3 ways to insert a symbol without leaving your keyboard
by Kara Soos
Application:
Microsoft Excel 2000/2002/2003/2004
Operating Systems:
Microsoft Windows, Macintosh
I often use the same symbols in my worksheets, such as the currency symbol for Euros. But it’s a pain to choose Insert | Symbol and select the symbol that way every time I want to insert it in my worksheet. Is there a faster method?
Dianne Jones
Accountant
There are a few different options for inserting special symbols in your worksheet — but they’re all faster than the Insert | Symbol menu command! Try these methods to see which one works best for you.
First, don’t forget that if you’re consistently using a currency symbol, you can often set up a custom number format that uses a symbol other than the default dollar sign. But if you need to insert a symbol that isn’t predictable enough to include in a custom format, such as a copyright symbol, there are a few ways you can streamline the process.
1. Record a macro and assign it a shortcut key
Your first option is to literally record the keystrokes you use when you insert a symbol, and then assign a shortcut key to the resulting macro. This trick instructs Excel to go through the menu choices for you behind the scenes when you press your shortcut key.
To record a macro:
1. Choose Tools | Macro | Record New Macro from the menu bar.
2. Name your macro in the Macro Name text box and designate your shortcut key.
Hot tip: If you want to use this shortcut in all of your workbooks, choose Personal Macro Workbook from the Store Macro In dropdown list.
3. Enter a description if you’d like, as shown in Figure A, and then click OK to begin recording.
4. Insert the symbol as you normally would and then click the Stop Recording button on the Stop Recording toolbar.
Now whe
