Excel like a finance pro.
Navigation shortcut
Move one cell to the right
Tab on Windows, Tab on Mac.
When to use it
Confirms the entry and moves one cell to the right. With Enter after a row of Tabs, Excel returns to the column where you started, which makes data entry across a row fast.
The shape of it
- Windows
Tab
- Mac
Tab
Worked examples
Enter across a row
Type a value, press Tab → The value is saved and the cursor moves right
Entering a record across columns.
Row-by-row entry
Tab, Tab, Tab, then Enter → The cursor returns to the first column of the next row
Excel remembers where the row started.
Extend a Table
In a Table, press Tab in the last cell → A new row is added
Tables grow as you type.
Worth knowing
- Shift + Tab goes back one cell.
- Inside a dialog, Tab moves between fields.
- Combine with Ctrl + ; and Ctrl + Shift + ; for timestamped logs.
Where it goes wrong
- In edit mode with a function autocomplete open, Tab accepts the suggestion rather than moving.
- Protected sheets restrict Tab to unlocked cells, which is a feature.
Related
Learn the moves here — or let Wauvel run them on your numbers.
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