Excel like a finance pro.
Formulas shortcut
Enter an array formula (legacy Excel)
Ctrl + Shift + Enter on Windows, Ctrl + Shift + Return on Mac.
When to use it
Enters a formula as a legacy array formula, shown with curly braces. Needed in Excel 2019 and earlier for formulas that work on arrays; Microsoft 365 spills automatically.
The shape of it
- Windows
Ctrl + Shift + Enter
- Mac
Ctrl + Shift + Return
Worked examples
Conditional sum
Type =SUM(IF(A2:A10="West",B2:B10)) then Ctrl + Shift + Enter → {=SUM(IF(...))} calculates the conditional sum
The classic array formula.
Multi-cell array
Select C2:C10, type =A2:A10*B2:B10, Ctrl + Shift + Enter → One array formula fills the block
Multi-cell array.
Modern Excel
In Microsoft 365, just press Enter → The same formula spills
No braces needed.
Worth knowing
- Not needed since dynamic arrays; formulas spill on their own now.
- Edit a legacy array formula and you must confirm with Ctrl + Shift + Enter again or it breaks.
- Multi-cell arrays cannot be partly edited or deleted.
- SUMPRODUCT avoids the need in old versions.
Where it goes wrong
- Typing the braces yourself makes text.
- Files saved from 365 show @ in old-style formulas when opened in older Excel.
Related
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