Excel Quick Tips

Get the answers to common Microsoft Excel questions. Learn tips for how to format cells, align rows and columns, calculate sums, generate series data automatically, and more.

The most common questions about using Excel now have timely video answers. This set of quick tips provides helpful, condensed steps you can readily apply to keep on task—whether you're running calculations, setting up a new workbook, fixing a sheet you received, or getting tables ready for presentation. Each video is about one minute long, so you can jump in and get some helpful insights in no time.

Introduction

• Get fast answers to common Excel questions

1. Data Entry Tips

• Fill in a series of data
• Quickly insert multiple rows and columns
• Insert hyperlinks
• Create and manage drop-down lists
• Summing rows
• Work with stock and geography data types
• Fill in contents with Flash Fill
• Quickly insert a total
• Extract part of a cell's contents

2. Working with Data

• Select specific rows or columns
• Find named ranges
• Change sort order
• Filter data
• Remove duplicate entries
• Convert formula values to plain numbers
• Transpose data from vertical to horizontal

3. Formatting Tips

• Text wrap
• Rotate and align cell data
• Copy cell formatting
• Apply international currency formats
• Apply cell styles
• Page options
• Adjust row height and column width
• Add headers and footers
• Align cells
• Add a watermark
• Conditional formatting by cell contents
• Copy and paste cell formatting
• Merge cells

4. Viewing Options

• Change magnification
• Freeze and lock panel options
• Hide and unhide columns and rows
• Show and hide grouped data

5. Collaborating on Spreadsheets

• Insert and respond to comments
• Collaborate on an Excel file with others
• Highlight portions of a spreadsheet
• Draw and mark up spreadsheets

6. Working with Files

• Set document recovery options
• Encrypt a workbook with a password
• Restrict editing
• Save as other file type
• Inspect a spreadsheet
• Check for compatibility issues
• Add and reference worksheets
• Lock cells