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Quickly insert a function

In Excel 97 and 2000 it was known as the Paste Function dialog box, these days it's known as the Insert Function dialog box. Regardless, one has to choose Insert|Function. or the fx button to open it up. There is, however, a non-mousey way to get hold of the Insert Function dialog box: press Shift+F3 in a blank cell to open the Insert Function dialog.

Press Shift+F3 after a function name and open bracket to open the Function Arguments dialog. For example, type =VLOOKUP( into a cell and press Shift+F3 to obtain a detailed description of VLOOKUP's arguments.

Added by Alan on 16th September 2006

More Excel hints and tips, like:

• Using an equal (=) sign that isn't part of a formula
• Finding cells that have data restrictions
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