Moving between cells with arrow key

**KHursh** · 03-09-2012, 01:16 PM

I've got a column with people's initials in it. It is formated as text. When I try to move to the cell below the one I've just entered using the arrow keys Excel adds the cell number of the cell I've just moved to to the previous cell.

For example:

I enter KDH in cell E63 and move to cell E64 using the down arrow key. Excel makes cell E63 KDH + E64.

Is there a way to turn this off?

I don't have this problem when using the mouse to move between cells but it is more efficient to use the keyboard.

I've tried with Scroll Lock on and off and it doesn't make a difference.

I'm using Excel 2007 and Windows XP

**abousetta** · 03-09-2012, 01:19 PM

Hello and welcome to the forum,

I think you just need to hit enter after you finish typing (e.g. KDH)

**KHursh** · 03-09-2012, 04:02 PM

That works. Thanks!

**abousetta** · 03-09-2012, 06:07 PM

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**Palmetto** · 03-09-2012, 09:24 PM

Anytime you are making entries in a cell, you are in "Edit Mode", thus Excel interprets movements of the arrow keys as cell selections.
While in Edit Mode, you can press the F2 key to make edits and move about the cell without Excel interpreting the movements as cell selections.

You must always press the Enter or Tab keys when finished editing a cell to exit edit mode.

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