You probably know that Microsoft Excel helps you with budgeting and arranging important data, but you might not know of the many more ways it can make your life easier. Here are some of those functions.
1) PIVOT A TABLE TO SEE IT FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
Tables help you analyze data in a simpler way, but did you know there’s an Excel tool that allows you to pivot that table so you can look at it in different ways? This handy tool saves you hours of work by rearranging information to pinpoint different types of data. If you want to know how to unpivot data in Excel, read this helpful article.
2) REPEAT YOUR LAST ACTION WITH F4
Using the F4 key will repeat your last action. For example, if you change the text in one cell to bold, you can then go on to change it in other cells by hitting F4.
3) COPY ONLY WHAT YOU WANT WITH PASTE SPECIAL
Formulas are an important part of powerful excel models, but trying to copy only one value of that formula can be frustrating. Paste Special makes it easy. Copy your cell and then hit Ctrl+Alt+V. Paste Special comes up and then you can choose which element you want to copy.
4) LOOKUP DATA WITH INDEX & MATCH
Analyzing data is vital for all companies, but looking up that data can be a pain. The Index and Match tools, when combined, can help you extract data much more easily. Hit the Index function and then type in the column that has the value you want. Then hit Match.
5) FIX MISTAKES EASILY WITH CTRL+Z & CTRL+Y
Everybody makes mistakes, but with Ctrl+Z and Ctrl+Y, you can remedy those errors quickly. Ctrl+Z will undo what you just entered. Ctrl+Y will redo it if you change your mind.
6) GET TO THE BOTTOM OF A TABLE FAST WITH CTRL+ARROW
Don’t waste time scrolling down to the bottom of a table. Get there fast by hitting the Ctrl key and then pressing the arrow. This function allows you to go up or down as well as left or right with the push of two buttons. Keep in mind, however, that if your table has gaps, you’ll stop at each one of them.
7) SELECT ALL USING THE CORNER BUTTON
You can select all of the data by hitting Ctrl+A, but an even faster way of doing this is to hit the button in the top left corner of your spreadsheet. It’s a rectangle with a triangle in it.
8) ADD MULTIPLE ROWS
Adding in one row at a time can be a pain, especially when you need to add in multiple rows. Make it easy on yourself by hitting the Ctrl+Shift+Plus sign (+). Another fast way to add rows is to highlight several rows and then hit the right click while pressing the insert option.
9) FLASH FILL
The Excel program is smart enough that it recognizes when you type things over and over again. Flash Fill brings up a choice when you start typing. You can either click the option it provides or just keep typing. Flash Fill will remember your other choices as well.
10) KEEP TRACK OF YOUR DATA WITH FREEZE PANES
This handy little tool allows you to freeze a first column or top row so you can see which columns are which. Hit Alt+W+F or select this tool by choosing the View tab.
CONCLUSION
Microsoft Excel is a useful software that helps you analyze the data crucial to your business. Learning these shortcuts makes working with that data even faster and easier.
