Used to manage and analyze a plethora of data, Microsoft Excel remains the world’s topmost spreadsheet software for small start-ups to giant-scale business processes. However, many people, especially novices, fret about using Microsoft Excel, thinking it to be a somewhat complex application.
If you think the same, do not worry; Seekho has brought you a few quick tips to master Microsoft Excel; once you learn these skills, you will breeze through this incredible tool easily and impress your colleagues and boss.
So, are you ready to Seekho the best tips to learn Microsoft Excel Quickly with us?
These days it is imperative to know the use of Microsoft Excel, no matter the work sector you are employed in. But what makes the true difference is how well you know to use this application.
For instance, you may know how to add cells in a column and plug in the numbers, but in reality, there is so much more you can do with Microsoft Excel to make your work a lot easier, more efficient, and more attractive. So, if you are ready to upskill your Microsoft Excel game, we have brought a few tips so that you can operate this tool quickly and smartly. Let’s start:
Smart and useful shortcuts
Do you know that Microsoft Excel has over 500 keyboard shortcuts? Yup! There are many smart tricks for adding efficiency and speed to your work. Although you don’t need to learn all of them, a few tricks are enough to start:
- Ctrl + N: Creates a new workbook.
- Ctrl + O: Opens a saved workbook.
- Ctrl + D: Fills the pre-selected cell with the matter or content in the cell right above it.
- Ctrl + R: Fills the pre-selected cell with the matter that’s on the left cell.
- Ctrl + G: Jumps to a specific area with a single command.
- Ctrl + K: Adds a hyperlink in the cell.
- Ctrl + 5: Puts a strikethrough among cells.
- Ctrl + Spacebar: Selects an entire column.
- F2: Use it to edit a particular cell.
- Shift + F3: Opens the Insert task dialog box.
- Alt + F + C: Closes and saves your workbook.
Insert rows or columns easily
While working with your data, you will constantly need to add more columns and rows. However, it would become more tedious to add hundreds of such rows.
Thankfully, there’s an easier way. To introduce multiple rows or columns, select the exact number of pre-existing columns or rows that need to be added, then right-click and hit Insert.
Autofill
Autofill lets you easily fill up the adjacent cells with the required data, including formulas, values, and series. Though there are several ways of deploying this feature, the Fill Handle is the easiest of all.
To use the feature select the source cells, navigate to the Fill handle (it is placed on the lower-right side of the cell), then you can either cover the cells you want, drag the Fill handle, or just double-click to fill your data.
Create a basic graph
Once you finalize the graph to be used, start by highlighting the data that needs to be displayed in a chart. Then select Charts (present at the top navigation) and choose the graph that suits your data the most.
Bonus: Use pie charts and bar charts to compare categories. Line charts are an excellent way to display trends over a specific period.
Master the formulas
Being a pro at writing formulas gives you an edge over the rest. If you start fresh with formulas, create basic calculations for values like additions, subtractions, divisions, and multiplications.
Then, gradually move to functions like IF, COUNTIF, SUM, VLOOKUP, and CONCATENATE. Once you learn to write formulas, your work will become very easy and you can further use Conditional Formatting charts, rules, and similar other features for a yet powerful and effective Excel.
Integrate Conditional Formatting
Learning Conditional Formatting is one of the most important elements in creating a unique dashboard experience. You can alter a standard spreadsheet to a more personalized dashboard depending on your specific requirements.
To do this, select the data you want to work on and go to Home > Conditional Formatting; here, you will find many formatting options. If you are working on percentages, for instance, a data bar will be helpful. Then you have icon sets and color scales to use for appropriate circumstances and effective results.
Furthermore, you can control the process by clicking on the More Rules (in the dropdown menu). If you still want better formatting, do not shy from tweaking some rules here and there!
Protect and lock data
Protecting your Microsoft Excel data is a prime task. While Microsoft has several ways to protect Excel data, the most used method is to protect the sheet. Performed in two stages, Excel has a few different types of protection that can be applied, but the most popular one is to protect the sheet.
Here’s how to apply for the protection:
- Select the range or the number of cells you want to lock (this can be done by holding down the Ctrl key and selecting the required number of cells simultaneously).
- Hit Ctrl + 1, this will enable the Format Cells dialog.
- Now move the cursor to the Protection tab and click it. Then you will have to uncheck the Locked box. Once done, click on the OK icon.
- Go to Review > Protect Sheet and click on it.
- Finally, if needed, you can secure your file with a password; this is an optional step.
The unlocked cells in the sheet can still be altered, but their functionality will be limited. If you or anyone tries to change a locked cell, a notification will inform you about the protected sheet.
Conclusion
Once you learn the Microsoft Excel tips and tricks we have shared in this post, we are sure you’ll be able to use the application to its fullest extent and derive the maximum benefit, which will boost your workplace efficiency. Furthermore, if you want to become a Microsoft Excel master, we recommend you enroll in one (or several) of our ‘on-demand courses for Microsoft Excel’.
