#Excel keyboard shortcuts control keys series#

Second, you can use the QAT for Alt shortcuts. This is often faster than clicking on the icon on the Ribbon.

The Quick Access Toolbar (below) is highly customizable and lends itself to two types of shortcuts.Р вЂќР вЂЎirst, you can just simply click on an icon thatР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћs on the QAT. To get out of the key tips just type Alt or ESC until they disappear. So if you ever end up in a mouse-less emergency, this is the way to go.

In effect,Р вЂ™Р’В typing Alt-A-T first lights up the key tips (Alt), then takes you to the Data tab (A), then selects Filter once youР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћre on that tab (T). Once you type Р Р†Р вЂљРЎС™AР Р†Р вЂљРЎСљ for Data, youР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћre taken to the Data tab where you now see the next level and corresponding set of letter shortcuts:Р вЂќР вЂћbove, Р Р†Р вЂљРЎС™TР Р†Р вЂљРЎСљ is for filter, so the complete sequence for activating the Filter would be Alt-A-T (see the animation above). Here, you would type Р Р†Р вЂљРЎС™AР Р†Р вЂљРЎСљ (for example) to go to the Data tab. Each pop-up letter (or Р Р†Р вЂљРЎС™key tipР Р†Р вЂљРЎСљ) represents a keyboard shortcut. This means everything on the Ribbon (and QAT) has a keyboard shortcut (though thereР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћs no guarantee that these shortcuts represent the fastest choice for each task).Р вЂќР’В«elow is what appears when you hit Alt (and above is a short animation). Basically, by hitting Alt, you activate a comprehensive keyboard-driven shortcut system that allows you to drill down to every action on the ribbon (and Quick Access Toolbar (or QAT)).

#Excel keyboard shortcuts control keys series#

These shortcuts involveР вЂ™Р’В involve hitting theР вЂ™Р’В Alt key, followed byР вЂ™Р’В a series of letters, to navigate the Ribbon without the mouse. If you are determined to leave your mouse behind and use use only your keyboard, then Alt shortcuts are your best friend. Ctrl+Shift+Р Р†РІР‚В РІР‚в„ў selects everything from where you are to the next blank cell (or if youР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћre already in or in front of a blank cell, it will select everything from where you are to the next non-blank cell). For example, Ctrl+Shift+End selects everything from where you are to the farthest used cell. The most popular of this group are the navigation shortcuts. There are also shortcuts that combine Ctrl and Shift. Just as Ctrl helps you Р Р†Р вЂљРЎС™jumpР Р†Р вЂљРЎСљ on the worksheet, Shift enables you to select cells. You can use this with the other arrow keys as well. For example, Shift+F11 opens a new worksheet and Shift+Р Р†РІР‚В РІР‚в„ў selects an expanding range of cells as you keep typingР вЂ™Р’В Р Р†РІР‚В РІР‚в„ў or just holdР вЂ™Р’В Р Р†РІР‚В РІР‚в„ў down. While not as common as Ctrl shortcuts, there are some useful Shift shortcuts. Use Ctrl shortcuts that involve the right hand only when doing soР вЂ™Р’В is faster than the alternatives (for example, Ctrl+EndР вЂ™Р’В to jump to the farthest used cell). For purposes of speed, I highly recommend that you useР вЂ™Р’В any Ctrl shortcuts that can be accomplished by the left hand (such as those just mentioned). For example, Ctrl+C for Copy, Ctrl+V for Paste and Ctrl+S for Save. Many of the most popular Excel shortcuts involve typing Ctrl and a letter or number (or an arrow or an F-key). Hybrid shortcuts (which use both the mouse (typically right-clicking) and the keyboard)Р вЂќР’В«elow, IР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћll go through each type of shortcut briefly, with a few examples of each.Р вЂќР’В«ut first, here is an animation of Alt shortcuts to whet your appetite:.

Mouse shortcuts (which use the right-click menu).

QAT shortcuts (which use the Quick Access Toolbar).

Ctrl+Shift shortcuts (which use the Ctrl and Shift keys together).

Shift shortcuts (which use the Shift key).

Ctrl shortcuts (which use the Ctrl key).

How ManyР вЂ™Р’В Types Of Excel Shortcuts Are There?Р вЂќР’В®xcel shortcuts come in eightР вЂ™Р’В basic flavors (there are more but these are the main ones):