Do the Data Entry in your Excel WorkSheet in a right way!

Introduction

Let's admit that entering data in your worksheet manually is not fun. Mostly, you get your data from other database in CSV and TXT format which you then import in your sheet or you do the copy from one location and then paste in your worksheet. But sometimes, it becomes necessary to feed data manually to your worksheet before you can unleash the power of Excel. It may be noted that data entry is a slow process and, if done in haste, it becomes prone to errors especially if you have delegated the data entry work to your subordinates (in many organizations there are data entry operators for this type of work). 

The Data Entry work requires constantly looking at the source material and then typing it in the designated Cell of your worksheet. In most cases, you type the contents of one cell and then press Enter or Tab to move Down or Right of your cell. In most cases, you want to move down in your Excel Worksheet in row by row manner (especially if your source material is in tabulated form). 

If you are using mouse or arrow keys for selecting cells of your Excel Sheet each time you switch to new row for data entry then you are doing it wrong.

 Solution

Select your inputs cells before doing any data entry. If you are not sure how many rows to select then use your intuition and select rows that will approximately fit your data. The important thing is to select the exact number of columns that your source data is having.

Now, what does the prior selection of range has to do with data entry?. 

 Ans- The selection of range restricts the movement of your Active Cell to your selected range and then you can press tab key in your keyboard and it will continue to cycle through your selected range row by row endlessly until you select a cell outside your range.

 

In the above demonstration, the range selected is B23:E32. This will lock the movement or navigation of your cell to your selected range. Then all you have to do is to keep pressing tab after entering data in your cell and it will cycle thorough the range as shown above. 

As you can see, you can use only one key (Tab) to navigate you excel sheet for data entry and you don't have to worry about adjusting your rows or columns by unnecessarily pressing arrow keys or using mouse. 

A simple Data Entry demonstration using above method is placed below.

Important Notes: 

a) The above method works by cycling through rows by pressing Tab Key. If, however, you want to go column by column then you should press the Enter Key.   

b) Some people are in the habit of pressing Enter Key after data entry in a cell. If you want to traverse your Selected Range in Row by Row manner by pressing Enter Key then you may want to change the default navigation of Enter Key in your Excel Application as shown below:

I hope you can now do your Data Entry little more efficiently. If you are facing any issue in following the above steps then please let us know in the comments.

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