Do you spend hours scrolling through endless rows in Excel? Or keep clicking buttons trying to fix one small thing? Then it’s time to learn some powerful Excel shortcut keys and advanced Excel commands.
With just a few quick keystrokes, you can save time, work faster, and make your data tasks much easier.
Why Excel Skills Matter Today
Microsoft Excel is no longer just a simple spreadsheet tool. It has become a must-have skill for almost every job, from finance and accounting to marketing and data analysis. Knowing how to use Excel shortcut keys can help professionals organize, calculate, and analyze huge amounts of data in seconds with greater speed and accuracy.
With cloud tools like OneDrive and Microsoft 365, Excel now allows easy teamwork and real-time updates. That’s why more companies today look for candidates who know not just the basics, but also the advanced Excel commands that make data work faster and smarter.
Top Excel Shortcut Keys You Should Know
Let’s start with the basics. Shortcut keys help you perform common actions in Excel with just one or two clicks.
Here are a few must-know Excel shortcuts:
- Ctrl + N – Create a new workbook
- Ctrl + S – Save your file
- Ctrl + Z – Undo your last action
- Ctrl + Shift + L – Turn filters on or off
- Alt + = – AutoSum a column or row instantly
If you want to go deeper into workbook management, explore the Mastering Excel Spreadsheet & Workbook - Formulas And Functions course on UniAthena. It’s a free, beginner-friendly guide that helps you understand how Excel really works.
Formatting Made Easy with Shortcut Keys
Formatting makes your data look clean and professional. Instead of searching through menus, try these Excel shortcut keys for formatting:
- Ctrl + 1 – Open Format Cells window
- Ctrl + B – Bold text
- Ctrl + Shift + $ – Add currency format
- Ctrl + 5 – Apply strikethrough
These small tricks can save minutes on every task, and hours every week!
Advanced Excel Commands You Should Learn
Once you’ve mastered the basics, it’s time to go beyond.
In the Essentials of MS Excel - Formulas and Functions free course, you can explore advanced Excel commands like VLOOKUP, IF statements, and Pivot Table formulas.
These tools help you find answers quickly and make sense of big data without getting lost in endless rows. They’re also essential if you want to stand out in job applications or office projects.
Excel Shortcut Keys for Pivot Tables
If you work with large reports, you’ve probably used Pivot Tables. They’re one of Excel’s most powerful features for sorting and summarizing data.
Here are a few quick keys:
- Alt + N + V – Create a Pivot Table
- Alt + J + T – Open Pivot Table Tools
- Alt + Down Arrow – Open filter list
Learning these shortcuts can help you manage data more smoothly and present information more clearly.
5 New Excel Functions to Boost Your Skills
Microsoft keeps adding new functions that make Excel smarter. Here are some modern tools to explore:
- GROUPBY – Groups your data and performs calculations automatically.
- PIVOTBY – Combines Pivot Table flexibility with formulas.
- PERCENTOF – Quickly calculates what percent one number is of another.
- BYCOL – Applies a formula to each column in one go.
- BYROW – Works just like BYCOL but for rows.
These new features make Excel faster and more efficient, perfect for anyone learning advanced Excel commands.
Excel Learning Opportunities in Namibia
If you’re in Namibia and looking to build your Excel skills, there’s great news!
With UniAthena’s online short courses, you can learn anytime, anywhere, even from your phone or laptop.
Courses like the Diploma in Microsoft Excel are perfect for students, working professionals, and entrepreneurs who want to manage data better and boost productivity.
Whether you’re handling budgets, analyzing reports, or managing inventory, mastering Excel can open doors to better jobs and faster promotions.
Conclusion
Learning Excel isn’t just about using formulas, it’s about working smarter.
By practicing the right Excel shortcut keys and advanced Excel commands, you can complete tasks faster, avoid errors, and impress your boss or clients.
Start your learning journey today with UniAthena’s online short courses.
If you want a complete Excel certification, check out the Diploma in Microsoft Excel, it’s free to join and helps you master everything from formulas to Pivot Tables.
Work smarter, save time, and master the power of Excel!
Bonus Tips
Begin with the most common shortcuts like Ctrl + C (Copy), Ctrl + V (Paste), and Ctrl + A (Select All).
Practice every day, the more you use shortcuts, the faster you’ll get.
Keep your data organized using colors and filters for better clarity. For structured learning and hands-on guidance, explore Excel courses offered by UniAthena to boost your productivity and confidence.
FAQ
1. What are the most useful Excel shortcut keys?
Some of the most helpful Excel shortcut keys include Ctrl+C (Copy), Ctrl+V (Paste), Ctrl+Z (Undo), and Alt+= (AutoSum). They help you save time and work faster.
2. What are advanced Excel commands?
Advanced Excel commands include functions like VLOOKUP, IF, Pivot Tables, and the new BYCOL and GROUPBY features that make data handling smarter and easier.
3. How can I learn Excel for free?
You can join UniAthena’s online short courses, such as Essentials of MS Excel - Formulas and Functions free course and the Diploma in Microsoft Excel, to learn Excel from basics to advanced, at no cost.
4. Is Excel useful for professionals in Namibia?
Yes. Excel is widely used in Namibia for finance, education, business, and project management. UniAthena’s free online Excel courses are a great option for Namibian learners to grow their career skills.
5. What is the fastest way to master Excel?
Practice daily using shortcut keys and real data. Enroll in free programs like Mastering Excel Spreadsheet & Workbook - Formulas and Functions by UniAthena to get step-by-step lessons.
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