Excel users often have to select data while performing a task. You can select data using many different ways in Excel. A mouse or a keyboard both can help in the execution of functions. Here in this post, we will get to know how to select data in Excel without any trouble. Your data may consist of small or large values that needed to be selected for function implementation.
You must be thinking about what is so difficult in selecting data in Excel and why you should read this article. Well, selecting data isn’t difficult at all, the problem comes when your data is not organized or you have larger data with unwanted information.
Keyboard Shortcuts to Select Cells
Below you will find all the keyboard shortcuts that can help you in selecting data in Excel. For a better experience, you must try these keyboard shortcuts at least once.
So, let’s get started without further ado!
Select the Last Used Cell
For this shortcut you have to press: CTRL + End
Performing this shortcut will take you directly to the intersection of the last used column and row. It does not matter what kind of data you have.
Excel sometimes moves the selection that is farther right or down than the data range you can see.
It often happens because those cells were having data earlier or there might be formatting in those cells. And that data or formatting is now deleted. If you don’t want those cells to be in your workbook, simply delete them and repeat the keyboard shortcut.
This keyboard shortcut can select the last used cell from the worksheet.
Select the First Visible Cell
For this function, you can press the keys: CTRL + Home
Using this shortcut will let you find the first visible cell from the sheet. Make sure your workbook does not have Freeze Panes. Also, keep in mind this function will not find cells from hidden columns or rows.
If the worksheet contains Freeze Panes, your rows and columns would lock, no matter if you scroll down in the worksheet. Freeze Panes are useful when you need to see titles, headers, or product names. In short for data identification, we use Freeze Panes.
Having Freeze Panes in the sheet can restrict your activity. So, using this keyboard shortcut will direct you to the first cell in the sheet, which is beyond Freeze Panes. Below is an example that shows, Row 1 and Column A both are frozen, that’s why the CTRL + Home command takes you to Cell B2.
Select the Last Cell in Contiguous Range
To perform the last cell selection in a contiguous range, you can use this keyboard shortcut: CTRL + Arrow key
Using CTRL with arrow keys lets you move to the starting point or end of contiguous data in a row or column. For instance, starting from the top of a column, press CTRL +? You will move to the last cell in that column available before an empty cell.
If you continue using this command, you will be moved down further to the column just before the nest blank cell.
CTRL + ? command can reverse the function in an upward direction. Pressing and holding the CTRL key with the left or right arrow leys gives you a chance to perform the same function horizontally.
Add Cells to the Selected Range
You can use this keyboard to add cells to the selected range:
Shift + Arrow Key
Using this keyboard shortcut lets you select more than one cell simultaneously. For instance, starting from any cell and pressing Shift + ? highlights the real cell and the cell below it.
You can use any arrow key left, right, or up except the down key. Pressing the Shift key and holding down continues moving multiple cells in multiple directions to select an entire range.
Select Multiple Cells in Contiguous Range
To select multiple cells in a contiguous range you can use this keyboard shortcut:
CTRL + Shift + Arrow Key
Using this shortcut lets you select multiple cells at the same time. You will see everything is highlighted in the cell you started from.
Using the Arrow keys, you can continue the same process in all directions. You will see only those cells are selected that come before a blank cell. And in case your workbook has many empty columns then you should not try this shortcut.
That’s It
Now, hopefully, you are well aware of the keyboard shortcuts used to select cells in different conditions. If you keep them in practice, you will be able to continue using them without any issues. Keeping records maintained in worksheet forms is truly necessary.
