What are some cool Microsoft Excel tricks?

Microsoft Excel is a versatile tool, and there are many cool tricks and features that can help you work more efficiently. Here are some Excel tricks that you might find useful:

1. Flash Fill for Data Formatting:

   • Use Flash Fill (Ctrl + E) to automatically format and clean data based on patterns. Excel will recognize your formatting intention and apply it to the entire column.

2. Ctrl + Arrow Keys for Navigation:

   • Use Ctrl + Arrow Keys to quickly navigate to the edge of data regions in your worksheet. This is helpful for large datasets.

3. Ctrl + Shift + "+":

   • Insert a new row or column with Ctrl + Shift + "+" shortcut.

4. Ctrl + ~ (Tilde):

   • Quickly switch between displaying formulas and formula results with Ctrl + ~.

5. F4 to Repeat the Last Action:

   • Press F4 to repeat the last action. This is handy for tasks like formatting or inserting/deleting rows.

6. Ctrl + [ and Ctrl + ]:

   • Use Ctrl + [ to navigate to the precedent cells of a formula, and Ctrl + ] to navigate to the dependent cells.

7. Ctrl + ; (Semicolon) for Date Entry:

   • Enter the current date into a cell using Ctrl + ;.

8. AutoSum Shortcut:

   • Press Alt + = to quickly sum a column or row of numbers.

9. Ctrl + 1 for Format Cells:

   • Open the Format Cells dialog box with Ctrl + 1. This allows you to quickly customize cell formatting.

10. Ctrl + Shift + L for Filters:

    • Turn on/off filters with Ctrl + Shift + L. This is useful for quickly applying filters to your data.

11. Create Dropdown Lists:

    • Use data validation to create dropdown lists in cells for easier data entry.

12. Ctrl + T for Excel Tables:

    • Convert a range of data into an Excel Table with Ctrl + T. Tables come with built-in features like filtering, sorting, and structured referencing.

13. Alt + Enter for New Line in a Cell:

    • Start a new line within a cell by pressing Alt + Enter.

14. Remove Duplicates:

    • Use the "Remove Duplicates" feature (Data → Remove Duplicates) to eliminate duplicate values in a range.

15. Ctrl + Click for Multiple Selections:

    • Hold down Ctrl and click on non-adjacent cells or ranges to select multiple areas.

16. Custom Views:

    • Use the "Custom Views" feature (View → Custom Views) to save and switch between different workbook views.

17. Power Query for Data Transformation:

    • Leverage Power Query for efficient data import, transformation, and cleaning.

18. PivotTable Tricks:

    • Explore PivotTable features like grouping, calculated fields, and sorting options for more advanced data analysis.

19. Conditional Formatting Icons:

    • Use the "Icon Sets" option in conditional formatting to quickly add visual indicators to your data.

20. Dynamic Arrays (for Excel 365 Users):

    • If you're using Excel 365, explore dynamic arrays for more efficient and powerful calculations.

These are just a few examples, and Excel has many more features waiting to be explored. Experimenting with these tricks can help you discover new ways to make your Excel experience more efficient and enjoyable.