Want to write formulas faster? Here is a quick tip.
Use Auto-correct!
That is right. Excel’s auto-correct feature can be setup to help you write formulas faster. See a demo below:
Here is how:
- Go to File > Options (in older versions, office button > options)
- Select Proofing
- Click on AutoCorrect Options
- Add auto correct rules for typing formulas like this:
- VL -> =VLOOKUP(
- SF -> =SUMIFS(
- etc.
- Done.
Now, whenever you type VL in a cell, Excel immediately puts the VLOOKUP formula and asks you for extra inputs. Same with other formulas you create.
Caution: Make sure you are not replacing any common 2/3 letter words. For example if you set up a rule to replace IN with =INDEX(, then you might get unexpected replacements when typing the word IN.
Additional tips:
- In case the replacement is not needed, press CTRL+Z to revert to original word.
- Replacement rules are case sensitive. So vl will not replaced by VLOOKUP, only VL will.
How do you speed up formula writing?
Often when running a class or demonstrating something in Excel, people ask me, “How come you are writing formulas so much faster?”. Here are the tricks I use,
- I use auto complete (that little drop down in cell with all formulas) as much as possible
- I use keyboard shortcuts to select ranges, names or access input values for the formulas
- I am good with typing.
What about you? What tricks & ideas do you use to type formulas faster? Please share in the comments area.
More on formula writing
Here are few more articles to help you write better formulas.
- Move the formula help box with mouse to see what you need
- Replace formulas with values
- Use CTRL+Enter to type same values or formulas into multiple cells
- Fill blank cells in a table with above value
- More on Excel formulas
PS: Thanks to John Long who taught me this tip.
6 Responses to “A quick personal update”
Thank you for the personal update. It was quite encouraging and a breath of fresh air in my Inbox. Take care and stay safe.
David
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Wash metal surfaces as it can live on them 9 days
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If feel sore throat do above immediate as virus is there 3-4 days before descends into lungs
Would love help with my database mgt in excel.
Thanks for being thoughtful of us.
BTW How do you track your expenses/income in excel? Can you share the worksheet please.
Stay safe you and your family, best wishes.
Thanks for the update and happy to know that you and family are doing good. A 21 day lockdown has now been announced in India (I live around Kolkata) so it's uncertain times ahead. I check up on your wonderful articles often and will do so even more regularly now. Stay safe and God bless.
Hi from Argentina, I follow you for a lot of years now. We here are in a quarantine for 2 or 3 weeks, because the pandemia.
Excel is also my passion and I came here looking for a Num2Words formula, but in spanish. If anyone have it, please let me know.
Best regards.
Pablo Molina
La Rioja - Argentina
I'm glad to have your personal update. I'm from India & following you for so many years. Cheers to have any further personal update.