You activate Excel 2010 hot keys by pressing the Alt key before you type the mnemonic letter for a particular task. Hot key sequences for the most common formula-related commands in Excel 2010 begin with the sequence Alt+M because the M in forMulas was the only mnemonic key still available (F is assigned to the File menu commands). After you know to press Alt+M to access Formula tab commands, it’s pretty easy sailing.
| Hot Key | Excel Ribbon Command | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Alt+MF | Formulas→Insert Function | Opens the Insert Function dialog box (same as clicking the Insert Function button on the Formula bar |
| Alt+MUS | Formulas→AutoSum→Sum | Selects the occupied range above the cell cursor and inserts SUM formula to total the range |
| Alt+MUA | Formulas→AutoSum→Average | Selects the occupied range above the cell cursor and inserts AVERAGE formula to calculate the average of total in the range |
| Alt+MUC | Formulas→AutoSum→Count Numbers | Selects the occupied range above the cell cursor and inserts COUNT formula to count the number of values in the range |
| Alt+MI | Formulas→Financial | Opens a drop-down menu listing all Financial functions — click name to insert function into current cell |
| Alt+ME | Formulas→Date & Time | Opens a drop-down menu listing all Date and Time functions — click name to insert function into current cell |
| Alt+MN | Formulas→Name Manager | Opens Name Manager dialog box showing all range names in workbook where you can add, edit, and delete names |
| Alt+MMD | Formulas→Define Name | Opens New Name dialog box where you can assign a name to the cell selection or define a new constant |
| Alt+MS | Formulas→Use in Formula | Displays drop-down menu with range names in workbook that you can insert into current formula by clicking |
| Alt+MC | Formulas→Create from Selection | Opens Create Names from Selection dialog box where you indicate which rows and columns to use in naming cell selection |
| Alt+MH | Formulas→Show Formulas (Ctrl+`) | Displays and then hides all formulas in cells of the worksheet |
| Alt+MXA | Formulas→Options→Automatic | Turns automatic recalculation back on |
| Alt+MXE | Formulas→Options→Automatic Except for Data Tables | Turns automatic recalculation back on for all parts of the worksheet except for ranges with Data Tables |
| Alt+MXM | Formulas→Options→Manual | Turns on manual recalculation |
| Alt+MB | Formulas→Calculate Now (F9) | Recalculates formulas throughout the entire workbook when manual recalculation is turned on |
| Alt+MJ | Formulas→Calculate Sheet (Shift+F9) | Recalculates formulas in the current worksheet when manual recalculation is turned on |