How to make a Spoke Chart

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Last week at the Chandoo.org Forums, MarnieB asked:

I have been asked to produce a chart that looks like the spokes in a wheel. Lines for each data point that start from the same point in the middle and go out in different directions. The length of the line indicates the value of the data point. There are only 5 or 6 data points.

Lets see how we can produce such a “Spoke Chart” in Excel.

Disclaimer: Before I go too far I want to say that this post isn’t recommending the use of this type of chart. The post is about introducing techniques which you can use as the basis of many custom chart types. The post just uses this chart as a simple example.

 

EXCEL CHART TYPES

Excel doesn’t have a native Spoke Chart in its catalog of built in Chart Types.

As MarbnieB found out, Radar Chart give some level of simulation, but there not ideal for what MarnieB’s boss wanted.

Luckily for us Excel has a Scatter Chart and this chart type can be used as a veritable drawing board for your own purposes.

The Scatter Chart draws lines between sets of coordinates in the X-Y plane.

Typically Scatter Chart are used for Plotting two variables against each other where neither the X or Y axis has a regular occurrence frequency,

But Scatter Charts can also be used for adding custom chart types as we will see below.

 

MARNIEB’s SPOKE CHART

Lets look at MarnieB’s specifications:

  • It should have 5 or 6 spokes
  • Spokes radiate out from a central hub
  • The length of the spokes should reflect the spokes value

So it will look something like this:

(Not drawn to scale)

We can imagine that the center of the Spoke is at a position X=0, Y=0 or (0, 0) on the Cartesian plane.

We can then break up a circle into a number of segments n. MarnieB’s requirements n = 6.

As a full circle is 360 degrees we can see that each spoke will be separated by 360/6 = 60 Deg

Hence there will be spokes at:

  • 0 Deg
  • 60 Deg
  • 120 Deg
  • 180 Deg
  • 240 Deg
  • 300 Deg

The length of each spoke will be supplied by MarnieB.

We can use the Scatter chart to plot each Spoke as a separate series on the scatter chart.

Each series will consist of two points, being the center point (0, 0) and another point at the end of the spoke (x, y).

 

We will need to determine the X and Y values for each end of the spoke.

Using some simple trigonometry we see that:

X = Length * Cos ( angle )

Y = Length * Sin ( angle )

Now we know the angles and lengths and so in Excel we can setup a small table to calculate the X, Y values for each end of the spokes.

Using Excel we need to remember that Excel requires angles in radians. This just requires a simple modification to the formula to:

X = Length * Cos (Radians( angle ) )

Y = Length * Sin (Radians( angle ) )

 

Setup the Chart Series

Before we jump in you can follow along this example using a new Excel file or the worked Example File, Excel 97/03, Excel 07/10.

As mentioned above each spoke will require two points

Point 1, The center of the spoke at 0,0 and a point at X, Y

In Excel we setup a small table of the Inputs including the Point Id, Angle and Length

We can then add some formulas to take the inputs and convert them to X, Y Cartesian coordinates using the formulas described above.

 

Putting the Chart Together

Once you have the Spoke coordinates you can construct the chart

With NO data selected, goto the Insert Ribbon and select Scatter, Scatter with Straight Lines

A blank chart will appear on the Screen

You can resize and shift the chart to a useable location if you require.

Right Click on the Chart and select the Select Data option

The following dialog appears:

Select the Add, button and the Edit Series dialog appears.

The Series Name: is linked to the Spokes Name $A$4

The Series X values: is linked to the two Chart X values: E3:E4

The Series Y values: is linked to the two Chart X values: F3:F4

Ok when complete

You can now go ahead and add the other 5 Series to the chart by selecting the Add button.

Your Select data dialog will now appear like:

And the chart will appear something like:

Cleanup and Format the Chart

We now need to clean up and format the chart

Select and Delete the Charts Title, Chart Legend & Horizontal Grid Lines

Select Each Axis in Turn, Right Click and Format Axis

Set the Minimum and Maximum values to something greater than our data eg: -20, +20 in our example. The Minimum and Maximum for the Horizontal and Vertical axis bust be the same so that the chart scales correctly.

Resize the Chart so that it is approximately square

Leave the axis for now, it is simple to delete them later

Select each spoke in turn

Right Click and select Format Data Series

Set the Marker Options, Marker Fill, Line Style, Line Color to suit your preferences

If you want to add a marker to one end of the line, Select the line, then use the Right/Left arrow keys to select the end you want, Ctrl 1 to Edit the Format of that end only.

Your chart should now be something like:

Add Data Labels

Select each spoke in turn using the Up/Down arrows, then using the Right/Left Arrow keys, select the outer end of the Spoke

Right Click and Add Data Label

A Default value will appear which is the Y Value for the data point

Right Click on the Data Label then select Format Data Label or simply press Ctrl 1

Unclick the Y Value and Tick the Series Name

Repeat for each Spoke.

You may want to change the alignment for some of the Data Labels so they don’t clash with the spokes.

Add Circular Grid Lines

Lets add 3 Grid lines at a Maximum value and at 1/3rd and 2/3rds of that value

First we need to calculate the Grid Values

In cells C22:C24 I added 3 formulas

I have then assigned 3 Named Formulas to the 3 cells

Max_Circle: =$C$22

Mid_Circle: =$C$23

Min_Circle: =$C$24

To make a circle on a Scatter Chart we will need some points for the X and Y values for each point around the circle

To achieve this I will use a few Named Formulas:

t: =RADIANS(ROW(OFFSET(‘1’!$A$1,,,361,1)))

X_1: =SIN(t)*Max_Circle

Y_1: =COS(t)*Max_Circle

X_2: =SIN(t)*Mid_Circle

Y_2: =COS(t)*Mid_Circle

X_3: =SIN(t)*Min_Circle

Y_3: =COS(t)*Min_Circle

 

Lets look at a few of these and see what is going on:

t: =RADIANS(ROW(OFFSET(‘1’!$A$1,,,361,1)))

This formula sets up an Array of 360 values from 1 to 361, corresponding to 1 degree to 361 degrees. This occurs using the formula: = ROW(OFFSET(‘1’!$A$1,,,361,1)) which takes the Row value of an temporary range which is setup from cell A1 and offset 0 Rows, 0 Columns and is 361 rows high and 1 Column wide.

In a blank cell C27 type: = ROW(OFFSET(‘1’!$A$1,,,361,1)) press F9 not Enter

Excel will display ={1;2;3;4;5; … ;355;356;357;358;359;360;361}

1 number for each row, which will be used to represent the degrees of the circle

 

In a blank cell C28 type: =Radians( ROW(OFFSET(‘1’!$A$1,,,361,1))) press F9 not Enter

Excel will display ={0.0174532925199433;0.0349065850398866;0.0523598775598299; … ; 6.2482787221397;6.26573201465964;6.28318530717959;6.30063859969953}

The same array of Degrees now converted to Radians

You can learn more about how this style of formula works by reading the Formula Forensics Series where a number of similar formulas are used.

 

We can now use the Array of Radians to feed the Formula for the X and Y values

Looking at X: the X value of each point will be X = Circle Radius * Cos( t )

Where t is our array of Radians

So for Circle 1, the Maximum Circle the X Values will be

X_1: =Cos(t)*Max_Circle

In a blank cell C29 type: =COS(t)*Max_Circle press F9 not Enter

Excel will display ={14.9977154273459;14.9908624052864;14.9794430213186; … 14.9908624052864;14.9977154273459;15;14.9977154273459}

This is an array of the X Values of the Maximum Circle, all 360 of them.

You can check out the other X and Y values for the other circles yourself.

To add the Circular Grid lines to the chart, Right Click on the Chart, Select Data

This is the same Dialog we saw earlier

Select Add

Series name: =”Max Circle”

Series X values: =’1′!x_1

Series Y values: =’1′!y_1

Note: that we have added the worksheet name and the Named formula to the Series X and Series Y value fields. This serves to reference the Named Formula to this worksheet, sheet “1”.

Select Ok and add the Mid and Min Circles in a similar manner.

Your chart should now be similar to this:

Add Grid Annotation

Add Grid Annotation by adding 3 more series to the chart, 1 series for each annotation point.

We can put a point at the intersection of the 3 circles and the X Axis because we know the radius and the Y value = 0 so the 3 points will be at

(Min_Circle, 0)

(Mid_Circle, 0)

(Max_Circle, 0)

Once again Right Click on the Chart, Select Data

This is the same Dialog we saw earlier

Select Add

Series name: =”Min Annotation”

Series X values: =’1′!Min_Circle

Series Y values: ={0}

We can note that we have used the Named Formula for the Min Circle value as the X Value and that we have used a constant array for the Y value of 0.

Repeat this for the Mid and Max annotation points.

 

Format the Annotation Points

The 3 points you have just added to the chart may or may not be visible

The easiest way to find them is to either

Use the up/down arrow keys to scroll through the Chart series until you see it selected

Or

Select the Chart

Goto the Chart Tools, layout Ribbon and select the Min Annotation series from the drop down list:

If there is a marker showing, set the Marker Style to None

Close the Format Dialog and Right Click on the Marker, Add Data Labels

Select the Data Label and Change it from the Y Value to the X Value

Also change the Label Position to Above

Resize the Chart

Right Click on the outside of the Chart and select Format Chart Area

On the Size Tab, set the Height and Width to the same value

Select the Horizontal Axis and Delete it and repeat for the Vertical Axis

Your chart is now complete

 

DOWNLOAD THE ABOVE FILE

You can download the Example File used above: Excel 97/03, Excel 07/10.

 

OTHER CHARTS DONE IN EXCEL USING SCATTER CHARTS

As you have seen above the Scatter Chart can form the basis of your own custom Charts with the results being limited by your imagination.

Presented below are three Scatter charts where the authors have taken Scatter Charts to the extreme.

 

Hui’s – 3D Pendulums

In 2011, I produced an animated Scatter Chart consisting of 18 x 3D Pendulums in Excel which includes the ability to rotate the chart whilst the pendulums are swinging.

This is a Scatter Chart that consists of about 22 series, 18 for the Pendulums and a few others for the Frames and Axis.

The maths behind the pendulums locations and the rotations is all done via named formulas with a very simple macro driving the animation.

http://chandoo.org/wp/2011/07/06/3d-dancing-pendulums/

Excel Hero – Smith Chart

Daniel Ferry at Excel Hero.com has produced what I consider one of the most amazing charts in Excel I have ever seen.

I don’t make this statement just for the actual modelling of the Smith Chart or the use of Excel and Named Formulas in particular but also for the sheer Beauty that is displayed in the finished chart.

http://www.excelhero.com/blog/2010/08/excel-high-precision-engineering-chart-1.html

ExcelHero - Smith Chart

 

Frankens Team

The Frankens team has published a number of strange charts with a lot of them based on Scatter Charts.

https://sites.google.com/site/e90e50fx/home/creative-and-advanced-chart-design-in-excel

Please note that some of these charts use advanced excel techniques and are not for the feint hearted.

 

Yes the 3 charts above are all Scatter Charts, illustrating the incredible diversity that can be achieved using this tool.

 

WHAT CHART STYLES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE ?

What do you think of the techniques discussed above ?

What chart styles would you like to see ?

Let us know your thoughts to the above in the comments below:

 

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122 Responses to “10 Excel Keyboard Shortcuts I can’t live without!”

  1. Anup Agarwal says:

    Nice,

    Mine would be Ctrl + R (to fill right) and Ctrl + D (to fill down). I just love making good formulae which can be used all over the table.

  2. Radu says:

    Mine are (not in this order): Ctrl+S (save), Ctrl+W (close active workbook), Ctrl+PageDown/PageUp (navigate to the next/previous worksheet), F4 (toggle references), Ctrl+A/X/C/V (select all/cut/copy/paste), F9 (calculate).

  3. zaur says:

    I use ctrl+shift+1 for convert value to number format

  4. Finnur says:

    I'd add ctrl+shift+arrows to select tables and F9 to see what part of my larger than normal formula went wrong. Plus the standard ctrl+c, ctrl+x and ctrl+v.

  5. Jennifer says:

    Some of those mentioned already (eg CTRL + PageUp / PageDown to flick between tabs) but shift + f2 to add a comment and CTRL + 8 / CTRL + 9 to hide a row or column or CTRL + SHIFT + 8 or 9 to unhide. Oh and CTRL + SHIFT + $ to comvert a value to currency

  6. Paul Maddock says:

    I use the excel quick access toolbar, and use the corresponding alt+1-9 for my most used short cuts. So on there I currently have filter, paste values, pivot table, excel options, paste formulas which are my most used shortcuts.

    But apart from that f5 (go to function for blank, constants formulas).

  7. Stephen says:

    well I'm going to tell you I Use
    Alt+1 = paste values
    Alt+2 = paste formula
    Alt+3 = paste formats
    how?
    Excel 2007 - you can add items to the quick access toolbar and then when you press ALT it assigns them all a number/letter. it's just a case of finding the right commands.

    • Jason says:

      Excellent... made me look for them and when i did get them i just went crazy... hahahahahaha... thanks a lot stephen....

  8. Hui... says:

    Most of Chandoos and
    Ctrl Pg Up/Down - move to next active page
    Alt F11 - open VBA Editor window
    Ctrl F6 - Scroll between open workbooks
    Ctrl ~ - Show/Hide Formulas

  9. Alan says:

    For Tip #4 I always use CTRL+ALT+V, I find it easier on the fingertips.

    4. ALT+ES – Paste Special > Values

  10. Gaylen says:

    I have created a macro for the functions that I use most:

    Ctrl + shift + L to hightlight cell
    Ctrl + shift + M to unhighlight cell
    Ctrl + shift + O to paste formula
    Ctrl + shift + T to past format
    Ctrl + shift + E to format as accounting
    Ctrl + shift + I to use % format. and these excel. and many of the other tips mentioned.

    • Daniel says:

      how did you make these macros? Thanks!

      • Gojak says:

        Hi Daniel
        Simple - just record a macro of the action you want then when you save there'll be an 'assign shortcut' option for you. You can also change them after if you find it's not that convenient or you forget it too easily.
        Cheers

  11. Fred says:

    Using 2007 version:
    Crtl-tab to toggle in and out of excel with another workbook or applicaiton (word, ppt, outlook, etc). I prefer this over Crtl-F6 because i only need to use my left thumb and index finger instead of 2 hands for Crtl-F6. To me, the keys Crtl-F6 is too far away from one another, even if I don't have to worry about toggling to other applications like crtl-tab.

    Crtl-Pg Up and Crtl-Pg Down: too many worksheets to do QC work after each project/update.
    Shift+End+arrow key or Crtl+Shift+arrow key: depends on if i want the whole column/row/area.
    F4 for ease of formula control.

    Crtl+F to find/replace text, numbers, formula checking, etc.

    I have all paste special on the access tool bar instead. there are too many situations to use.
    Crtl+~ to see all cells with formulae.

    F2: not only edit the formula but to hi-light and understand where others cells are linked to this cell, if any.

  12. Dennis says:

    I use
    Ctrl + spacebar to select entire column,
    Shift + spacebar to select entire row
    Shift + Ctrl + spacebar to select all datas in the worksheet
    Ctrl + 0 to hide a column
    Ctrl + Shift + 9 to unhide a column
    Ctrl + 2 to bold

  13. Mick Coleman says:

    Guys - you can't live without Ctrl + Z - just as you can't live life without an eraser.

  14. Tom says:

    Here are a couple that haven't been mentioned yet (I think)...

    ALT + = (Autosum)
    CTRL+A (Select data/all)
    CTRL+Space (Select column)
    SHIFT+Space (Select row)
    CTRL+SHIFT+F3 (Create Names)
    CTRL+5 (Strikethrough)
    ALT+ENTER (Mutliple rows in cell)

    I've noticed that the unhide column shortcut (CTRL+SHIFT+0) stopped working when I updated to Windows 7...anyone know why (or a workaround)?

  15. tamoghna9 says:

    All time best CTRL+SHIFT+Down arrow to select contiguous cells ( along a column)

    ALT+N+V+T to insert pivot table

    ALT+E+A+A to clear all ( very handy!!!)

    ALT+F1 to insert default chart in current sheet

    arrow key to toggle between chart elements

  16. David says:

    In addition to the obvious Control + C/X/V (Copy, Cut, and Paste), I use ALT + = to insert AutoSum. This is realy handy.

  17. Jonny says:

    Definitely Shift or Cltr + Space Bar, then Ctrl + or - to add/delete a row/column.

  18. Stružák says:

    1. Ctrl + Page Up/Down - jump to previous/next worksheet
    2. Ctrl + Home - jump to the top of the worksheet
    3. Ctrl + F3 - displays the Name manager
    4. Ctrl + 1 - format
    5. Ctrl + ; - paste today's date
    6. Ctrl + W - close active workbook
    7. Shift + F11 - adds new worksheet
    8. Shift + F3 - insert formula
    9. Ctrl + 9 - hides selected row
    10. Ctrl + 0 - hides selected column

    Btw thanks a lot for "CTRL+SHIFT+L – Turn on/ off filters", I have to learn that. 🙂

  19. Alan Murray says:

    Mine have to be:

    Ctrl + Shift + + to insert a new row/column/cell
    F9 to run formulas. Great for testing parts for a formula
    Ctrl + D to repeat the cell above

    • Felix Murillo says:

      Yeah man, control+d
      Thumbs Up for this shortcut, specially when you work with a lot of data base, just create your formulas and Bualaa. Bless people.

  20. Pam says:

    Ctrl + z = Undo is one I use a lot

  21. Les Goins says:

    Didn't see these--

    Being right-handed, using thumb and forefinger...:-)
    Cntrl + Insert for Copy
    Cntrl + Delete for Cut

    Whenever I'd go to new company, had standing invitation: if anyone knew more ways to "copy" than I, I'd buy lunch... this was always the winning #7"...:-)

    How many ways y'all know...?? Im ready to buy lunch...:-)

  22. Les Goins says:

    yep--#2 is good--- but I use Alt + D+F+F which only takes one hand and leaves right hand for coffee...:-)

    and, since I discovered "MS Flag key + M" to close all open windows and put u at Desktop...I use it multiple times a day...

  23. David says:

    F12 - Save As...

  24. Rohit1409 says:

    Yes agreed with CTRL - Z, but hey don't forget his brother CTRL - Y [Redo] 🙂

  25. hasanlianar says:

    Ctrl+Alt+V for Paste Special
    Alt DFF for Filtering
    Alt ASD for Sorting in decending order and Alt ASA for Sorting in ascending order
    Ctrl PageDown/PageUp for navigation over sheets

    etc.

  26. Arun Kumar says:

    Can someone put all these shortcut keys in photoshop and share the link so that we can put it as a wall paper.

  27. Hi,

    very useful post!

    Mine are:

    Shift-End- - selecting used fields
    F4
    CTRL-S

    Thanks for the inspiration - I love the cheat-sheet wallpaper idea.

    P.S.: Where's your flattr-button?

    Thomas

  28. Amit Dhingra says:

    Mine will be

    F11 - Create a chart
    Alt + D + F +F - To turn on/ off the auto filter

  29. Graham says:

    Really good post, lots of useful stuff here!
    One of my most used not mentioned already (i dont believe!):
    ALT + SHIFT + F1 - add new sheet to workbook

  30. Sidhesh Mangle says:

    1 of my best short cut is to Check which cells/worksheets are referenced/used in formula
    -> Ctrl + [
    Works only on the cells which has formula. it Jumps directly the dependent cells
    & Ctrl + ] works for those cells which will be used in formula (Dependents)

    • Adam Turco says:

      Thank you so much for showing me what this Ctrl Function does, i used it by accident and have struggled to figure it out. Now I'll use it all the time!!

  31. Fowmy says:

    To freeze and unfreeze panes

    ALT+W+F+F

  32. Steen says:

    A couple of my favourites I haven't seen mentioned:

    ALT E+S for paste special, use all the time for copying formats, values formulas, etc.
    ALT E+I+S useful for creating values in a series
    SHIFT ALT right arrow to group, ALT D+G+H to hide group ALT D+G+S to show group.
    ALT+TAB to navigate between open windows.

  33. Chris says:

    @Steven, thanks for the tip on using the quick access toolbar. I just rearranged mine.
    In addition to many of the shortcuts listed above I use F4 to repeat an action and CTRL+N to open a new workbook

  34. Fred says:

    @Les Goins

    I tried Crtl+Del but it only delete. it is not cut if we can't paste it back somewhere else, right?

  35. Les says:

    ...:-) Sorry, Fred (And, all others...)

    should be "SHIFT + Delete key" to "Cut"... THEN, just hit Enter, or Cntrl V to Paste

  36. bansi says:

    CTRL# to format dates!!

  37. Darshan says:

    Hi All,

    My fav or top are
    1 alt+dff for auto filter
    2 alt + es, followed by, v, c, w, etc for paste special
    3 Ctrl + navigational keys to move around in workbook
    4 ctrl + space select entire column
    5 shift + space select entire row
    the list will just go on... in a nut shell all short cut Handled by left hand and right hand for the mouse + defnitely coffe 🙂

  38. Stephen says:

    @Chris, glad i inspired.
    a couple more favourites of mine:
    Alt & ; = select visible (really useful when working with autofilter)
    Ctrl&PgUp/PgDn = move left/right on a sheet (useful when you have a lot of columns)
    Ctrl&Tab (or Ctrl&Shift&Tab)= switch between workbooks (& the other way back)
    Alt&Tab (or Alt&&Shift&Tab) = switch between applications (& the other way back).... however, if you note that it always takes you to the last used application first, then press & release both repeated will flick you back and forth between 2 applications or 2 workbooks without having to press the shift. I use this if I have to complete journals, where I have to take data from Excel and post into our accounting package.... with Ctrl&C/Ctrl&V.

  39. Vinodh Raj says:

    I use the following short cuts often
    1) Alt D,F,F - AutoFilter
    2) Ctrl+space - Select entire column
    3) Shirt+Space - Select entire row
    4) F12 - Save As
    5) Alt + F,C - Close workbook
    6) Alt + F,X - Close Excel application
    7) Ctrl + 1 - Format Cell
    8) Context menu key (next to win key) + S - Paste special
    9) F4 - Repeat the last action
    10) Ctrl + PageUp, PageDown - To browse through worksheets

  40. Clarity says:

    Everyday shortcuts for me:
    CTRL + C Copy
    CTRL + X Cut
    CTRL + V Paste
    CTRL + D Copy from above
    CTRL + Z Undo
    F4 Repeat (or scroll through referencing)
    F2 Edit cell
    CTRL Page Up/Page Dwn Move to next/previous worksheet
    CTRL + * Select current region
    CTRL + Home Go to top left cell

  41. Gojak says:

    CTRL + ; insert date - I use a lot but I like to have the keystrokes the way I want so I make tiny macros for my faves and give them my own key combos.
    CTRL SHIFT + V = Paste Values is much easier than the built in for me because it's a natural follow-on for CTRL + C.

  42. Andy says:

    I use "CTRL+[ " This takes you to the source of your formula and I use it every day.

  43. Gaylen says:

    The "CTRL+[" Is fantastic. Thanks for Sharing.

  44. Hui... says:

    @Andy & Gaylen, All
    Don't forget about Ctrl+]
    which follows a cell to it's next dependants
    Both of Ctrl+[ and Ctrl+] can be used iteratively to move up/down the dependancy tree

  45. Gojak says:

    Great ... thanks everyone for the tips.
    BTW - it's interesting how good it is for us all to be human filters. Instead of a bamboozling blur of what you could possibly use, it's: here - you'll probably like this one ... I do.

  46. Jennifer says:

    @andy and hui

    I'd not come across the CTRL + [ or ] before so thanks! I can't imagine how useful they'd have been over my career so far. Great tip

  47. Siddique Sayeed says:

    really helpful

  48. SARAN KUMAR says:

    My list is bit more..

    Ctrl+page up/down to move between tabs
    right click+p+s for paste special values (i use most of the times keyboard right click..since it is very near to fingers)
    alt+d+f+f and again alt+d+f+f to remove all the filters and add filters again
    ctrl+tab to move between open workbooks
    ofcourse F2 very commonly
    Shift+F11 very frequently to add new worksheet/tab
    alt+o+h+r and alt+o+c+a are my best shorcut keys to rename tab and auto fit the cells
    (ctrl+c/x/z/v/b/u/i/S..like everyone)

    Regards,
    Saran
    lostinexcel.blogspot.com

  49. Marek says:

    Since I use Conditional formatting very often i always use ALT+O+D

  50. Gojak says:

    Just thought of another
    for wrap and unwrap, ctrl+w and ctrl+q+w (quit wrap)
    because I do it a lot and it's too fiddly to do through menus.

  51. Akansha says:

    Hi use ALT+DFS on a daily basis- incase you have filtered a sheet against 5-7 filters and you want to remove all filters then this is the easiest.

  52. Duy Dang says:

    Ctrl + Alt + V ----> paste special

  53. Cezar says:

    Ctrl + F6 = navigate between differetn Excel files.
    Ctrl + PgUp/PgDn = navigate between sheets
    Ctrl + Home/End
    Ctrl + Arrows
    Shift + lots of keys... 

  54. Jevi says:

    ALT + ; - to copy visible cells only. I have to use it quite often and a lot of them you have already mentioned :).

    thank you for sharing.

  55. Prathap says:

    Ctrl+shift+L for Autofilter and remove the filters

  56. Anton says:

    My Favourites (which I use all the time):
    Ctrl + 1 - cell formats
    Ctrl + D - copy values Down
    Ctrl + R - copy values Right
    Alt + DFF - toggle filters on / off
    Alt + WFF - toggle freeze pane on / off
    Alt + HVF - Paste Special; Formulas
    Alt + HVV - Paste Special; Values
    Ctrl + C then Alt + HVV - removes formulas (especially handy when selecting whole sheet)
    Alt + ADFROT - Advanced Filter to get Unique values for a column, to new location
    Alt + DPF - insert quick Pivot Table

  57. Oz says:

    Hello everyone.

    I'm going to admit that I don't use keyboard shortcuts beyond Copy and Paste.

    Why not? Every software and OS has their own keyboard shortcuts and I have a fear of them overlapping.

    One keyboard shortcut might do something cool in Excel but in my music composition software that shortcut might mute the drum track. In my video editing software is might the the shortcut for opening the effects menu.

    Shortcuts are really cool but I've gone 15 years working Excel, writing VBA code, and making a living without memorizing keyboard shortcuts. Only recently have I been willing to admit that.

     

    • Hui says:

      @Oz
      Your missing out on huge increases in efficiency
      Most of the normal shortcuts are similar throughout all applications
      Ctrl C, V X - Copy, paste Cut
      Ctrl O - Open
      Ctrl S - Save
      Ctrl P - Print
      and several other of a similar nature
       
       

      • Oz du Soleil says:

        Hiu,
        I see what you're saying but still disagree. The efficiency that I'm missing out on is small. This isn't like I've declared refusal to use pivot tables.

        Shortcuts were screwing me up when I switched from Excel on my PC and Excel on my Mac. CTRL C, CTRL V are useful and universal. I do use those.

        The only thing I can see is that I'd be in trouble if I joined one of those Excel tournaments.

        One mildly humorous reaction: when you mention CTRL P for printing, I never just straight print. The printer manufacturers have things set up where you can't set a printer to default to printing in draft mode. So, I always manually go to the print menus and adjust the settings to draft mode.

        Any way ... the bottom line is that I don't work in an environment where shortcuts will make or break me.

  58. Heather says:

    I use one program that has Ctrl C and Ctrl V for inbuilt shortcuts and it drives me nuts because I use them all the time. The Shift+Ins is the one I need to use in that program.

    Another Excel one I use often is Ctrl+' to copy the data from the cell above. Several others that have already been listed. 

    My new laptop has the "F" buttons combined with other buttons. To save space on the keyboard I guess. Whenever I'm at home and hit F2 to edit it toggles my wi-fi on and off. Grrr. I have to hold the function key then hit F2 to activate the F2 function.

    So glad I found this page. Paste values only is the shortcut I was looking for. Found it. 🙂 Thank you. 

    • Kenneth says:

      lots of people at my office use a background program to assign keyboard shortcuts.  Drives me crazy because they use existing keyboard shortcuts like ctrl-a to shoot off a macro, then they don't know how to select all.  Makes training them on excel a lot more difficult.

      • Michael says:

        A good background program to assign keyboard shortcuts will allow them to be application specific so that ^a does not interfere with select all in excel. A misused background program could easily result in the situation described above.

  59. Rob says:

    Highlight a row or column and use...
    Ctrl + + and Ctrl + - to insert or delete rows or columns

    • Gojak says:

      Thanks Rob - I've got double rows of toolbars all round with hundreds of buttons, so even finding my faves like insert delete row can be hard. That'll be really handy.

  60. JWS says:

    Does anyone know how to use the ALT-key (or any other key) to access the buttons on the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) numberd with more then 2 digits? 

    • Sheeloo says:

      Just type the numbers/letters shown.

      If it says 09 just press 0 and then 9 (of course after pressing ALT to see the shortcuts assigned to QAT)

  61. Kenneth says:

    The less-common (but already mentioned here) shortcuts I use the most are:

    Ctrl-1  (cell format)
    Ctrl-Home/End  (beginning/end)
    Ctrl-Shift-Home/End  (select from here to beginning/end)
    Ctrl-PgUp/PgDn  (move between worksheets)
    Ctrl-`  (show formulae)

     

  62. Bonnie says:

    Very helpful!  Thanks!
    A couple of my time-saver favorites:
    F2 to edit a cell (helpful if I just need to delete the last character and don't want to retype the whole thing)
    Shift-F2 to add or edit a comment (then Esc Esc to get back out of it)
    Also a big fan of the Ctrl-K hyperlink one that others have mentioned!

    • Gojak says:

      Been reading these tips for a year and a half, and always something useful.
      I use a lot of comments so Shift-F2 is helpful. Thanks.
      For F2 - edit cell there is an option to 'Directly edit in cell' which I always have on. Just double click. Not only that, but the cursor will be just where you double click, so you can start middle, end, wherever you need, without another click. 🙂

  63. Bonnie says:

    I just hate to use the mouse, so I avoid double-clicking at all costs! 🙂

    • Gojak says:

      Fair enough. I change my mind regularly about that. It's a mood thing ...or if I'm eating over the KB. Bad! hehe.

  64. Sonu Kashyap says:

    CTRL + SHIFT + & (TO CREATE OUTLINE BORDER)

  65. SMTP2GO Review says:

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  66. Craig says:

    I often use F2 followed by F9 to convert a formula in a cell to its value. It's the keyboard equivalent to copying the cell, and using Edit > Paste Special > Values on the same cell, but much quicker.

    Application? I use this a lot if I have to manually separate items on a receipt into different categories, but I still have to take sales tax into account. I'll enter certain items from the receipt into the cell, and include a quick formula to get the sales tax for just those items. When I'm done, I strip out the formula just to be on the safe side, leaving the value of the cell.

    • Gojak says:

      Thanks Craig, unfortunately when I tried this I found another app has hijacked my F9 - what does it normally do by itself? I will have to try to wrestle it back from the app.
      BTW I use paste vals so much I made a macro so I could use ctl-sh-v. The reason this is so handy is because of course I've always done ctl-v immediately before so it's really like one quick action, with the bonus that the paste val doesn't have to be in the same cell (I mean you don't have to lose your formula) Easily my most constantly used macro. If you want to give it a try ...

      Sub PasteValues()
      '' Keyboard Shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+V
      '
      'ActiveCell.Select
      'Selection.PasteSpecial Paste:=xlValues, Operation:=xlNone, SkipBlanks:= _
      'False, Transpose:=False
      ActiveCell.PasteSpecial Paste:=xlValues
      End Sub

    • n. says:

      does it work on a range. I tried selecting a range and then F2+F9. It changes from formula to value in just first cell.

  67. Abhishek says:

    Is there a keyboard shortcut for filtering a value after adding the filters to a data?

    • Michael says:

      It might be a bit clumsy, but just use the keyboard to navigate to the filtered cell and hit Alt + Down to bring up the filtered options.

  68. RAwat017 says:

    Mine
    CTRL+* ( it will slecte all the work area)

  69. […] Our friend Chandoo, excel dashboard guru over at chandoo.org has provided us with the 10 Excel Keyboard Shortcuts You Can’t Live Without. […]

  70. Oz du Soleil says:

    Other than CTRL C, CTRL V the only other shortcut that I can't live without: CTRL+SHIFT when moving a block of data and wanting it inserted.

    After highlighting the cells that you want to move, select CTRL+SHIFT and the cursor turns into a line that you position to the place where you want the data inserted. It's pretty cool.

  71. Shmuel says:

    1. Ctrl+Enter accepts your input and leaves the cursor in the same cell. Saves you from having to go back up to continue work on that cell e.g. copy....
    2. Select a range of cells which have the same formula or content; edit the active cell only; now press Ctrl+Enter to populate the entire range with the corrected formula/content!
    3. In the middle of a formula, if you have navigated away from the active cell (e.g. to select a large range) such that it is no longer visible, you can press Ctrl+Bckspace to jump back to the active cell whilst remaining in edit mode

  72. Seheer Qatar says:

    Am using as
    Ctrl+5 for strikethrough in the content of the cell.

  73. sonali says:

    hi..
    can any one tell me what is shortcut for copy and paste all the table as it is..i knw ctrl+c and ctl=v; bt this shortcut not paste document as it is..

  74. […] the most popular posts from earlier this semester. Re-posted from February 14, 2013 Website: http://chandoo.org/wp/2011/08/08/must-have-excel-keyboard-shortcuts/ Especially useful when analyzing data, making charts and formatting workbooks. Business and […]

  75. Don says:

    The two I use all the time are:
    Ctrl + (Control and Plus sign on numeric keypad) = Insert row or column
    Ctrl - (Control and Minus sign on numeric keypad) = Delete row or column

  76. Dina says:

    Shortcut #4 is one of my favorites, but there's an important note speficially regarding Paste Special Values - you need to hit V after alt + ES. I know you have a link to that detial amongst other options within Paste Special (all of which I use all the time and LOVE), but if you're specifically noting Paste Special Values, it should read alt + ESV.

    Thanks for all your info!

  77. […] some time getting fully on board with shortcuts. As an added resource, do check out Chandoo’s post on 10 must-have […]

  78. David says:

    Great discussions!
    I have a question for No. 8 CTRL + K for Hyperlinks.
    Is there any way you can add a Hyperlink and KEEP the existing formatting of the text in the cell?
    I would assume it might be a setting somewhere where you can define the Hyperlink Design - but that would just be another single format I think - I want it to be un-formatted if anything so it picks up the current cell format. Any ideas please? Thanks everyone!

  79. Preeti says:

    Hi Chandoo,

    I do regularly read emails received by you. I use above mentioned 10 shortcuts in daily workflow. In addition to this I use following shortcuts:
    Filter Ctrl+shift+L and open filter column alt+down arrow key.
    Visible cells Alt+:
    Format Painter Copy then go to the cell which you want format right click key+S+T

  80. ce site says:

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  81. Liran says:

    Amazing article,
    The only thing i didnt know is ctrl+shift+l for filters and I use them alot,
    so thanks!

    And my contribution is:

    alt+h+9 > remove decimal place
    alt+h+0 > add decimal place.

    Very useful when using ctrl+shift+1 for number formatting and immediately hitting alt+h+9 twice to remove decimal places.

    Cheers

  82. Jodi says:

    I am using AutoFilter and I have a large picklist of values available to me. I want to select about the first 50% of the items. Is there any shortcut to grab them? (i.e. Select 1st item, hold shift, select last item --which does NOT work).

    Thanks!

  83. ashish says:

    how can i "clear format" from a part of selection in excel by keyboard.
    i need keyboard shortcut to clear format of any cell.
    reply me
    ashish gupta
    email: ashish99b@gmail.com

  84. Debaraj Nayak says:

    Hiii...

    Previous is wrong ...

    Clear Format:-ALT+H+L+C+S

  85. Sheeloo says:

    I think 7 should be "CTRL+F3 – Show Names"

  86. zan says:

    cool, thanks bro!

  87. Sri says:

    Chandoo, Greetings! Nice tips. Like it & use ful. To make it credible and professional, please publish without spelling, grammatical mistakes, if you may. Thank you.

  88. Bonnie says:

    Sri: The spelling and grammar are pretty accurate, if you're referring to the original article. If there is a specific spot that you feel is unclear due to grammar issues, you'll want to provide more details on what is confusing you versus just saying "please publish without spelling, grammatical mistakes".

    Chandoo doesn't have control over the grammar or spelling in users' responses such as yours, of course; if that's what you're addressing, you should address your comment to the user who posted the item which you feel has poor grammar. (You would generally only do so, though, if it's that you need something clarified because of the grammar issue.)

    I'd like to note that your post isn't actually the best in terms of spelling and grammar. For example, you capitalized "greetings" even though it's in the middle of a sentence, and you put an unnecessary space in "useful". If you're particularly bothered by poor grammar, you'll want to proofread your own posts a little more carefully! 😉

  89. Michelle says:

    This is awesome, totally on nerd overload. Here's my fav:

    Go to - special - blanks
    Then Ctrl, up arrow, =, enter

    This fills in all the blanks!

    Thanks fellow geeks for all the sweet tips

  90. Sukarnen says:

    Guys,

    CTRL+SHIFT+1 always give us number format with 2 decimals. Is there any Excel shortcut that could give us number format with 0 decimal, other than making our own macro?

    Thanks

  91. Gyan Chand says:

    these shortcut keys are really helpful in smart work & fast work

  92. piecevcake says:

    Wonderful tips, I have made my own list.
    Another good one is CTRL+F10, toggles maximise/restore window in workspace. (So you can find the scrollbars, and switch books by clicking another one)

  93. Julie Falkman says:

    I use CTRL-Z to repeat the last command. Handy for inserting multiple rows or columns.

  94. […] Here are some great Excel shortcuts copied from http://chandoo.org/wp/2011/08/08/must-have-excel-keyboard-shortcuts […]

  95. MicroSoft Office Support says:

    I use filters to do an ad-hoc analysis of my data. So, Once I set a couple of filters.

  96. Jenny says:

    Ctrl ; to enter today's date

    Ctrl ' to enter the same data as above

    Ctrl home to go to the top

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