Excel Beginners

Keyboard Shortcuts: Step 4 To Mastering Spreadsheets

EXPLORING EXCEL WITHOUT A MOUSE

Part 1: Basic Shortcuts

These basic shortcuts will be split into two main types, navigating in and between worksheets, and formatting data. They will cover some of the most frequently done tasks that general users will use a mouse for.

Navigating Within and Between Worksheets

Note: this assumes you have data in at least the first three by three cells of your workbook and have at least two sheets in the file.

1. Moving a single cell at a time

• Using the arrow keys, you can navigate a single cell at a time in any of the four cardinal directions

↑    ↓    ←    →

2. Moving one page length up/down

• Using the specific Page Up / Page Down keys, you can navigate one page length in either direction

PG UP    PG DN

3. Moving one page length left/right

• Using the combination of the ALT key and the specific Page Up / Page Down keys, you can navigate one page length to the left or right

ALT + PG UP    ALT + PG DN

4. Going to the next sheet in the workbook

• Takes you to the next visible worksheet tab in the file

CTL + PG DN

5. Going to the previous sheet in the workbook

• Takes you to the previous visible worksheet tab in the file

CTL + PG UP

Formatting Cells and Ranges

Note: this assumes you have data of the right type in the cells you are trying to format (ex: numbers stored as text are not considered to be of the right data type) and your system settings are in US English

1. Format cells with the general type

• The format used will show the number five as 5

CTL + SHIFT + ~

2. Format cells as a number

• The number format used will show the number five as 5.00

CTL + SHIFT + !

3. Format cells in currency format

• The currency format used will show the number five as $5.00

CTL + SHIFT + $

4. Format cells as a percentage

• The percentage format used will show the number five as 500%

CTL + SHIFT + %