Home > Skills > Shortcuts > Mouse Excel Mouse Double-Click TipsThese mouse double-click tricks will help you save time and work more efficiently in Microsoft Excel. Use these mouse shortcuts for quick formatting, naming, resizing, and more time-savers. |
Quick Data Entry - AutoFillWhen you're working in Microsoft Excel, the active cell has a Fill Handle -- a small black square at its bottom right corner. When you point to the Fill Handle, the pointer changes to a small black plus sign. You can drag the Fill Handle, or double-click it, to activate the AutoFill feature. With AutoFill, you can quickly make a list of dates, months, numbers, or custom items, with very little typing. Watch this short video, to see how AutoFill creates a date series. There are written instructions, and more examples, on the Excel AutoFill Examples page. |
Format PainterAfter you format one part of a worksheet, you can click on the Format Painter, then click on another location, to apply the same formatting. If you have multiple locations where you want the same formatting:
When you're finished:
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Quick Formula AuditIf you want to quickly audit a cell's formula, you can use the following mouse shortcut to go to the cells that the formula refers to (precedent cells)
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Excel RibbonThe Excel Ribbon uses a a bit of room at the top of the Excel window, and if you need extra space, you can temporarily hide the Ribbon commands. To hide the Ribbon commands:
To use the commands when they are hidden:
To unhide the Ribbon commands again:
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AutoFit Rows and ColumnsTo quickly adjust the row height or column width, use a double-click shortcut. To autofit the row height for the tallest entry in each row
To autofit the column width for the widest entry in each column
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Change Sheet NamesName your worksheets, so it's easy to find what you need in each workbook. Don't leave the default names that Excel creates, such as Sheet1, Sheets, etc. To rename a sheet:
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Worksheet NavigationTo quickly navigate through a worksheet, use a double-click shortcut.
Excel will select a cell in that row or column, moving in the direction that you clicked. It stops at the cell just before the first empty cell. For example, in the screen shot below, Excel stopped at cell J7, because cell J8 is empty.
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Close WorkbookTo close an Excel workbook, use the following double-click mouse shortcut, nstead of using the X at the top right of the Excel window . This saves time if your mouse pointer is closer to the left side of the workbook, and you're working with a wide workbook window. To quickly close a workbook:
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Change Size of Excel WindowInstead of dragging the workbook window's borders, to resize it, use a double-click shortcut to quickly change its size.
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Show Pivot Table DetailsIf you're troubleshooting a pivot table, use this shortcut to see all the data that is summarized in one of its values.
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Format Excel ChartsAfter you create a chart in Excel, you might want to change its appearance, for example, make the columns a different colour, or change the axis label font size. To quickly format part of a chart, follow these steps:
NOTE: After the Formatting Pane has been opened, you can single-click on a chart element, to see its formatting options in the pane. |
Last updated: June 17, 2023 10:01 AM