Download the Cheat Sheet with all Excel features 👉 HERE and follow along.
Quickly Find Excel Features Using Right-Click Search
Finding the right tool in Excel can sometimes be a hassle, especially when you’re not sure where it’s located on the ribbon. Excel has many ribbon tabs, making it easy to lose track of where specific features are.
But did you know there’s a faster way to find any feature? Just right-click on any cell and use the “Search the menus” option.
Here’s how it works:
- Right-click on a cell – This will bring up a menu with several options.
- Select “Search the menus” – It’s right at the top of the menu.
- Type what you need – For example, if you want to wrap text, just type “wrap.”
- Choose the feature – The search results will show you the actual feature. Click it, and Excel will apply it immediately.
- Navigate multiple options – If there are several results, use the arrow keys to scroll through and press Enter or the spacebar to select.
This quick trick can save you a lot of time, especially when you’re working with features you don’t use often. So next time you’re struggling to find a feature, just right-click and search!
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Navigation Pane to locate Sheets and Objects
When your Excel workbook has many sheets, it’s easy to lose track of where everything is. Charts, tables, shapes, and other objects can be hard to find if there are too many to display at the bottom of the screen.
Luckily, Excel’s Navigation Pane makes it simple to locate and manage these items.
Here’s how to use the Navigation Pane:
1. Open the Navigation Pane:
- Go to the View tab.
- In the Show group, click on Navigation.
- A panel will appear on the right side of your screen, displaying all your sheets and objects.
2. Navigate and Manage Sheets:
- The panel lists all the sheets in your workbook.
- Right-click on a sheet name to rename, hide, unhide, or delete it.
- Hidden sheets will still show up in the panel, but they’ll be in light gray to indicate they’re hidden.
3. Find Objects on a Sheet:
- Click the Expand button next to a sheet’s name to see all the objects on that sheet, like charts, tables, slicers, and more.
- Click on any object in the list to jump straight to it in your workbook.
4. Use the Search Bar:
- At the top of the Navigation Pane, there’s a search bar.
- Type in the name or type of the sheet or object you’re looking for, and Excel will find it for you.
Using the Navigation Pane is a great way to keep track of everything in your workbook, especially when you’re working with large files.
New Excel Keyboard Shortcuts You Need to Know
1. Open the Power Query Editor
- Press Alt + F12 to quickly open the Power Query Editor. No need to navigate through the menus—just use this shortcut to get started right away.
2. Copy and Paste as Values
- Want to paste only the values in a cell, without the formulas? After copying a cell with CTRL + C, use CTRL + Shift + V instead of the usual CTRL + V.
- This will paste the results as plain text, saving you the extra step of using the “Paste Special” menu.
These shortcuts can make your Excel tasks faster and easier. Try them out and see how much time you can save!
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How to Automate Tasks in Excel with Office Scripts
Excel’s Automate tab is a powerful tool that can save you time by automating repetitive tasks. Whether you’re working in Excel for Desktop or Excel for the Web, you can use Office Scripts to streamline your workflow.
Here’s a quick guide to getting started with Office Scripts:
1. Open the Automate Tab:
- The Automate tab groups all of Excel’s automation features, making it easy to find what you need.
2. Use the Script Recorder:
You don’t need to be a coding expert to create Office Scripts. The Automate tab features a Record Actions tool that automatically writes the code for you as you click buttons and type data. It’s a great way to start automating without any programming knowledge.
For more detailed instructions, check out these helpful videos:
3. Run the Script:
Suppose you need to create a chart with a consistent look and style. With Office Scripts, this can be done in just a few steps:
- Highlight the data you want to chart.
- Click on the Automate tab.
- Select Chart Script to activate your pre-made script.
- Click Run to execute the script and create your chart.
Safely Evaluate Excel Formulas Using the Value Preview Tooltip
Troubleshooting formula errors in Excel can be tricky, but there’s a safer and easier way to do it without altering your formulas.
Instead of using the old method of pressing F9 to evaluate parts of a formula—which can accidentally turn dynamic formulas into static values—try using the Value Preview Tooltip.
This feature lets you see the result of any part of your formula without making any changes.
Here’s how to use it:
1. Highlight the Formula:
- In the Formula Bar, select the portion of the formula you want to evaluate.
- This could be a reference, function, or even the entire formula.
2. View the Tooltip:
- After highlighting, look for the tooltip that appears automatically.
- It shows you the result of the selected portion, so you can quickly see if it’s working as expected.
No Risk of Changes:
- Unlike the F9 method, using the tooltip doesn’t change your formula.
- This means you can troubleshoot without worrying about accidentally corrupting your formula.
💡 If the part of the formula you’ve highlighted can’t be evaluated, you won’t see a tooltip.
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How to Use Dynamic Array Results in Power Query
With Excel 365, you can now easily bring Dynamic Array results into Power Query—something that wasn’t possible in earlier versions.
This feature allows you to seamlessly use expanding data ranges as a data source in Power Query.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Select the Formula Cell:
- Start by selecting the single cell that contains your Dynamic Array formula.
2. Import into Power Query:
- Go to the Data tab.
- In the Get & Transform Data group, click on From Table/Range.
- This will bring the results of your Dynamic Array into Power Query.
3. Automatic Query Naming:
- Power Query will automatically name the query “FromArray_X” (where “X” is the instance number of imported arrays).
4. Refresh for Updated Results:
- If your Dynamic Array formula updates, simply refresh the query in Power Query to reflect the new results.
How to Use Dynamic Array Results as a Chart Source in Excel
Creating dynamic charts in Excel is now easier than ever, thanks to the ability to use Dynamic Array results as a data source.
Previously, setting this up required complex formulas and manual effort, but with Excel’s latest update, charts can automatically update when your Dynamic Array output changes.
Here’s how you can do it:
1. Generate Dynamic Array Output:
- Use Dynamic Array functions to create your data set.
- For example, if your output is in cell E5, you can use this as the base for your chart.
2. Create a Chart:
- Select the Dynamic Array output range.
- Insert a chart based on this data to visualize information like employee salaries in different departments.
3. Automatic Updates:
- When the underlying Dynamic Array changes, such as when a department is switched from “Procurement” to “Finance,” the chart will automatically update to reflect the new data.
To see this in action, check out my video tutorial:
📺 Effortlessly Create Dynamic Charts in Excel: New Feature Alert!
This new feature in Excel makes it simple to create responsive, dynamic charts that save you time and effort.
Download the New Excel Features Cheat Sheet
Download our free cheat sheet to keep all the latest Excel tips and tricks at your fingertips. Whether you’re in the middle of a project or just want a quick refresher, this cheat sheet will be your go-to guide. Download your free PDF Cheat Sheet here.
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Leila Gharani
I’ve spent over 20 years helping businesses use data to improve their results. I've worked as an economist and a consultant. I spent 12 years in corporate roles across finance, operations, and IT—managing SAP and Oracle projects.
As a 7-time Microsoft MVP, I have deep knowledge of tools like Excel and Power BI.
I love making complex tech topics easy to understand. There’s nothing better than helping someone realize they can do it themselves. I’m always learning new things too and finding better ways to help others succeed.
