How to Use Excel Shortcuts with the Control Key

By eHow Computers Editor

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Excel is a powerful tool that has many keyboard shortcuts available to its users. The Control key is one of the most powerful keys to use for shortcuts and is signified by “Ctrl” on the keyboard. This key is usually placed on both the right and left side of the keyboard toward the bottom. It's easy to use the pinky and another finger on the same hand to press two keys at once

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Step1
Create a new spreadsheet by using the Ctrl+N keys. Ctrl+O displays the Open dialogue box so that you can open an already existing file. Use Ctrl+S to save your current file.
Step2
Print the spreadsheet by using the Ctrl+P keys. This will bring up the Print dialogue box so that you can pick your desired options and then print.
Step3
Execute the “Fill” commands by using Ctrl+D to fill down and Ctrl+R to fill right. When pressing this, highlight the cell with the formula to be copied and all the cells below it or to the right of it that need the formula. This will copy the formula and the formats from the original cell.
Step4
Open the delete dialogue box by using Ctrl+-. This will give you the option to shift the cells up or left when the cell is deleted and will also give the option to delete the entire column or row.
Step5
Insert cells by using Ctrl and the plus sign key on the number keypad. If your laptop doesn't have a number keypad, use Ctrl+Shift and the "+" sign at the top of the keyboard that shares the key with the equal (=) sign. Either shortcut brings up the Insert dialogue box and gives you the option to shift cells right or down or to insert a whole row or column.
Step6
Highlight the entire worksheet by pressing Ctrl+A twice. This is useful if you need to make a change to the entire worksheet or if you need to copy the entire worksheet to another spreadsheet.

Tips & Warnings

  • Do not try to learn all these shortcuts at once. Pick one to start using and once you have it down, pick another one, until you have learned them all.

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eHow Article: How to Use Excel Shortcuts with the Control Key

eHow Computers Editor

eHow Computers Editor

Category: Computers

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