If you need to enter the same data into multiple cells in Excel, it’s easy with this simple trick.

1. Select the cells where you need to enter the data.  If the cells are not contiguous, use the CTRL key to select.
2. Type the data you want into the last cell you select.
3. Press CTRL + ENTER.
4. Excel will enter the same data into every selected cell.

Selecting a large range in Excel by dragging the mouse can be difficult.

Try using the SHIFT key when you select a range that extends beyond what is displayed on your screen.  You can do this two ways:

1. Click into the cell in the upper left corner of the range.
2. Click into the Name Box and type the cell in the lower right corner of the range.
   
3. Press SHIFT + Enter.
4. Excel will select the entire range.

As an alternative, you can start by clicking into the upper left corner of the range, then hold down the SHIFT key, while clicking into the cell in the low

er right corner of the range.

The location of the Templates folder varies in different versions of Windows, so here is a quick way to access it even if you don’t know where it is:

1. Click the Start button or open the Run… box:
2. Type:  %appdata%\Microsoft\Templates
3. Your Templates folder will open in Windows Explorer.

The folder contains the normal template used in Word, any custom or downloaded PowerPoint templates, and custom Excel, Outlook, and Publisher templates.

Protected View is a new safety feature in Office 2010 that lets you view a document, but prevents it from running macros that might contain malware.  By default, it opens any document downloaded from the Internet in Protected View.  The same is true for any document attached to an email message, or any document in your browser cache.

You can turn off Protected View for any of these options by clicking File / Options / Trust Center / Trust Center Settings… / Protected View.

To crop a picture to a shape in PowerPoint 2010:

1. Select the picture.
2. Click the Format tab on the Picture Tools ribbon.
3. Select Crop to Shape from the Crop drop-down list.
4. Select the shape you want.

Example:

To view a how-to video on this topic from Microsoft:

Crop a Picture to a Shape in PowerPoint 2010

To create a slide from a bullet in PowerPoint:

1. Go to Outline View and select the bulleted item.
2. Press SHIFT + TAB to promote the bullet to a slide title.
3. PowerPoint will create a new slide with the bulleted item as the title.

To view a how-to video on this topic from Microsoft:

Creating a Slide from a Bullet in PowerPoint

Ctrl + ; – Puts the current date into the active cell; does not update automatically.

Ctrl + Shift + ; – Puts the current time into the active cell; does not update automatically.

Ctrl + A – Selects all the cells in the worksheet.

Ctrl + Page Up – Makes the previous sheet in the workbook the active worksheet.

Ctrl + Page Down – Makes the next sheet in the workbook the active worksheet.

F2 – Lets you edit the cell without double-clicking on it.

F11 – Creates a chart on a separate sheet from the selected data.

To highlight the cells referenced by an Excel formula, click into the cell with the formula, and press Ctrl-[ (Ctrl and the open square bracket key).

Excel highlights all the cells referenced by the formula, and selects the first referenced cell. Press ENTER to move the cell pointer to the next referenced cell.

Get used to dragging things around in Outlook.

For example, if you drag an e-mail message to the Contacts button, Outlook will create a new contact for the sender, with Name and E-mail fields already filled in.  The body of the e-mail message will appear in the Notes field.

If you drag a Contact to the Mail button, Outlook will create a new e-mail message to that Contact.  Very cool!

Drag a Contact to the Calendar button, and Outlook will create a Meeting Invitation ready to be sent to that person.

Drag a Contact to the Tasks button, and Outlook will create a Task Request addressed to that contact.

All Office 2010 applications now include a screen capture utility to help you quickly capture any area of the desktop screen.

The tool will automatically take screenshots of all open applications on your desktop (that are not minimized), and let you insert them directly into your document.

Inserting a Full Screen Screenshot

To insert a full screen screenshot:

1. Click Screenshot in the Illustrations group on the Insert tab of the Ribbon.
2. Word will display thumbnails of all open applications that are not minimized.



3. Click the thumbnail you want to insert the screenshot in your document at the insertion point.