Excel Tricks

Working faster in Excel isn’t just about knowing formulas — it’s about efficiency. Keyboard shortcuts are one of the easiest ways to speed up your daily workflow and reduce repetitive clicks. By mastering a few key combinations, you can instantly navigate between worksheets, format data, and perform complex actions without lifting your hands from the keyboard. This not only saves valuable time but also minimizes strain from constant mouse use. For professionals who spend hours managing spreadsheets, learning shortcuts like Ctrl + Shift + L (to add filters) or Alt + = (to quickly sum columns) can make tasks smoother and more accurate. At Microsys, we encourage users to integrate these small habits — because the more efficiently you work, the more time you have to focus on real problem-solving. Frequently used shortcuts Action Shortcut Open a workbook. Ctrl+O Close a workbook. Ctrl+W Save a workbook. Ctrl+S Go to the File tab. Alt+F Go to the Home tab. Alt+H Go to the Insert tab. Alt+N Go to the Page Layout tab. Alt+P Go to the Formula tab. Alt+M Go to the Data tab. Alt+A Go to the Review tab. Alt+R Go to the View tab. Alt+W Center align cell contents. Alt+H, A, C Add borders. Alt+H, B Delete column. Alt+H, D, C Hide the selected rows. Ctrl+9 Hide the selected columns. Ctrl+0 Copy selection. Ctrl+C Paste selection. Ctrl+V Cut Selection. Ctrl+X Apply bold formatting. Ctrl+B Undo recent action. Ctrl+Z Remove cell contents. Delete [Button] navigating in cells shortcuts Action Shortcut Move one cell up in a worksheet. Up arrow key Move one cell down in a worksheet. Down arrow key Move one cell left in a worksheet. Left arrow key Move one cell right in a worksheet. Right arrow key Move to the edge of the current data region in a worksheet. Ctrl+Arrow key Move to the previous cell in a worksheet or the previous option in a dialog box. Shift+Tab Move to the last cell on a worksheet, to the lowest used row of the rightmost used column. Ctrl+End Extend the selection of cells to the last used cell on the worksheet (lower-right corner). Ctrl+Shift+End Move to the cell in the upper-left corner of the window when Scroll lock is turned on. Home+Scroll lock Move to the beginning of a worksheet. Ctrl+Home Move one screen down in a worksheet. Page down Move to the next sheet in a workbook. Ctrl+Page down Move one screen to the right in a worksheet. Alt+Page down Move one screen up in a worksheet. Page up Move one screen to the left in a worksheet. Alt+Page up Move to the previous sheet in a workbook. Ctrl+Page up Move one cell to the right in a worksheet. Or, in a protected worksheet, move between unlocked cells. Tab key Open the list of validation choices on a cell that has data validation option applied to it. Alt+Down arrow Cycle through floating shapes, such as text boxes or images. Ctrl+Alt+5, then the Tab key repeatedly Exit the floating shape navigation and return to the normal navigation. Esc Scroll horizontally. Ctrl+Shift, then scroll your mouse wheel up to go left, down to go right Zoom in. Ctrl+Alt+Equal sign ( = ) Zoom out. Ctrl+Alt+Minus sign (-)

Whether you’re creating reports or tracking expenses, Excel is one of the most powerful tools for professionals. Here are three quick tips to help you get more done, faster. Use Flash Fill If you start typing a pattern in a new column (like first names from full names), Excel automatically recognizes it. Just press Ctrl + E to fill the rest instantly. Freeze Rows or Columns Keep headers visible while scrolling through long sheets: Go to View → Freeze Panes and choose your preferred option. Turn Data into Tables Instantly Select your data and press Ctrl + T, Excel automatically formats it as a table with filters, easy sorting, and total options. Instantly Remove Duplicates If you’re working with long lists, like customer names or inventory.Excel can remove duplicate entries in seconds: 1) Select your data range. 2) Go to the Data tab → click Remove Duplicates. 3) Choose the columns to check and click OK. ✅ Excel will keep one copy of each unique entry. Perfect for cleaning up contact lists or reports before importing data elsewhere. Combine Text from Multiple Cells with One Formula Need to merge first and last names, or city and state into one cell? Use the TEXTJOIN function for clean, flexible results. Example: =TEXTJOIN(” “, TRUE, A2, B2)This joins the text in A2 and B2 with a space in between, skipping any blank cells automatically. Use Conditional Formatting to Highlight Important Data Bring your data to life by letting Excel highlight what matters most. For example, to highlight sales over $10,000: 1) Select your range. 2) Go to Home → Conditional Formatting → Highlight Cell Rules → Greater Than… Enter 10000 and choose a format (like green fill). Quickly Insert Today’s Date or Time No need to type dates or times manually. Use these shortcuts instead: Ctrl + ; → today’s date Ctrl + Shift + ; → current time Combine both for a full timestamp! ⏰ Great for logs, reports, or tracking entries. Create a Chart in Seconds Turn your data into a clear visual instantly: 1) Highlight your data (include headers). 2) Press Alt + F1 for an in-sheet chart (or F11 for a new sheet). 3) Adjust the style using Chart Design. 📊 Perfect for quick visual summaries or presentations. Use Conditional Formatting to Highlight Important Data Bring your data to life by letting Excel highlight what matters most. For example, to highlight sales over $10,000: 1) Select your range. 2) Go to Home → Conditional Formatting → Highlight Cell Rules → Greater Than… Enter 10000 and choose a format (like green fill).