15 Date Shortcuts In Excel That Will Save You Time

Are you struggling with Excel spreadsheets and wasting time formatting dates? Look no further! Here are 15 shortcuts that’ll help you save time and energy. You can easily keep track of dates and reduce your workload by learning how to use these tips.

15 Excel Date Shortcuts

Excel is a powerful tool for managing and analyzing data, but it can be time-consuming to navigate through columns of dates. Fortunately, there are several Excel shortcuts available for managing dates. Here are 15 of the most useful Excel shortcuts to manage dates:

1. Select the entire column of dates by clicking on the column header.
2. Change the format of the date: Control + 1 to open format cells, then Ctrl + Tab to jump to tab Number, and select date format.
3. Insert the current date: Ctrl + ; (Semi-colon).
4. Insert the current time: Ctrl + Shift + ; (Semi-colon)
5. Calculate the difference between dates: write the formula “= End Date – Start Date” or use DATEDIF function.
6. Sort dates chronologically: select the column of data and then click Sort A to Z button on the ribbon.
7. Group dates into months, quarters, or years and collapsing data to a higher level by right-clicking on the range.
8. Insert a date series by entering two dates separated by a colon, then dragging the fill handle across the desired range.
9. Move a date by dragging it to a new cell with the Ctrl key held down.
10. Auto-complete the month by typing the first letter after the date, then holding down the right arrow key.
11. Enter a timestamp by typing the date, then space, and time.
12. Copy date without the formatting in a new cell and also clear the original cell contents by using Ctrl + C, then Alt + E, S, V, Enter.
13. Calculate the workday between dates using the WORKDAY function.
14. Increase or decrease the date by one day by using the DATEDIF function.
15. Calculate the years, months, and days between two dates by using the DATEDIF function.

One important detail to note is that when using the DATEDIF function, the second date should be the latest one. These shortcuts will save you significant time and improve your productivity when working with dates in Excel.

Another strategy to enhance your efficiency is to create a date input mask. This mask helps you speed up your data entry by correcting your date format continually. By defining a cell as a date input mask, Excel is going to ensure that when you enter values in this cell, it automatically formats them as dates. This can be done by choosing ‘Date’ from the ‘Data Types’ dropdown menu and setting the mask from the ‘Expanded Access’ option.

By using these effective shortcuts, you can become more efficient at managing and analyzing data in Excel. With a little practice, you will become a master of Excel Date shortcuts and will be able to save significant time on managing data in Excel.

Formatting Shortcuts

Shortcuts for Excel formatting can save you time and improve your productivity. Using Semantic NLP variation can help you quickly apply formatting options such as bold, italic and underline. You can also use shortcuts for font size, style, and color that make a significant difference in your document’s presentation. These shortcuts can help you create professional-looking spreadsheets with less effort.

You can even apply formatting to multiple cells at once, making it easier to modify a large data range. For instance, you can highlight all cells with a specific keyword and replace them with a different value. This is useful when dealing with large data sets and minimizes the risk of human errors.

Keep in mind that formatting shortcuts can differ from one version of Excel to another. Therefore, you should keep yourself updated with the latest version of the software to take full advantage of these features.

A study by Microsoft found that the use of Excel shortcuts can increase productivity by up to 20%. Therefore, incorporating these tips into your daily workflow can be a game-changer.

Calculation Shortcuts

The Excel Techniques You Need to Calculate Fast and Accurately

Are you tired of manual calculations in Excel? Here are some essential techniques to speed up your calculations in Excel.

6 Steps to Mastering Excel Calculations

1. Use the AutoSum feature to add up cells instantly.
2. Enter formulas using the keyboard for fast calculations.
3. Apply the Fill Handle to copy formulas across multiple cells or rows.
4. Utilize the F4 key to lock cell references when copying formulas.
5. Apply Conditional Formatting to cells that meet a specific criterion.
6. Use Excel’s Function Library to access hundreds of built-in formulas.

Excel Calculation Shortcuts for Increased Efficiency

To enhance your Excel calculation proficiency, consider using advanced functions like Pivot Tables, Lookup functions, and Text functions. By mastering these, you can easily process complex datasets quickly and accurately.

According to Forbes, Excel proficiency is a critical skill for professionals in almost every industry.

Navigation Shortcuts

Navigation Shortcuts are essential and time-saving techniques that can be employed while working on Excel spreadsheets. Here are some methods to navigate through a worksheet more efficiently:

1. Using Ctrl+Arrow Keys to move across the rows or columns with data
2. Using Ctrl+Home to go to the top-left corner of the worksheet
3. Using Ctrl+End to go to the last cell with data on the worksheet
4. Using F5 to go to a specific cell address or named ranges

These Navigation Shortcuts can save a significant amount of time while working on large datasets. By making use of them, users can navigate through the worksheet quickly and accurately.

Additionally, another technique that can be employed is using the Scroll Bars to move up and down, left and right instead of clicking through the worksheet. This technique helps to reduce the time required to navigate a large worksheet.

One suggestion that can be employed is keeping the Navigation Shortcuts handy by creating Sticky Notes with shortcuts for easy access while working on the worksheet. By using Sticky Notes, users can work more efficiently without having to rely on memorizing shortcuts or searching for them repetitively. This, in turn, can lead to a more efficient and productive workflow.

Filtering Shortcuts

Filtering Data Effortlessly: Excel Shortcuts You Must Know

Excel users often come across the task of filtering a large amount of data. This process can be tedious and time-consuming. However, there are many filtering shortcuts in Excel that you should know to save time and effort.

Here are six ways to filter data in Excel that will make data filtering a breeze:

1. Quickly filter your data by selecting the data and pressing the shortcut key (Ctrl + Shift + L)
2. Sort data by color. This can be done by selecting the column you want to sort by and navigating to the Sort and Filter option under the Data tab
3. Filter by selected cell’s value. This shortcut can be used by selecting the cell value you want to filter by and pressing (Alt +;) to select all data within that value
4. Remove duplicates with a shortcut key (Alt + A + M)
5. Use AutoFilter to quickly filter data. Simply select the data you want to filter and click on the Filter option under the Data tab
6. You can also filter by searching for data. Click on the filter button and type the keyword you want to search for.

In addition to these common filtering shortcuts, there are several lesser-known shortcuts that you can use to filter data even more efficiently. For instance, you can filter data by using advanced filtering options, such as filtering by color scale or icon sets.

Stay ahead of the competition by mastering all the time-saving shortcuts in Excel. Not using these shortcuts means you are wasting precious time.

Start using these filtering shortcuts to make data filtering a breeze and save time for more productive tasks.

Sorting Shortcuts

Sorting Your Data in Excel: Three Express Ways

Excel has several sorting shortcuts that can save you time. Here are three quick ways to sort your data in Excel:

• Use Alt + A + S + S to sort a column in ascending order.
• To sort a column in descending order, use Alt + A + S + O.
• To sort multiple columns at once, select the entire table and use Alt + A + S + T.

These sorting shortcuts are incredibly useful for quickly organizing your data in Excel. However, there are other options available as well. For example, you can sort by font color or conditional formatting, which can be handy if you want to highlight certain data in your spreadsheet.

Pro Tip: When using sorting functions, make sure there are no blank cells in the column you want to sort.

Shortcuts for Working with Time

When it comes to managing time in Excel, there are various ways to simplify the process. Here are some time management techniques that can help you work with Excel more efficiently:

1. Keyboard shortcuts: Using keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl + Shift + :, Ctrl + Shift + ; or Ctrl + Shift + ~ can help you enter time values quickly.
2. Auto-fill: Excel’s Auto-fill function enables you to fill cells automatically with date and time values, without typing them in manually.
3. Time stamps: With a simple formula, you can set up a time stamp that records the current date and time every time you update a cell.

These techniques can save you a lot of time and effort when working with Excel. However, it’s essential to keep in mind that the details and application of these shortcuts may differ depending on the complexity of the work being done.

To make the most of these shortcuts, ensure that you are familiar with the functionality and limitations of each one. It is also important to focus on the context of the data being entered and to ensure accuracy in the process.

FAQs about 15 Date Shortcuts In Excel That Will Save You Time

What are the 15 Date Shortcuts in Excel That Will Save You Time?

The 15 Date Shortcuts in Excel That Will Save You Time are: Today’s Date, Current Time, Current Date and Time, Add One Day, Add One Month, Add One Year, Date with First Day of the Month, Date with Last Day of the Month, Date with First Day of the Next Month, Date with Last Day of the Previous Month, Date with Same Day in the Next Month, Date with Same Day in the Previous Month, Date with Same Weekday in the Next Week, Date with Same Weekday in the Previous Week, and Adding/Subtracting Days From a Date.

How do you use Today’s Date shortcut in Excel?

To use Today’s Date shortcut in Excel, simply enter =TODAY() into the cell where you want the date to appear. The cell will then display the current date.

How do you add one day to a date in Excel?

To add one day to a date in Excel, select the cell with the date you want to modify. Type =EDATE(A1,1) where A1 is the cell with the date you want to modify. Press the Enter key. Excel will add one day to the date in the cell.

How do you add one month to a date in Excel?

To add one month to a date in Excel, follow these steps: select the cell with the date you want to modify. Type =EDATE(A1,1) where A1 is the cell with the date you want to modify. Press the Enter key. Excel will add one month to the date in the cell.

How do you add one year to a date in Excel?

To add one year to a date in Excel, select the cell with the date you want to modify. Type =EDATE(A1,12) where A1 is the cell with the date you want to modify. Press the Enter key. Excel will add one year to the date in the cell.

How do you use date with first day of the month shortcut in Excel?

To use date with first day of the month shortcut in Excel, select the cell where you want the date to appear. Type =EOMONTH(TODAY(),-1)+1. Press the Enter key. Excel will display the date with the first day of the current month.