Controlling the Enter Key

When you press the Enter key Excel typically selects the cell beneath the current cell.

Some people change this default option so that the selected cell does not move at all when Enter is pressed.

When you think about it, you often press Enter and then immediately move back to the cell to either copy it, or format it.

If you want to change what the Enter does when you press it, you can change a setting in Excel Options.

In the Advanced section of Excel Options (press Alt t o in sequence to see Excel options) the very first option controls the Enter key.

If you un-tick the option the Enter key will not change the selected cell when pressed.

You can see from the image above that you can also get the Enter to move in any of four directions.

Using the Right option may be handy if you are entering data across a page.

Easy Protection

Applying sheet protection stops your sheet structure from being accidentally changed by you, or someone else.

You can add sheet protection by right clicking the sheet tab and clicking Protect Sheet or using the Protect Sheet option in the Review tab.

You typically use a password when applying protection, but you can also leave the password box blank.

This still applies sheet protection and stops accidental changes, but allows you to easily unprotect the sheet; make a change and then re-protect your sheet without a password.

This stops accidental changes but allows for quick changes and you don’t have to remember a password.

Backup your important files

Excel has a feature that has been around for many versions, but most users are unaware of it as it is tucked away in a separate menu and dialog.

You can have Excel automatically make a backup of the previous version of a file each time you save it.

Note: if you click save twice in a row the backup will be identical to the current version.

This can be a life saver if your file gets corrupted.

In the Save As option (press F12 to open Save As) click the Tools drop down (left of the Save button) and choose General Options – see image below.

Then tick the Always create backup option and click OK (you don’t need to enter a password) then click the Save button – done.

You may have to overwrite the existing file if you haven’t changed the name.

The file is saved as a .xlsb file – you can open it as per a normal Excel file.