Creating scannable barcodes may seem like a difficult task, but Excel actually makes it easy. First, add an “*” before and after each product code using the ampersand symbol. Then just update the font to “libre barcode 128” to create the barcodes! Easy.
2. AutoCorrect Symbols
Instead of manually searching for and inserting symbols, you can code them into Excel using AutoCorrect. Hit ALT F T > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options. Enter the phrase that'll represent the symbol next to ‘Replace:’ and the symbol next to ‘With:.’
3. Dynamic Pictures
Instead of retaking pictures of data every time a change is made, you can use the camera tool to take dynamic pictures. Select the data you want to capture > press the Camera icon > click anywhere in the sheet. Now, the image auto-updates the data changes!
4. Sort By Formatting
Excel is known for analyzing and sorting numerical data, but it can also sort by cell formatting! For example, to sort by color, go to Data > Sort > Select field to sort by > Select ‘Cell Color’ to sort on > Choose the color to sort by and hit OK.
5. Emoji Formatting
Give your data some personality by adding conditional Emojis 🙂. To visualize your data using emojis, open the Format Cells dialog box > Number Tab > Custom > enter ‘[Color 10]0.00%🙂;[Color 3]-0.00%☹️’ as type.
6. Slicers
Instead of adding Sort&Filter toggles to data and manually applying filters, you can create filter buttons using slicers. To add slicers, go to the Insert tab > Slicers > select what you want to filter the data by and hit OK. Now just click any button to auto-filter!
7. Custom Lists
Have Excel read your mind and autofill lists for you using custom lists. To create a custom list, Go to File > Options > Advanced > Edit Custom Lists > Enter List > Import > OK. Now, enter any list item, drag down the fill handle, and Excel will fill the rest!
8. Add Text To Numbers
Adding text to numbers, such as ‘Million,’ will convert the number to text and cause errors in calculations. To prevent this, you can actually use custom formatting. Open the Format Cells dialog box > Number Tab > Custom > enter ‘#,, “Million”’ as type.
9. Hide Data
Deleting data out of your workbook can cause endless REF errors throughout your workbook. Instead of deleting the data, you can actually hide it. Just select the data you want to hide, open the Format Cells dialog box > Number Tab > Custom > enter ‘;;;;’ as type.
10. Roman Numerals
Excel makes it easy to convert numbers into Roman Numerals with the ROMAN function. Just enter the number you want to convert as the “number” argument, and it will automatically be converted into its Roman Numeral.
Who actually knew all ten?! 🤚🏼
To learn all of Excel’s shortcuts and productivity hacks like these, make sure to sign up for my new course! #excel
The CTRL SHIFT ! automatically applies number formatting to the selected cells. Number format rounds numbers to two decimal places and adds commas.
2. CTRL SHIFT @
Never waste your time formatting time values manually again with the CTRL SHIFT @ shortcut. CTRL SHIFT @ automatically applies time formatting to the selected cells for you.
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5 shortcuts that will make analyzing data a little bit easier:
1. ALT =
Let Excel do the math for you with this shortcut! ALT = detects data in adjacent cells and automatically sums it using the SUM function. Just select an empty cell adjacent to the data that needs to be added and press ALT =.
2. CTRL H
Finding values in your workbook and replacing them one by one could take hours, but not with CTRL H. The CTRL H shortcut opens the find and replace dialog box, which finds a value and replaces all instances with a new specified value.
One of the best ways to avoid errors when writing formulas is by locking reference cells. Instead of typing out the dollar sign in the cell reference, try the F4 shortcut. F4 quickly toggles through absolute/relative referencing.
2. Alt =
Do you feel like you spend too much time summing data in Excel? Try the Alt = shortcut instead. Alt = automatically sums data detected around the cell. Just select the cells that you want to add totals to, hit Alt =, and let Excel do the work for you!
Say goodbye to manually summing data in 2023 and hello to AutoSum. AutoSum automatically detects surrounding data and sums it using the SUM function. Just select the cell you want to calculate the sum in, and press ALT =.
2. Flash Fill
Thanks to Flash Fill, you can officially retire writing complex text functions to manipulate data in 2022. Flash Fill automatically fills data down a column based on detected patterns. Just enter how you want the data to appear and just hit CTRL E!
You're unable to sort data if it contains merged cells. Below we have historical sales data with rows without data merged into one cell. So watch what happens when I try to sort the total sales in descending order.
Merged cells can make copying and pasting data difficult. So let’s say we received Taylor’s sales data and wanted to copy and paste it in. Again, it doesn’t work.