XL97: Letters Available as Keyboard Shortcuts for Macros

ID: Q168841

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

This article contains information about what letters on the keyboard are available as shortcuts for macros without overwriting any existing functionality in Microsoft Excel 97.

MORE INFORMATION

Using the Assign Macro dialog box within Microsoft Excel 97, you can assign a keyboard shortcut to run a macro. The shortcut will always use the CTRL key in combination with another key on the keyboard. This key must be a letter. Most CTRL+letter combinations already have specific Microsoft Excel functionality assigned to them. Assigning a macro to one of those keys overwrites the existing functionality while the workbook that contains the macro is open. For example, the CTRL+B key combination makes the active cell contents bold. If you assigned the CTRL+B key combination to a macro, the key combination will run the macro instead of making the cell contents bold. The following is a list of keys that do not have existing functionality assigned to them when you press the CTRL+letter key combination: 

   L
   Q
   T
The letters E, M, and J are also available, but do have functionality assigned to them within the Visual Basic Editor. The CTRL+E key combination is used to export files. The CTRL+M key combination is used to import files. The CTRL+J key combination is used to activate the Bring To Front command.

Assigning a Macro to a Keyboard Shortcut

To assigning a macro to a keyboard shortcut, follow these steps:

1. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Macros.

2. In the Macro name box, enter the name of the macro you want to assign 

   to a keyboard shortcut.
3. Click Options.

4. To run the macro by pressing a keyboard shortcut key, enter a letter 

   in the Shortcut key box. You can use CTRL+letter or CTRL+SHIFT+
   letter, where letter is any letter key on the keyboard. The shortcut
   key will override any default Microsoft Excel shortcut keys while the
   workbook that contains the macro is open.

   To include a description of the macro, type the description in the
   Description box.
5. Click OK, and then click Cancel.

REFERENCES

For more information about keyboard commands, click the Index tab in Microsoft Excel Help, type the following text 

   keyboard shortcuts
and then double-click the selected text to go to the "Use shortcut keys in Microsoft Excel" topic.

Additional query words: XL97 hotkey 

Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: November 3, 1998