Microsoft Excel is a popular spreadsheet software that is used by millions of people across the globe. It is an essential tool for data analysis, accounting, financial modeling, and many other applications. Excel is loaded with many features that make it easier to use and save time. One such feature is the keyboard shortcut for selecting visible cells. In this article, we will discuss this handy shortcut and how to use it effectively.
What are Visible Cells in Excel?
In Excel, visible cells are the cells that are currently displayed on the screen. When you apply a filter to your data, Excel will hide the rows and columns that do not meet the filter criteria. The remaining rows and columns that meet the criteria are called visible cells.
When you select a range of cells in Excel, it includes both visible and hidden cells. This can be problematic when you want to copy or manipulate only the visible cells. This is where the keyboard shortcut for selecting visible cells comes in handy.
How to Use the Excel Select Visible Cells Keyboard Shortcut
The keyboard shortcut for selecting visible cells in Excel is:
Alt + ;
This shortcut will select only the visible cells in the current selection, excluding any hidden cells. This is a great time-saver when you want to copy and paste only the visible cells or perform any other manipulation.
Here are the steps to use this shortcut:
- Select the range of cells that you want to work with.
- Press the Alt key on your keyboard and hold it down.
- While still holding down the Alt key, press the ; (semicolon) key.
- Release both keys.
You will now see that only the visible cells are selected. You can now copy, paste, or perform any other manipulation on only the visible cells.
Other Ways to Select Visible Cells in Excel
There are other ways to select visible cells in Excel apart from the keyboard shortcut. Let’s take a look at some of them:
- Using the Select Visible Cells option: This option can be found in the “Editing” group on the “Home” tab. Click on the “Find & Select” drop-down arrow and select “Go To Special…” In the “Go To Special” dialog box, select “Visible cells only” and click “OK.” This will select only the visible cells in the current selection.
- Using the Filter: Apply a filter to your data, and Excel will automatically hide the rows and columns that do not meet the filter criteria. The remaining rows and columns that meet the criteria are called visible cells. You can now select the visible cells using the keyboard shortcut or any other method.
Conclusion
The keyboard shortcut for selecting visible cells in Excel is a handy tool that saves time and makes it easier to work with filtered data. This shortcut, along with other methods, can be used to select only the visible cells in a range, making it easier to copy, paste, or manipulate data. So, next time you are working with filtered data in Excel, remember to use the keyboard shortcut for selecting visible cells.
