Excel Mouse Tricks (or Mouse Shortcuts)

i had been accumulating quite a few keyboard tricks for a long while. then, i got lazier, and started hunting for or figuring out mouse tricks - tricks that would require mainly the mouse.

i consider "mouse" tricks to be those where a bit of keyboard action thrown in is not a problem, but these just aren't possible without the use of a mouse.

each trick will be a post by itself. since handling the mouse requires a bit of finesse, i am trying to create animated GIFs of these tricks. that way, one could follow these in a better fashion, and also, just download the GIF file and not worry too much about bookmarking this thread.

i will start with a trick i learnt from someone who had attended Jon Peltier's training on Excel familiarisation.

Copy > Paste Special > Values Only

1. select a range
2. right-click on one of the edges
3. keep right-button-pressed
4. move selection out of its place
5. move it back to its original location
6. release the right-button
7. context menu should appear
8. choose to 'copy as values'

link to the animated GIF - http://www.screencast.com/t/kZSkNcOok

PS: i am unable to upload the file as an attachment here and have it retain its GIF attribute - it gets converted to JPG.

Go to the Last Cell before a Blank Cell

in this trick, the selection rectangle will be used to navigate to the last contiguously populated cell - either across a row or along a column.

1. select a cell
2. hover over the rectangle's sides
3. pointer changes to crosshair
4. double click (left button)
5. rectangle will run
6. it will rest at the cell before the first blank cell in that direction

link to the animated GIF - http://www.screencast.com/t/QsshrZX9x9g

Create Lots of Checkboxes Easily

in this trick, the fill-handle will be used to replicate checkboxes.

1. insert a checkbox (Forms Control or ActiveX)
2. get the placement exactly right within a cell
3. select the cell (top-left cell for the checkbox)
4. drag-fill down using the fill-handle
5. rest of the properties (Linked Cell etc.) will have to be setup manually for each checkbox

link to the animated GIF - http://www.screencast.com/t/2C3mBNwQzT

Reposition or Delete a Lot of Checkboxes at Once

in this trick, Select Objects functionality will be used to reposition (or delete) checkboxes.

1. Home tab > Editing group > Find & Select
2. click once on Select Objects
3. Select Objects setting will turned on
4. select cells with objects (checkboxes, options buttons etc.)
5. reposition the selection using keyboard or mouse
6. turn setting off by navigating back to Select Objects (remember to do this)

Alternate Route
1. ALT > H > FD > O - to turn on
1. ALT > H > FD > O - once again to turn off

link to the animated GIF - http://www.screencast.com/t/I0eZFIeJf7