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The functions, VBA, and shortcuts a finance operator actually uses — curated, with CFO examples. Prefer them pre-built? Grab a ready-made model.
Insert or delete rows & columns
CtrlShift=Tables & dataAdd or remove whole rows and columns from the keyboard, no right-click needed.
Difficulty
1What it does
Select a whole row or column (with Shift + Space for a row, Ctrl + Space for a column), then Ctrl + Shift + = inserts a new one and Ctrl + - deletes the selected one. Do it on a cell rather than a full row and Excel asks which way to shift — but selecting the entire row or column first makes it one clean keystroke.
2The shortcut
- 1Select a full row (
Shift + Space) or column (Ctrl + Space). - 2Press
Ctrl + Shift + =to insert a new row/column before it. - 3Press
Ctrl + -to delete the selected row/column.
3Before → after
Press the shortcut to play it on a sample sheet.
Before — a plain table, Feb row selected
| A — Month | B — Revenue | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan | 80,000 |
| 2 | Feb | 88,000 |
| 3 | Mar | 96,000 |
Select a whole row first (Shift + Space), then Ctrl + Shift + = inserts above it — no right-click.
4When you use it
- Insert a row mid-table without reaching for the mouse.
- Delete a stray column from an export in one keystroke.
- Add several rows fast by selecting several first.
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