Numbers in the millions or billions? We’ve all been there, done that. But have you ever tried to manipulate and work with these big numbers using Excel?
We all know what Excel is and likely do simple things on it. It’s like riding a bike; you don’t need to know the underlying mechanics of it. It does what you want it to do, for the most part.
Below, we’ve put together some Excel formula tips to make your personal or professional life a bit easier. Keep reading!
Use Brackets
Brackets are a key part of Excel formulas and are used to organize and group parts of formulas. With brackets, you can separate instructions and data in a formula. They allow you to do calculations with different parts of a formula at the same time.
They help to create nested formulas that can be reused in other formulas. To use brackets in Excel, start with one opening bracket, then proceed to enter the formula with commas between each step as directed by Excel.
When finished, finish the formula with a closing bracket. This is a simple but useful tip that will help you create well-organized and correct formulas for your work.
Brackets help Microsoft Excel to read the right formulas and execute the proper operations. Start using brackets today in your Excel formulas to improve your work.
Insert Line Breaks to Clarify Complex Formulas
Using Excel formulas can make life much easier for many individuals as complex calculations can be done with a few instructions. One such example is the ability to insert line breaks to make complex formulas easier to read. Doing this allows you to visualize the instructions you have written while the calculation it will yield is still going to be the same.
To use this feature, go to the cell containing the formula and hit the F2 button to move into edit mode. Once you’re there, hit the Alt and Enter keys together, which will insert line breaks into the formula.
This technique can be particularly useful when using several different functions or as a way to better: label your formulas. Using this technique can be a simple way to increase your Excel productivity.
Use Keyboard Shortcuts to Select Ranges of Cells in Formulas
Using keyboard shortcuts to select ranges of cells in formulas in spreadsheet work is a great way to improve your efficiency when working with Excel. It can save you time from having to manually select every cell in the formula.
Keyboard shortcuts such as ctrl + A for “select all,” ctrl + shift + the arrow keys for selecting the previous or next ranges, and ctrl + space for selecting the entire column can make selecting ranges of cells quicker and easier.
You can also access convenient shortcuts from the ribbon bar, such as selecting the entire data table area by pressing Alt > A > W or selecting the entire worksheet by pressing Ctrl + A.
Even more, options are available if you select the cell range you want to use and then press F5 to bring up the “Go To” dialog box, which will allow you to select the range with a few clicks. With time savings using shortcuts, make sure to start using them today.
Use F4 to Cycle Through Relative and Absolute References
The use of F4 to quickly cycle through relative and absolute references in Excel is a very useful tip that can save you time and increase your efficiency. With little effort, F4 makes it easier to get accurate data and not worry about accidentally disrupting the integrity of a model. This works especially well when constructing complicated formulas that need to refer to data in disparate cells.
To use F4, select the cell containing the formula, then press the F4 key. This will quickly cycle through relative, absolute, and other reference specifications.
If mistakes are made, or alternative references are required, F4 will save time by switching to the necessary reference style accurately. For any Excel power user, this simple tip can be a game-changer when dealing with complicated nested formulas.
Use the Fill Handle to Copy a Formula to Different Cells of a Spreadsheet
Fill Handle is one of the most useful Excel formula tips you should start using today. It saves you time by allowing you to quickly copy a formula to different cells of a spreadsheet work.
To use it, simply click and drag the handle (the thin black box found in the bottom-right corner of a cell) over the cells you wish to fill. The Fill Handle will automatically duplicate the formula for you, and it can even recognize patterns such as date ranges. Once you become comfortable with this simple feature, you will be able to create complex formulas in no time.
Use Alt + = To Automatically Enter a Sum
Alt + = is a handy shortcut in Excel that automatically enters a SUM formula. It’s the perfect tool for adding up a range of cells and will support both many cell ranges and complex criteria.
To use it, press Alt + =, select the range of cells containing the data you want to sum, and then press Enter. Excel will populate the formula automatically and add up all the values.
You can also use specific function formulas to add up a range of data, which can be used in combination with your Sum command. This allows you to enter values from several cells all at once.
With a little bit of practice, you can master the use of all the Alt shortcuts available in Excel and experience the power of working within a spreadsheet to perform complex calculations with minimal effort and be an excel wizard in no time.
Use Ctrl +` To Display Formulas in a Worksheet
Using Ctrl to display formulas in a worksheet is a great way to save time and work more. By pressing Ctrl and an apostrophe at the same time, all formulas used in the worksheet will be highlighted in a different color than regular data, making formulas easier to identify.
This is especially beneficial when sharing worksheets or troubleshooting, as it allows the reviewer to see how data was calculated without having to manually go through each cell one by one.
Entering Ctrl and a hyphen at the same time will even enable you to see the individual parts of each formula. By utilizing these handy formula tips, you’ll be up-to-date with the latest Excel techniques and help make your workdays more efficient.
Using Automatic Calculation With Caution
It is important to be aware that automatic calculation has potential drawbacks. It can lead to errors which may be difficult to troubleshoot since formulas are always updated and changed. Also, it can be time-consuming when you have complex calculations, and there is a possibility of incorrect results due to incorrect formulas.
So use caution when changing formulas or setting up the automatic calculation. It is essential to take your time and check the results to ensure accuracy. Using keyboard shortcuts such as F4 for repeating the last action, being comfortable with the auto-fill feature, and using the auto-sum function are some essential tips you can use.
Using a range operator with a relative reference will help increase accuracy. Taking the time to familiarize yourself with these tips will help increase efficiency and productivity.
Unpivoted Data
Unpivot Data allows you to easily turn complex data so that it can be processed by a pivot table. This allows for an efficient way to analyze and manipulate data. This revolves around the use of the Tools menu, which is located in the Data tab in Excel.
This option will allow you to quickly convert columns into rows and rows into columns. This method is great for finding trends and patterns in your data. Unpivoted Data makes it easier to find the data that you need in an organized manner.
This is a great tool to use if you need to analyze complex data and find patterns or trends. It’s easy to use and can save you a great deal of time.
Chart Formatting
Excel has some great options to help you make sense of your data, and the latest formulas can take your visuals to the next level! Start using INDEX and MATCH today to create dynamic ranges that update automatically as your data changes. The CHOOSE function can help you select many values in a single cell, which can save time and simplify your more complex worksheets.
To give your charts a polished look, explore the conditional formatting options to tweak the color and design of each chart to your liking. You can also consider using hierarchy charts in Excel to take your skills to the next level.
Start Using These Excel Formula Tips Today
Using the latest and greatest Excel formula tips will make your workflow more efficient and productive. You now have the tools to get the most out of Excel.
So what are you waiting for? Start using these tips today to unlock Excel’s potential.
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