Creating Custom Keyboard Shortcuts

When you find that a command you need to run from the keyboard has no predefined keyboard shortcut, you can create a custom keyboard shortcut. You can also create one to replace or supplement an existing keyboard shortcut or to run a macro you create (Chapter 14 covers creating macros).

To create a custom keyboard shortcut, follow these steps:

1. Choose Tools Customize Keyboard to display the Customize Keyboard dialog box (shown in Figure 2–6 with settings already chosen for creating a shortcut).
   

   Figure 2–6. Use the Customize Keyboard dialog box to set up custom keyboard shortcuts for the commands you need to give frequently from the keyboard.

2. In the Categories list box, click the category of command for which you want to create a keyboard shortcut.
   • The All Commands item at the top gives you access to all of the commands in alphabetical order. Use this category when you're looking for a command that doesn't appear on a menu (or whose menu you've forgotten).
   • Click one of the regular menu items—the File menu, the Edit menu, the View menu, and so on—to display the items that appear on that menu and related commands that don't appear on the menu.
   • Click the Charting category to display the charting commands.

   TIP:If you find you use the same charting commands frequently, create keyboard shortcuts for them using the Charting category in the Customize Keyboard dialog box. That way, you can give essential commands quickly from the keyboard without having to use the Ribbon.

3. In the Commands list box, click the command you want to create a keyboard shortcut for. Excel displays information about the command:
   • Current keyboard shortcuts. The Current keys list box shows any keyboard shortcuts currently assigned to the command (some commands have several shortcuts). If this command has any shortcuts, check that you know them and decide whether you need to create another.
   • Description. This area shows the description of the command. Read it to make sure you've picked the command you intended. Some command names are clear, but others can be confusing. (If in doubt, close the Customize Keyboard dialog box and try the command from the Ribbon or the menu to make sure it does what you think it does.)
4. Click in the Press new shortcut key text box.
5. Press the keyboard shortcut you want to assign:
   • You can create keyboard shortcuts that start with the Cmd and Ctrl keys: Cmd, Cmd+Option, Cmd+Ctrl, Cmd+Option+Shift, Cmd+Option+Ctrl, Cmd+Option+Ctrl+Shift, Cmd+Ctrl+Shift, Ctrl, Ctrl+Option, Ctrl+Shift, Ctrl+Option+Shift are all possible.
   • You can use pretty much any key on the keyboard—letters, numbers, function keys, and so on.
6. Check the Currently assigned to readout to see whether the keyboard shortcut is currently used. If so, press another keyboard shortcut if you don't want to overwrite it.
7. Click the Assign button. Excel assigns the keyboard shortcut to the command.
8. When you've finished assigning keyboard shortcuts, click the Close button to close the Customize Keyboard dialog box.