Microsoft Excel offers its users many built-in shortcuts that can easily be accessed using the keyboard. Despite all the marvels of Microsoft Excel, you may want to write your Keyboard shortcuts for specific commands that you constantly use. Unfortunately, Excel does not offer you a simple command where you can create your shortcuts. But, do not worry, as we are here to help you solve the dilemma.
In our guide below, we discuss the different methods you can follow to create a shortcut to a cell in Excel.
Benefits of creating a shortcut to a cell in Excel
There are several benefits of creating a shortcut to a cell in Microsoft Excel:
Improved navigation: Creating a shortcut to a specific cell makes it easier and faster to navigate to that cell. This saves time and reduces the risk of human error, especially when working with large and complex spreadsheets.
Increased efficiency: By creating a shortcut, you can quickly jump to the relevant cell without having to scroll through the entire spreadsheet, which can be especially useful when working with long or wide spreadsheets.
Better organization: If you frequently use a specific cell or range of cells, creating a shortcut to it can help you organize your spreadsheets and make it easier to find the information you need.
Enhanced collaboration: If you’re working with others on a shared spreadsheet, creating shortcuts can make it easier for everyone to access important data, regardless of their level of familiarity with the spreadsheet.
Customizability: You can create multiple shortcuts to different cells, allowing you to personalize your Excel experience and improve your workflow.
Increased accuracy: By creating shortcuts, you can minimize the risk of incorrect data entry, as you can quickly jump to the correct cell and verify the data before making any changes.
Using Defined Names Feature
1. Select the cell that you want to create a shortcut to.
2. On the Formulas tab, in the Defined Names group, click Define Name.
3. In the New Name dialog box, enter a name for the cell in the “Name” field. This will be the name you use to reference the cell in the future.
4. Click OK to create the defined name.
5. To use the shortcut, simply type the defined name in a formula or in the formula bar, and Excel will immediately jump to the corresponding cell.
6. To remove the defined name, go to the Formulas tab, select Defined Names, and then select Name Manager. Select the defined name you want to remove, and then click Delete.
This method allows you to create a named reference to a cell, which you can use in formulas or to jump directly to the cell by typing the name in the formula bar. It is especially useful when working with complex spreadsheets, as it makes it easier to refer to specific cells and ranges of cells.
Customizing the Quick Access Toolbar to create a keyboard shortcut
1. In an open Excel workbook, click on the File tab in the main menu ribbon and click on Options. It will open an Excel options dialog window.
2. In the Excel options dialog window, click the Quick Access Toolbar category, which is at the left of the pane.
3. Under Choose commands from section, click on the drop-down arrow and select All Commands from the list.
4. Click on the button you want to add, then click on the Add button.
5. Continue clicking on the buttons you want to add all the buttons you want.
6. In case you want to re-order the buttons, click the drop-down arrow under the Customize Quick Access Toolbar pane. Here you can select either of these two options: Move Up or Move Down arrow buttons.
7. Click the Close button.
Excel will automatically assign keyboard shortcuts to the added buttons based on the order in the Quick Access Toolbar.
Using Macro Recorder to create a macro for a keyboard shortcut
You can easily add a keyboard shortcut in Excel by recording a macro and assigning a keyboard shortcut to that macro. Excel will write the code for your macro using the Visual Basic for Applications window (VBA).
1. Launch the Microsoft Excel program and open the file that you want to apply to use.
2. Click on the View tab on the main menu ribbon.
3. Click on the Macros option and select Record Macro to open up a dialog box.
4. Under the Macro Name section, name your macro. While doing this, make sure your macro is no more than 255 characters. Also, be keen not to include spaces or begin your macro with a number or underscore.
5. Under the Shortcut key, enter your keyboard shortcut.
6. Under the Store macro in section, choose either of these options: This Workbook, New Workbook, or Personal Macro Workbook.
7. Under the Description section, enter a description.
8. Click the OK button.
9. Perform all the keyboard actions that you want to record. As you click on different tabs know that all your actions are being recorded.
10. Next, click on the View tab on the main menu ribbon.
11. Click on Macros and select the option Stop Recording.
Test your keyboard shortcuts by pressing the combinations that you assigned to run the macro.
You can also record your macro by heading over to the Developer tab on the main menu ribbon. Next, choose Record Macro in the Code section and follow the steps above to create your code.
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