Like Word and PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel has countless commands and keyboard shortcuts that allow us to automate a series of actions to avoid the use of the mouse . From functions as simple as copying and pasting data to inserting functions or modifying the format of a certain cell. Weeks ago we showed how to change the Excel date format to Spanish mode. Later we taught how to create an Excel table from a photo. This time we have made a compilation with all the commands, hot keys and keyboard shortcuts in Excel to take full advantage of the Microsoft tables program.
Keyboard shortcuts with the Control key
The Control key in Excel is the input to a multitude of simple actions that allow us, among other things, to format the text and data in the tables, insert certain values such as the date or time, and redo and undo actions . We can also interact with the program's clipboard to copy, paste or cut text from a table.
Simple Microsoft Excel Actions
- Control and A : Open
- Control and B : Search
- Control and C : Copy the text or content of a certain cell
- Control and G : Save
- Control and I : Go to ...
- Control and L : Replace Text
- Control and P : Print sheet
- Control and T : Create a new table
- Control and V : Paste the text or content of a certain cell
- Control and X : Cut the text or content of a certain cell
- Control and Y : Redo action
- Control and Z : Undo action
Formatting text in tables
- Control and K : Selected text in italics
- Control and N : Selected text in bold
- Control and S : Underlined selected text
- Control and 2 : Selected text in bold
- Control and 3 : Selected text in italics
- Control and 4 : Underlined Selected Text
- Control and 5 : Selected text crossed out
Excel advanced actions
- Control and 0 : Hide selected columns
- Control and 6 : Hide the objects of a certain sheet
- Control and 8 : Show the outline symbols of a sheet
- Control and 9 : Hide selected rows
- Control and ,: Insert the current date based on the computer date
- Control and :: Insert current time based on computer time
- Control and " : Copy the values of the cell above to the clipboard
- Control y ' : Copy formula from cell below to clipboard
- Control and Enter : Fill all selected cells with current input
- Control and Delete : Delete all text up to the end of the selected line
- Control and Alt and K : Insert a link
If we have a computer with macOS, all commands have to be replaced by the Command key , although not all actions are compatible.
Keyboard shortcuts with the Control and Shift keys
If we combine the use of the Shift key, not Caps Lock, the Control key allows us to modify the format of the numerical data entered in the tables . Scientific notation, time, decimals, percentages and a long etcetera. We can also interact with selected cells.
Cell control
- Control y Shift and & : Insert borders to selected cell
- Control y Shift and - : Clear the borders of the selected cell
- Control and Shift and + : Insert new empty cells
- Control and Shift and Up : Extend the selection to the cell above until the last cell that is not empty
- Control and Shift and Down : Extend the selection to the bottom cell to the last cell that is not empty
- Control and Shift and Right : Extend the selection to the cell to the right to the last cell that is not empty
- Control and Shift and Left : Extend the selection to the cell on the left until the last cell that is not empty
- Control and Shift and Home : Extend the selection to the first cell that is not empty
- Control and Shift and End : Extend the selection to the last cell that is not empty
Numeric data format
- Control y Shift y! : Number format with two decimal places
- Control and Uppercase and / : Scientific Notation Format
- Control and Uppercase and% : Percentage format without decimals
- Control and Shift and # : Date Format (mm / dd / yyyy)
- Control y Shift y :: Time Format
- Control y Shift y $ : Currency format with two decimal places
Key commands with the Function key
Better known as F1, F4, F9 ... The Windows and Mac function keys allow us to carry out a series of functions aimed at interacting with the Excel options, in such a way that we can create a graph sheet based on the data selected and even spell check all sheets for later automatic correction.
- F1 : Open Excel Help
- F2 : Open Edit mode
- F3 : Open the "Paste name" dialog box if there is a defined name
- F4 : Repeat the last action
- F5 : Go to
- F6 : Switch between the tabs of a divided workbook
- F7 : Spell check all data in selected cells
- F8 : Activate Extend Selection mode
- F9 : Solve all formulas in open workbooks
- F10 : Open Menu Bar
- F11 : Create a chart sheet with data from selected cells
- F12 : Open Save As
Keyboard shortcuts with the Function and Control key
If we combine the Control and Function keys, the range of possibilities in terms of interaction capacity opens up to accommodate actions that allow us to interact with Excel workbooks, sheets and windows within the same program.
- F4 and Control : Close an open book
- F5 and Control : Restore an open book
- F6 and Control : Move to the next open book in the list
- F7 and Control : Move the window of an open book
- F8 and Control : Resize an open book window
- F9 and Control : Minimize an open book
- F10 and Control : Maximize a previously minimized open book
- F11 and Control : Create a sheet of Macros in an open workbook
- F12 and Control : Open
Key shortcuts with the Function and Alt keys
In combination with the Alt key, the Function key allows us to expand again the possibilities of the previous functions , although this time we can call functions of the program.
- F1 and Alt : Create a chart with selected data from a certain table
- F2 and Alt : Open Save As
- F4 and Alt : Close Microsoft Excel
- F8 and Alt : Open Macro
- F10 and Alt : Open Selection and visibility
- F11 and Alt : Open Microsoft Visual Basic
Keyboard shortcuts with the Function and Shift keys
The combination of the Shift and Function keys give us a new range of options aimed at interacting with Microsoft Excel functions, such as calculating all the formulas on a certain sheet, inserting a new spreadsheet or inserting a new numerical function .
- F2 and Shift : Add comments to the selected cell
- F3 and Shift : Insert a new function
- F4 and Shift : Find next (if we open the Search Box)
- F5 and Uppercase : Find text
- F6 and Uppercase : Switch between Spreadsheet, Zoom Control, Task Pane and Excel Options
- F7 and Uppercase : Open Reference
- F8 and Shift : Add a cell or multiple cells to selected cells
- F9 and Uppercase : Calculate all formulas in the selected worksheet
- F10 and Uppercase : Show Conceptual Menu (only if we select one or more cells)
- F11 and Uppercase : Insert a new worksheet
- F12 and Uppercase : Show Save As
Key commands with the Shift key
The Shift key in combination with other keys that do not follow a common pattern has functions that allow us to play with the selection of cells and rows of a certain spreadsheet.
- Shift and Bottom : Extend the selection to the cell below
- Shift and Up : Extend the selection to the cell above
- Shift and Page Down: Extend the selection to the end (bottom)
- Shift and Right : Extend the selection to the cell to the right
- Shift and Space : Select the row of the selected cell
- Shift and Home : Extend selection to beginning of row (top)
- Shift and Enter : Complete the cell and move to the cell above
- Shift and Left : Extend the selection to the cell to the left
- Shift and Page Up : Extend the selection to the beginning
- Shift and Tab : Complete the cell and move to the cell to the left
Keyboard shortcuts with the Alt key
Although it does not have many functions, the Alt key in combination with other keys allows us to carry out actions that do not follow a certain common pattern .
- Alt y = : Insert autosum function
- Alt and Down : Open a data validation list
- Alt and Enter : Insert a line break inside a cell
Key shortcuts with other keys
There are keys whose function independently allow us to perform basic actions within an Excel sheet, such as moving up or down, moving to the beginning of a table or deleting the data of all selected tables .
- Bottom : Move to the cell below
- Alt : Activate Menu Bar
- Up : Move to the cell above
- Page Down: Scroll to the screen below within the spreadsheet
- Backspace (Delete) : Delete the data in the selected cells
- Right : Move to the right cell
- Escape : Cancel data entry for one or more cells
- Space : Activate the check boxes in the dialog box windows (Save as…, Open with…)
- End : Enable End Mode
- Home : Move to the beginning of the row of the previously selected cell
- Enter : Accept data entry from one or more cells
- Left : Move to the cell on the left
- Up Page : Move to the top screen within the spreadsheet
- Delete : Delete the data in one or more cells and cancel the data entry
- Tab : Complete the data in one or more cells and move the cursor to the cell to the right