https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html Software application hints and tips from our Microsoft Qualified trainers en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:51:56 GMT Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:51:56 GMT https://www.stl-training.co.uk/rss-feeds.php If you like using your keyboard to scroll through your excel document, but want to keep your active cell the same, use the scroll lock, and then use your arrow keys to navigate around the document. https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-705 Wed, 21 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-705 If you press Alt and = at the same time, it applies autosum. https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-704 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-704 Use Control + D to fill a cell with the data from an adjacent cell. This speeds up data entry and is a cool tip to share! https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-702 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-702 If you need to add a € symbol to your Excel sheet - hold down the key Alt Gr and 4. Alt Gr is located on the right side of the space bar. https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-701 Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-701 a. In Excel click on the File tab b. Select Options from left hand side c. Choose the Customize Ribbon section d. Click the New Tab button (below the list of tabs on the right hand side of the dialog box) e. Select the New Tab (Custom) and enter a name, by clicking the Rename button (below the list of tabs on the right hand side of the dialog box) f. Select the New Group (Custom) and enter a name, by clicking the Rename button (below the list of tabs on the right hand side of the dialog box) g. Add commands to your tab and group by locating them on the list on the right hand side (remembering that you can change the list using the drop down box at the top of the list of commands) and clicking the Add button between the two panes to add them to your tab and group h. You can rearrange the commands in your group, the groups on any tab or the tabs, using the up and down arrow buttons beside the list of tabs. i. Click OK to apply your changes https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-665 Sat, 15 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-665 a. In Excel, click on the File tab b. Select Options from left hand side c. Choose the Customize Ribbon section d. Click the box next to Developer in the list of tabs on the right hand side of the dialog box. When ticked the Developer tab will be visible. e. Click OK to apply your changes https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-672 Sat, 15 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-672 a. Highlight the column or columns you wish to alter the width of. You do this by clicking on the grey button at the top of the column showing the column letter. Click and drag on these letters to select more than one column. b. Double click the dividing line between the columns. This dividing line is the break between the columns on the column headers (grey buttons showing the column letter at the top of each column). When you hover your mouse over one of these dividing lines the point will change and show an arrow pulling a line in two directions. When you have this mouse pointer you should double click to get Excel to automatically set the column width to fit the contents of the column (autofit) https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-675 Sat, 15 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-675 In order to use smart tags, make sure they are turned on, to do this: 1. Click on ‘Microsoft Office‘ button and then click on ‘Excel Options‘. 2. Click on ‘Proofing‘ category and then click on ‘Auto Correct Options‘. 3. In the ‘Auto Correct‘ dialogue box appears, click the ‘Smart Tags‘ Tab. 4. Tick the boxes, next to the Smart Tags you wish to use in Excel https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-685 Sat, 15 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-685 When data is held in a block, however large, use the Ctrl key with your cursors to move quickly to the far edge of the block. Works with all 4 direction keys. https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-635 Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-635 As an alternative to the Text Wrapping facility, type a word or two, press Alt+Enter to get a new line, type more text, and continue the process for as many lines as you need. Enter as normal when you have finished. The line break is not affected by changing the column width, as text wrapping. To remove this you must edit the cell and remove the invisible character and replace with a normal space. https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-642 Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-642 As the Alt+Tab key switches between loaded applications or files, Ctrl+Tab switches between loaded or open Excel files. Hold down the Ctrl key until you have tabbed to the correct spreadsheet. https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-643 Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-643 Screen splitter icons can be set from the ribbon bar, or dragged from the scroll bars. The icon just above the up arrow on the right scroll bar controls the horizontal splitter; the icon to the right of the right arrow on the bottom scroll bar controls the vertical splitter. These icons can be double-clicked to split the screen at the top left of the cell currently in use. https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-644 Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-644 Use any of your movement keys, cursor, Home, End, PgUp or PgDn to highlight cells rows or columns by holding down the Shift key as you move. Use in combination with the Ctrl key for quicker movements. https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-645 Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-645 PgDn and PgUp keys scrolls up and down a screen page in most applications. Alt+PgDn and Alt+PgUp is the equivalent across the spreadsheet. https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-646 Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-646 PgDn and PgUp keys scrolls up and down a screen page in most applications. Ctrl+PgDn and Ctrl+PgUp keys jump from one sheet in your workbook to the next, up or down through the pages. https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-647 Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT https://www.stl-training.co.uk/hints-tips-excel-4.html#tip-647