Excel hot keys (shortcut keys)

Hot keys help users to simplify the work and speed it up, replacing several actions with one. This is even more important for an office program such as Microsoft Excel, which is designed to make it easier for a person to work with arrays of data of various kinds. Consider the popular keyboard shortcuts that are applicable in many versions of this application (from Excel 2003 to Excel 2013). And in Excel 2003 there are no combinations for working with the ribbon - the Quick Access Toolbar, because this feature appeared only in Excel 2007 and is available in later versions. Some of these combinations may not work for localized versions of the application in question.

The most popular hotkeys in Excel

By pressing these key combinations, the main functions of the program are executed. In the description of hot keys, the symbol "+" is used to show the simultaneous pressing of the keys that are on the right and left of the "+" sign. Combinations of keys are indicated in parentheses, at the same time one, two, three or even four keys on the keyboard can be pressed. Usually one, two or three of them are service keys - Ctrl, Shift or Alt. They need to be pressed first and, while holding down, push another (third or fourth) of the hotkey combination.

To create a new file, press (Ctrl + N). To go to the menu or open the file - (Ctrl + O), save the file - (Ctrl + S), "Save As" - (F12), print - (Ctrl + P). Close the file - (Ctrl + F4). Last action: undo - (Ctrl + Z), repeat - (Ctrl + Y). Start creating the formula - (=). Close the file - (Alt + F4). Add a column - (Ctrl + Shift + key plus). Insert a new sheet - (Shift + F11). Call the table creation dialog - (Ctrl + L). Collapse the text in the cell - (Alt + Enter).

Navigation operations

The following Excel shortcuts are provided for performing navigation. Call the window "Go" - (Ctrl + G). Go to the cell on the right - (Tab); To the cell on the left - (Shift + Tab); Up one screen - (PageUp); Down one screen - (PageDown); On the next sheet - (Ctrl + PageDown); On the previous sheet - (Ctrl + PageUp); In the data area: to the starting cell - (Ctrl + Home); To the enclosing cell - (Ctrl + End); In the direction of the arrow to the first cell - (Ctrl + Arrow). To move between the sheets of an open book - (Ctrl + F6).

Formatting text and cells

To format text in the selected cell (cell area), use the Excel shortcut keys shown below. In these combinations, use the Ctrl key plus other keys specified in this subsection in parentheses.

Font: Bold - (B), underlined - (U), italic - (3), strikethrough - (5). Menu: change the font - (Shift + F), the font size - (Shift + P). Apply the outlines of borders - (Shift + 7). Delete all borders - (Shift + Underline).

Call up the menu: format cells - (1), select a font - (Shift + F), select the font size - (Shift + P). Set the format: percentage - (Shift + 5), numeric - (Shift + 1), time - (Alt + 2), dates - (Alt + 3), money - (Alt + 4), currency - (Shift + 4) , Common (to remove formatting) - (Shift + #).

Selecting and editing text

Select: the entire sheet - (Ctrl + A), the full line - (Shift + Space), the entire column - (Ctrl + Space), the array of cells in the direction of the arrow - (Shift + Arrow), the array of cells, (Ctrl + Shift + 8).

Dedicated text: cut (to the buffer) - (Ctrl + X), copy (to the buffer) - (Ctrl + C). Paste from the buffer - (Ctrl + V). Delete one character from the cursor: on the right (Delete), on the left - (Backspace). Change the active cell - (F2). Delete the current value and change the active cell - (Space).

Other Excel shortcuts

Call the text search box - (Ctrl + F), replace the text - (Ctrl + H), select the style - (Alt + '). Automatically create a chart on a new sheet (F11). Change the comment to the cell - (Shift + F2). Calculate AutoSum of the selected cells in the column - (Alt + =); The value of the sum is placed in the cell of this column in the next row under the selection. To insert in the selected cell the actual: date - (Ctrl + Shift +4), time - (Ctrl + Shift +6). Spellcheck - (F7).

Next, let's talk about how to merge cells in Excel. The hotkey in this case, unfortunately, is not an assistant. However, there are some techniques by which you can somewhat ease the task.

Algorithm of actions

If you need to merge cells into Excel, some difficulties arise. After all, this operation is associated with loss of data in all cells of the merged area, except for the uppermost left. First you need to select the area of cells to be merged, right-click on the selection area, select the "Format Cells ..." drop-down menu. The window "Format of cells" appears, select the "Alignment" tab in it and tick the "Merge cells" checkbox. To perform the operation under consideration in general, there are no hotkeys in the Excel application.

It is easier to combine cells by using the special "Merge and place in the center" button, which is located in the "Home" menu. If you do not need to place data in the center, click on the label to the right of this button and select the appropriate item from the drop-down submenu. By the way, if you often have to use this operation, it is better to place this button on the shortcut bar. To save data from other cells in the merged area, except for the upper left, you need to transfer their contents to another location or add them to this cell using copy (or cut) and paste operations.

Other possible ways of combining cells, eliminating the loss of data, are associated with the use of macros, which can be found, for example, in forums for working in Excel. The principle of working with macros is the same as manually, but is faster and more imperceptible for the user.

How to insert a string using hot keys

Often there is a need for an Excel worksheet to insert a row. The hot keys used for this operation are Ctrl + plus sign. In this case, you should select a line above which you want to insert a new one. This selection can be performed by a combination of hot keys (Shift + Space) or by clicking the left mouse button in the number field on the left of the corresponding line when the cursor takes the form of an arrow. If the string is not selected, then the combination of hot keys (Ctrl + sign plus) leads to the corresponding "Add cells" menu, which prompts you to choose whether to insert: cells with a shift down or to the right, a row or column.

Excel hot key "Delete row" - (Ctrl + minus sign). To delete a row, you must select it and press this key combination.

When you press the Alt key on the application menu bar, hints for the hot keys of the corresponding menu sections appear. This is illustrated in the figure. Available for program versions starting with Excel 2007.

Special insert in Excel

Often, you only need to insert a value into the cell or only formulas. To do this, there is such an option in Excel - a special insert. Hot keys for this are (Ctrl + Alt + V).

When you press these keys, the "Paste Special" dialog box opens. It is available if immediately before this, the object, the contents of the cell, the text on the sheet or in another program have been copied or cut. In the window, you should select the item you are interested in: formulas, value, formats, note or other one of the suggested options.

Thus, having become acquainted with the content of this article, you learned what Excel shortcuts exist and how to use them. Naturally, the article does not describe all the existing combinations. For a more complete study of the topic should use the special literature.