Excel Shortcut Keys: Keys for Selecting Data

Excel 2003 Shortcut Keys

[Keys for General Use] [Keys for Moving and Scrolling on Worksheets] [Keys for Moving between Worksheet Panes, Worksheets, and Workbooks] [Keys for Entering Data] [Keys for Selecting Data and Cells] [Keys for Editing Data] [Keys for Formatting Data] [Keys for Printing and Previewing Spreadsheet Files] [Keys for Working with Names] [Keys for Working with Databases and Lists] [Keys for Outlining Data] [Keys for Working with Charts] [Keys for Working with PivotTables and PivotCharts] [Keys for Working with Objects]

Keys for Selecting Data and Cells

All shortcut keys are based on the U.S. keyboard layout. Keys on other layouts may not correspond exactly to the keys on a U.S. keyboard.

For keyboard shortcuts in which you press two or more keys together, the keys to press are separated by a plus sign, like this: SHIFT+F10.
For shortcuts in which you press keys one after the other, the keys to press are separated by a comma, like this: ALT, F, X.

Selecting Cells, Columns, Rows, or Objects in Worksheets and Workbooks

To perform this action...	Press...
To select the entire column	CTRL+SPACEBAR
To select the entire row	SHIFT+SPACEBAR
To select the entire worksheet	CTRL+A (If the worksheet contains data, CTRL+A selects the current region. Pressing CTRL+A a second time selects the entire worksheet.)
To select only the active cell (with multiple cells selected)	SHIFT+BACKSPACE
To select the entire worksheet	CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR (If the worksheet contains data, CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR selects the current region. Pressing CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR a second time selects the entire worksheet. When an object is selected, CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR selects all objects on a worksheet.)
To alternate between hiding objects, displaying objects, and displaying placeholders for objects	CTRL+6

Extending Selections

To extend the selection by one cell	SHIFT+arrow key
To extend the selection to the last nonblank cell in the same column or row as the active cell	CTRL+SHIFT+arrow key
To extend the selection to the beginning of the row	SHIFT+HOME
To extend the selection to the beginning of the worksheet	CTRL+SHIFT+HOME
To extend the selection to the last used cell on the worksheet (lower-right corner)	CTRL+SHIFT+END
To extend the selection down one screen	SHIFT+PAGE DOWN
To extend the selection up one screen	SHIFT+PAGE UP

Using Extend Mode

In extend mode, EXT appears in the status line, and the arrow keys extend the selection.

To perform this action...	Press...
To turn extend mode on or off	F8
To add another range of cells to the selection	SHIFT+F8 (then use the arrow keys to move to the start of the range you want to add; press F8 and the arrow keys to select the next range)

Using End Mode

In End mode, END appears in the status line.

To perform this action...	Press...
To turn End mode on or off	END
To extend the selection to the last nonblank cell in the same column or row as the active cell	END, SHIFT+ Arrow key
To extend the selection to the last cell used on the worksheet (lower-right corner)	END, SHIFT+HOME
To extend the selection to the last cell in the current row	END, SHIFT+ENTER (this keystroke is unavailable if you selected the Transition navigation keys check box on the Transition tab: Tools menu, Options command)

Using Scroll Lock

When Scroll Lock is on, SCRL appears in the status line.

To perform this action...	Press...
To turn Scroll Lock on or off	SCROLL LOCK
To extend the selection to the cell in the upper-left corner of the window	SHIFT+HOME
To extend the selection to the cell in the lower-right corner of the window	SHIFT+END

Selecting Cells with Special Characteristics

To perform this action...	Press...
To select the current region (the area around the active cell enclosed by blank rows and blank columns) In a PivotTable report, to select the entire PivotTable report	*CTRL+ (asterisk)**
To select the array containing the active cell	CTRL+/
To select all cells that contain comments	CTRL+SHIFT+O (the letter O)
In a selected row, to select the cells that don't match the value in the active cell	CTRL+\
In a selected column, to select the cells that don't match the value in the active cell	CTRL+SHIFT+\|
To select all cells directly referenced by formulas in the selection	CTRL+[ (opening bracket)
To select all cells directly or indirectly referenced by formulas in the selection	CTRL+SHIFT+{ (opening brace)
To select cells that contain formulas that directly reference the active cell	CTRL+] (closing bracket)
To select cells that contain formulas that directly or indirectly reference the active cell	CTRL+SHIFT+} (closing brace)
To select the visible cells in the current selection	ALT+; (semicolon)

Moving within a Selection

To perform this action...	Press...
To move from top to bottom within the selection (down), or in the direction that is selected on the Edit tab (Tools menu, Options command)	ENTER
To move from bottom to top within the selection (up), or opposite to the direction that is selected on the Edit tab (Tools menu, Options command)	SHIFT+ENTER
To move from left to right within the selection, or move down one cell if only one column is selected	TAB
To move from right to left within the selection, or move up one cell if only one column is selected	SHIFT+TAB
To move clockwise to the next corner of the selection	CTRL+PERIOD
To move to the right between nonadjacent selections	CTRL+ALT+RIGHT ARROW
To move to the left between nonadjacent selections	CTRL+ALT+LEFT ARROW

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