Additional keyboard shortcuts to increase your productivity

We are launching a new version of F1F9’s keyboard shortcuts. You will find them available to download in an Excel workbook just below.

The shortcuts are stored as macros in the workbook. On opening the workbook, you may need to click on “Enable Content” or “Enable Macros” to make sure things run properly.

Once done, the macro shortcuts will be active if the workbook is open.

Tip: save the F1F9 productivity shortcuts workbook to a folder on your desktop called “F1F9 Macros”

Using the macro shortcuts

F1F9 has designed additional macro shortcuts to increase a modeller’s productivity. You do not have to use them to build a financial model, but many of our training clients tell us that they find them extremely useful. For example: Ctrl + Shift + A will copy the contents of a selected cell across all remaining visible columns in the row of that selected cell. That’s useful if you are building a model with consistent formulas.

You can test the shortcuts by having two workbooks open at the same time: F1F9’s productivity macros and a blank workbook.

Switch between the two workbooks using Ctrl + Tab (that’s a standard Excel shortcut).

In the blank workbook, type a number in a cell of your choosing, tap “Enter” and then copy across the selected cell using Ctrl + Shift + A.

You will find a list of all of F1F9’s macro shortcuts here. Alternatively, you will find them documented in the workbook itself.

Hiding the macro shortcuts file

Now you have got the shortcuts working, you may want to hide the F1F9 productivity macros workbook so that it sits invisible as you work and does not get in the way. Make sure you are looking at the F1F9 productivity macros workbook and use the standard Excel shortcut Alt W, H to hide it.

If you wish to unhide it again, then try Alt W, U.

Tip: a hidden workbook is still open – it is just you can’t see it. Hiding a workbook is quite different from closing a workbook down.

Opening the F1F9 productivity macros file automatically

You can change your settings in Excel so that the F1F9 productivity macros workbook opens when you open Excel.

Firstly, save a copy of the F1F9 productivity macros workbook in a dedicated folder. For example, set up a folder on your desktop called “F1F9 Macros”.

Next, take a copy to the clipboard of the folder’s file path. You will find that by clicking in the formula bar relating to the folder in File Explorer.

In this instance, the file path is “C:\Users\Andrew\Desktop\F1F9 macros”.

Now move back to Excel and open up Options using Alt F, T. Select the “Advanced” tab and find the menu tab called “At startup, open all files in:”. Paste the contents of the clipboard into the menu box.

Tap “OK” and then come out of Excel all together.

Next time you open Excel, the settings in Excel will prompt it to open up all files that you have stored in your chosen file path. This means that F1F9’s productivity macros will be available to you when you open up any spreadsheet that you wish to work on.

And if you have saved the F1F9 productivity macros file in a hidden state then it won’t get in your way.

Tip: only store in your chosen folder those files that you wish to have open every time you open Excel.