A few keys save a trip to the mouse many times a day.
- F2 (Mac: Ctrl+U or Fn+F2) edits the active cell with the cursor at the end.
- Ctrl+D (Mac: Cmd+D) fills down from the top cell of the selection.
- Ctrl+B (Mac: Cmd+B) makes the selection bold.
- Ctrl+Shift+$ (same on a Mac) applies a currency format with two decimals.
- Alt, H, A, C (Mac: Cmd+E) centers the selection.
Typing over a cell replaces all of it. F2 lets you change one part of a long formula instead. Inside a formula, F2 also switches between Edit mode, where the arrow keys move the cursor, and Enter mode, where they point at cells.
On Windows, pressing Alt shows a letter on every ribbon tab and button. Type the letters in turn to run the command: Alt, H (Home tab), A, C (Align Center). Excel for Mac has no key tips, so there you press Cmd+E. In this simulator, Option works as Alt if you want to practice the Windows sequence.