in an open drop-down list, or between options in a group of options. |
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ALT+DOWN ARROW |
Opens a selected drop-down list. |
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BACKSPACE |
Deletes one character to the left in the Formula Bar. |
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BACKSPACE |
Also clears the content of the active cell. |
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DELETE |
Removes the cell contents (data and formulas) from selected cells without affecting cell formats or comments. |
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DELETE |
In cell editing mode, it deletes the character to the right of the insertion point. |
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END |
Moves to the cell in the lower-right corner of the window when SCROLL LOCK is turned on. |
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END |
Also selects the last command on the menu when a menu or submenu is visible. |
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CTRL+END |
Moves to the last cell on a worksheet, in the lowest used row of the rightmost used column. |
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CTRL+SHIFT+END |
Extends the selection of cells to the last used cell on the worksheet (lower-right corner). |
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ENTER |
Completes a cell entry from the cell or the Formula Bar, and selects the cell below (by default). |
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ENTER |
In a data form, it moves to the first field in the next record. |
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ENTER |
Opens a selected menu (press F10 to activate the menu bar) or performs the action for a selected command. |
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ENTER |
In a dialog box, it performs the action for the default command button in the dialog box (the button with the bold outline, often the OK button). |
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ALT+ENTER |
Starts a new line in the same cell. |
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CTRL+ENTER |
Fills the selected cell range with the current entry. |
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SHIFT+ENTER |
Completes a cell entry and selects the cell above. |
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ESC |
Cancels an entry in the cell or Formula Bar. |
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ESC |
It also closes an open menu or submenu, dialog box, or message window. |
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HOME |
Moves to the beginning of a row in a worksheet. |
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HOME |
Moves to the cell in the upper-left corner of the window when SCROLL LOCK is turned on. |
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HOME |
Selects the first command on the menu when a menu or submenu is visible. |
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CTRL+HOME |
Moves to the beginning of a worksheet. |
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CTRL+SHIFT+HOME |
Extends the selection of cells to the beginning of the worksheet. |
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PAGE DOWN |
Moves one screen down in a worksheet. |
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ALT+PAGE DOWN |
Moves one screen to the right in a worksheet. |
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CTRL+PAGE DOWN |
Moves to the next sheet in a workbook. |
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CTRL+SHIFT+PAGE DOWN |
Selects the current and next sheet in a workbook. |
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PAGE UP |
Moves one screen up in a worksheet. |
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ALT+PAGE UP |
Moves one screen to the left in a worksheet. |
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CTRL+PAGE UP |
Moves to the previous sheet in a workbook. |
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CTRL+SHIFT+PAGE UP |
Selects the current and previous sheet in a workbook. |
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SPACEBAR |
In a dialog box, performs the action for the selected button, or selects or clears a check box. |
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CTRL+SPACEBAR |
Selects an entire column in a worksheet. |
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SHIFT+SPACEBAR |
Selects an entire row in a worksheet. |
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CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR |
Selects the entire worksheet. |
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ALT+SPACEBAR |
Displays the Control menu for the Excel window. |
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TAB |
Moves one cell to the right in a worksheet. |
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TAB |
Moves between unlocked cells in a protected worksheet. |
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TAB |
Moves to the next option or option group in a dialog box. |
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SHIFT+TAB |
Moves to the previous cell in a worksheet or the previous option in a dialog box. |
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CTRL+TAB |
Switches to the next tab in dialog box. |
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CTRL+SHIFT+TAB |
Switches to the previous tab in a dialog box. |
Posted under Shorcut Keys
This post was written by Rahul Nagar on October 21, 2008




















