XL2000: Letters Available As Keyboard Shortcuts for Macros

This article contains information about which letters on the keyboard are available as shortcuts for macros without overwriting any existing functionality in Microsoft Excel 2000.

Using the Assign Macro dialog box in Excel 2000, you can assign a keyboard shortcut to run a macro. The shortcut always uses the CTRL key in combination with another key on the keyboard. This key must be a letter. Most CTRL+letter combinations already have specific 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 assign the CTRL+B key combination to a macro, the key combination runs 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: The letters E, M, and J are also available, but do have functionality assigned to them in the Microsoft 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 run the Bring To Front command.

Assigning a Macro to a Keyboard Shortcut

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

1. On the Tools menu, point to Macro.
2. In the Macro name box, type the name of the macro that you want to assign to a keyboard shortcut.
3. Click Options.
4. To run the macro by pressing a keyboard shortcut key, type 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 overrides any default 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.

For more information about keyboard commands, click Microsoft Excel Help on the Help menu, type keyboard shortcuts in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.