Using Function Keys in Excel

There is a lot that we can do with the Function Keys in Excel. Let us see the various function keys and their functionality with reference to Excel.

Key Description

F1 Displays the Microsoft Office Excel Help task pane.

CTRL+F1 Displays or hides the Ribbon component.

ALT+F1 Creates a chart of the data in the current range.

ALT+SHIFT+F1 Inserts a new worksheet.

F2 Edits the active cell. 

SHIFT+F2 Adds or edits a cell comment.

CTRL+F2 Displays the Print Preview window.

F3 Displays the Paste Name dialog box.

SHIFT+F3 Displays the Insert Function dialog box.

F4 Repeats the last command or action.

CTRL+F4 Closes the selected workbook window.

F5 Displays the Go To dialog box.

CTRL+F5 Restores the window size of the selected workbook window.

F6 Switches between worksheet, Ribbon, task pane and Zoom controls. 

CTRL+F6 Switches to the next workbook when more than one workbook is open.

F7 Displays the Spelling dialog to check spelling.

CTRL+F7 Performs Move command on the workbook when it is not maximized. 

F8 Turns extend mode on or off. 

SHIFT+F8 Helps to add nonadjacent cell(s) to selection of cells using arrow keys.

CTRL+F8 Performs the Size command when a workbook is not maximized.

ALT+F8 Displays the Macro dialog box to create, run, edit, or delete a macro.

F9 Calculates all worksheets in all open workbooks.

SHIFT+F9 Calculates the active worksheet.

CTRL+ALT+F9 Calculates all worksheets in open books, even if they haven't changed.

CTRL+F9 Minimizes a workbook window to an icon.

F10 Turns key tips on or off.

SHIFT+F10 Displays the shortcut menu for a selected item.

CTRL+F10 Maximizes / restores the selected workbook window.

F11 Creates a chart of the data in the current range.

SHIFT+F11 Inserts a new worksheet.

ALT+F11 Opens the Microsoft Visual Basic Editor to create a macro.

F12 Displays the Save As dialog box.

How to take a snapshot of the contents on your screen?

All of us have noticed the button called ‘Print Screen’ (Prnt Scrn) at the top of the keyboard on the right side.  It will be usually located at the top row.

It is used to make screenshots of your desktop screen.  Whenever you want to capture your desktop as an image, just hit the ‘Prnt Scrn’ button once, and it will take an exact snapshot of your monitor screen.  Now, the screenshot is in the clipboard. How to save it?

Now if you want to save it, just  open the paint application. Paste the image which is there in the clipboard by pressing  “Ctrl+v”. The image is visible on the Paint window. Now if you want, you can edit it as you wish and save it.

Suppose you want to take a snapshot of one window on the screen but not the entire screen. How do we take it then? Let’s see. Make the window of which you want to take a snapshot, the active window. Just click on its title bar to make it active. Now, while holding down the Alt key, press the ‘Prnt Scrn’ button. You got a screenshot of your favourite window. Follow the procedure mentioned above to save it.

Hope this helps!

Statistics computation through Calculator

Let us see how we can use the calculator to do statistical computations. Open the Calculator (Start -> Run-> Type calc and press Enter).

From the View menu, select the "scientific" option to turn it into scientific mode.

Are you able to see a button named "Sta" on the left side? 

Now, let us see how we can use this.

To calculate sum, average and Std.Deviation of given numbers execute the

following steps

1) Enter the first number.

2) Click Sta button. (you will see Statistics Box. The entered

numbers are in Statistics Box)

3) Click RET

4) Click Dat button.

5) Enter the next number.

6) Click Dat button.

7) Repeat step 5 and step 6 until you exhaust all the numbers.

8) Click the s button.

9) The Standard Deviation of the entered numbers is displayed.

10) Click Sum you will be shown sum of the numbers entered.

11) Click Ave you will be shown average of the numbers entered.

If you click the LOAD button of Statistics Box, the highlighted number

in the display area of the Statistics Box will be loaded into the display

area of calculator display area.

If you click CD button of Statistics Box, the highlighted number in the

display area of Statistics Box will be deleted from the list of numbers.

If you click the CAD button of Statistics Box, all the entered numbers

are deleted.