Banking & Economy

Computer Awareness for SSC, Banking Students: Essential Keyboard Shortcuts

Pareeksha Editorial · 3 min read · from the Pareeksha archive

Improve your computer awareness skills for SSC and Banking exams with these essential keyboard shortcuts. They’ll help you navigate and format data more efficiently in spreadsheets and other applications. They cover a wide range of functions, including formatting, navigation, and data manipulation.

Navigating Between Worksheet Tabs

Ctrl+PgDn: Switch between worksheet tabs from left-to-right

Ctrl+PgUp: Switch between worksheet tabs from right-to-left

Ctrl+Shift+&: Apply outline border to selected cells

Ctrl+Shift+_: Remove the outline border from selected cells

Ctrl+Shift+~: Apply General number format

Ctrl+Shift+$: Apply Currency format with two decimal places (negative numbers in parentheses)

Ctrl+Shift+%: Apply Percentage format with no decimal places

Ctrl+Shift+^: Apply Scientific number format with two decimal places

Ctrl+Shift+#: Apply Date format with day, month, and year

Ctrl+Shift+@: Apply Time format with hour, minute, and AM or PM

Ctrl+Shift+!: Apply Number format with two decimal places, thousands separator, and minus sign (-) for negative values

Ctrl+Shift+*: Select the current region around the active cell or the entire PivotTable report (if in a PivotTable)

Ctrl+Shift+: Enter the current time

Ctrl+Shift+”: Copy value from cell above the active cell into the cell or Formula Bar

Ctrl+Shift+Plus (+): Display Insert dialog box to insert blank cells

Ctrl+Minus (-): Display Delete dialog box to delete selected cells

Ctrl+’: Copy the formula from the cell above the active cell into the cell or Formula Bar

Ctrl+`: Alternate between displaying cell values and displaying formulas in the worksheet

Ctrl+6: Alternate between hiding and displaying objects

Ctrl+8: Display or hide the outline symbols

Ctrl+1: Display Format Cells dialog box

Ctrl+2 / Ctrl+B: Apply or remove bold formatting

Ctrl+3 / Ctrl+I: Apply or remove italic formatting

Ctrl+4 / Ctrl+U: Apply or remove underlining

Ctrl+5: Apply or remove strikethrough

Ctrl+A: Select the entire worksheet

Ctrl+D: Fill Down the command to copy the contents and format of the topmost cell into the cells below

Ctrl+E: Add more values to the active column using the surrounding data

Ctrl+F: Display the Find and Replace dialog box with the Find tab selected (Shift+F5 also displays this tab, Shift+F4 repeats last Find action)

Ctrl+G: Display Go To dialog box (F5 also displays this dialog box)

Ctrl+H: Display Find and Replace dialog box with Replace tab selected

Ctrl+K: Display Insert Hyperlink dialog box for new hyperlinks or Edit Hyperlink dialog box for existing hyperlinks

Ctrl+L: Display Create Table dialog box

Ctrl+N: Create new, blank workbook

Ctrl+O: Display Open dialog box to open or find a file (Ctrl+Shift+O selects all cells containing comments)

Ctrl+P: Display Print tab in Microsoft Office Backstage view (Ctrl+Shift+P opens Format Cells dialog box with Font tab selected)

Ctrl+Q: Display Quick Analysis options for selected data

Ctrl+R: Fill Right command to copy contents and format of leftmost cell into cells to the right

Ctrl+S: Save active file with current file name, location, and format

Ctrl+T: Display Create Table dialog box

Ctrl+V: Paste contents of Clipboard at insertion point and replace any selection (Ctrl+Alt+V displays Paste Special dialog box)

Ctrl+W: Close selected workbook window

Ctrl+Y: Repeat last command or action, if possible

Ctrl+Z: Undo last command or delete last entry typed

F1: Display Excel Help task pane

F2: Edit active cell and position insertion point at the end of cell contents

Working with Names and Formulas

F3: Display Paste Name dialog box (available if names have been defined in the workbook)

Shift+F3: Display Insert Function dialog box

F4: Repeat last command or action, if possible (cycles through absolute and relative references when a cell reference or range is selected in a formula)

Navigating and Managing Windows

Ctrl+F5: Restore window size of the selected workbook window

F6: Switch between worksheet, ribbon, task pane, and Zoom controls (includes split panes when switching)

Shift+F6: Switch between worksheet, Zoom controls, task pane, and ribbon

Ctrl+F6: Switch to next workbook window when more than one workbook window is open

Checking Spelling and Moving Windows

F7: Display Spelling dialog box to check spelling in active worksheet or selected range

Ctrl+F7: Perform Move command on the workbook window when not maximized (use arrow keys to move window)