My Keyboard Shortcuts in Excel, How to Create a set of Personal Keyboard Shortcuts in Excel

People who regularly work with Excel spreadsheets need to do the same things often. There are two ways to automate your actions. The first is assigning shortcuts on the Quick Access Toolbar. The second is creating macros. The second method is more complicated, since you need to understand the program code to write macros. The first method is much simpler, but you need to talk in more detail about how to put the required tools on the quick access panel.

Most useful keyboard shortcuts in Excel

You can create hotkeys yourself, but this does not mean that they will be as useful as possible. The program has already built-in many key combinations, certain commands, with which you can perform various actions . All the variety of available shortcut keys can be divided into several groups depending on their purpose. Quick commands for formatting data:

1. CTRL + T – using this key combination, you can create a separate worksheet from one cell and a selected range of cells around it.
2. CTRL + 1 – Activates the dialog box for formatting cells from the table.

CTRL + SHIFT combinations with additional characters can be distinguished as a separate group of quick commands for data formatting. If you add% – change the format to percent, $ – activate the monetary format,; – setting the date from the computer,! – setting the number format, ~ – enabling the general format. Standard set of keyboard shortcuts:

1. CTRL + W – through this command you can instantly close the active workbook.
2. CTRL + S – save the working document.
3. CTRL + N – create a new working document.
4. CTRL + X – add content from the selected cells to the clipboard.
5. CTRL + O – open a working document.
6. CTRL + V – using this combination, data from the clipboard is added to the previously marked cell.
7. CTRL + P – opens a window with settings for printing.
8. CTRL + Z – command to undo the performed action.
9. F12 – this key saves the working document under a different name.

Commands for working with various formulas:

1. CTRL + ‘- copy the formula that is in the cell at the top, paste it into the marked cell or a row for formulas.
2. CTRL + `- Using this command, you can switch the display modes of values ​​in formulas and cells.
3. F4 – This key allows you to switch between different link options in formulas.
4. Tab is a command for automatic completion of a function name.

Data entry commands:

1. CTRL + D – using this command, you can copy the content from the first cell of the marked range, adding it to all cells below.
2. CTRL + Y – if possible, the command will repeat the last performed action.
3. CTRL +; – adding the current date.
4. ALT + enter – enters a new line inside the cell if edit mode is open.
5. F2 – change the marked cell.
6. CTRL + SHIFT + V – Opens the Paste Special docker.

Data View and Navigation:

1. Home – using this button you can return to the first cell on the active sheet.
2. CTRL + G – calls the “Go” window on the screen – Go To.
3. CTRL + PgDown – With this command you can go to the next worksheet.
4. CTRL + END – Instantly move to the last cell of the active sheet.
5. CTRL + F – This command brings up the Find dialog box.
6. CTRL + Tab – switch between workbooks.
7. CTRL + F1 – hide or show the ribbon with tools.

Data selection commands:

1. SHIFT + space is a keyboard shortcut to select an entire line.
2. CTRL + Space is a keyboard shortcut to select an entire column.
3. CTRL + A – a combination to select the entire worksheet.

Important! One of the useful commands is to select a range of cells in which any data is located, the user is actively working with them. However, compared to other combinations, it has two parts. First, you need to press Ctrl + Home, and then press the combination Ctrl + Shift + End.

How to assign keyboard shortcuts to create your own set

You cannot create your own keyboard shortcuts in Excel. This does not apply to macros, for writing which you need to understand the code, correctly put them on the quick access panel. Because of this, only the basic commands that were described above are available to the user. From the key combinations, you need to select those commands that are used or will be used very often. After that, it is advisable to add them to the quick access panel. Any instrument from various blocks can be brought into it, so as not to look for it in the future. The process of assigning hotkeys consists of several stages:

1. Open the quick access toolbar by the down arrow icon, which is located above the main toolbar.

1. The settings window should appear on the screen for assigning, changing the shortcut keys. Select “VBA-Excel” from the suggested commands.

1. After that, a list should open with all the commands available to the user that can be added to the Quick Access Toolbar. From it you need to choose what interests you the most.

After that, the shortcut key of the selected command will appear on the shortcut bar. In order to activate the added command, the easiest way is to click on it with LMB. However, there is another way. You can use a key combination, where the first button is ALT, the next button is the number of the command, as it counts in the quick access panel.

Advice! It is not recommended to assign the default keyboard shortcut layout in the Quick Access Toolbar. This is due to the fact that each person needs their own commands, which will not be assigned by the program itself in the standard version.

When the keyboard shortcuts are assigned, it is recommended to practice activating them not with the mouse, but with a combination of buttons starting with ALT. This will help save time on repetitive actions and get the job done faster.