Assigning a shortcut key to commands

R

Rightmer

I'm pretty new at Excel, but am finding it very helpful in everyday tasks. I am stumped with one major problem, though. I am trying to assign shortcut keys to some of the items I use most often. I use Borders, and color code several things, but am quite lazy about it. Well, perhaps not lazy, but I'm having to go back and forth to color cells, border them, and insert data. I know there must be an easier way to do all of this. I am trying to find shortcut keys to do so, but have found none. I figured that I could somehow assign keys to the border and color buttons I have placed on my toolbar. Is this possible? If so, how?! PLEASE help me. I am using MS Excel 2000. Thanks in advance,

- Rightmer
 
G

Gord Dibben

Rightmer

For a good list of Excel shortcut keys, use Help>Answer Wizard or Index and
"shortcut keys"(no quotes).

Gord Dibben Excel MVP
 
M

Mark Graesser

Gord
I always say "Laziness is the mother of invention". You might want to look into recording some macros for your common formats. Look under Tools>Macros>Record. I would use Store macro in: Personal Macro Workbook so they are always available

Keep in mind that when you record a macro for a format it will record the entire format. So if you only change the background color, the macro will also record the alignment, and apply it any time you use the macro. You can edit out any of the unwanted format components after you record the macro.

Another thing you might look at is Format>Conditional_Formatting. If your formats are based on specific conditions you can make Excel apply them automatically

Good Luck
Mark Graesse
[email protected]

----- Gord Dibben wrote: ----

Rightme

For a good list of Excel shortcut keys, use Help>Answer Wizard or Index an
"shortcut keys"(no quotes)

Gord Dibben Excel MV
 
D

David McRitchie

If borders is something you want all the time, you could make
a book.xlt template for a new workbook, and a sheet.xlt
template for worksheets added to existing workbooks.
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/templates.htm

One shortcut I use a lot is Ctrl+A to select all cells on the
worksheet. For a list of shortcut keys see
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/shortx2k.htm
that may be more useful to you at the moment to see if
you might be wiping out a builtin shortcut with your own
macro.
---
HTH,
David McRitchie, Microsoft MVP - Excel [site changed Nov. 2001]
My Excel Pages: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/excel.htm
Search Page: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/search.htm

Mark Graesser said:
Gord,
I always say "Laziness is the mother of invention". You might want to look into recording some macros for your common formats.
Click to expand...
Look under Tools>Macros>Record. I would use Store macro in: Personal Macro Workbook so they are always available.
Keep in mind that when you record a macro for a format it will record the entire format. So if you only change the background
Click to expand...
color, the macro will also record the alignment, and apply it any time you use the macro. You can edit out any of the unwanted
format components after you record the macro.
Another thing you might look at is Format>Conditional_Formatting. If your formats are based on specific conditions you can make
Click to expand...
Excel apply them automatically.
Good Luck,
Mark Graesser
[email protected]

----- Gord Dibben wrote: -----

Rightmer

For a good list of Excel shortcut keys, use Help>Answer Wizard or Index and
"shortcut keys"(no quotes).

Gord Dibben Excel MVP
Click to expand...
trying to assign shortcut keys to some of the items I use most often. I use Borders, and color code several things, but am quite
lazy about it. Well, perhaps not lazy, but I'm having to go back and forth to color cells, border them, and insert data. I know
there must be an easier way to do all of this. I am trying to find shortcut keys to do so, but have found none. I figured that I
could somehow assign keys to the border and color buttons I have placed on my toolbar. Is this possible? If so, how?! PLEASE help
me. I am using MS Excel 2000. Thanks in advance,
 
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