ShortcutdrillExcel shortcuts / navigation / Jump to the cells a formula uses
Jump to the cells a formula uses in Excel: Ctrl+[ (Mac: Ctrl+[)
| Windows | Ctrl+[ |
|---|---|
| Mac | Ctrl+[ |
| Group | navigation |
Drill: Trace the precedent. Pro drill. Twenty-five drills are free.
What it does and when to use it
With a formula cell active, Ctrl+[ selects every cell the formula reads from and makes the first one active. It is the keyboard version of Trace Precedents, without the arrows.
The common mistake
Expecting it to work on a cell with no formula: nothing is selected. It only follows references.
Related shortcuts
- Return to where you came from F5, Enter
- Jump to the cells that use this one Ctrl+]
- Move to the next sheet Ctrl+Page Down
- Find the last cell on a wide sheet Ctrl+End
- Back to the top left from anywhere Ctrl+Home
- The printable cheat sheet
Questions
How do I get back after Ctrl+[?
F5 then Enter. Go To keeps the cell you came from in its reference box.
Learn it by pressing it
Shortcutdrill gives you a task on a live sheet and a limit on key presses, so the shortcut has to become a reflex. Twenty-five drills are free; Pro unlocks all 80 for $9 a month, $29 a year, or $49 once.
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