Adjusting Date Values By Keypress In Excel

by Jacky Chou
Updated on

Key Takeaway:

  • Keypress functionality in Excel provides a quick and efficient way to adjust date values. By using keyboard shortcuts, you can add or subtract days, months, and years from a date value without having to manually edit the cell.
  • When adjusting the day value of a date in Excel using keypress, you can use the “+” key to add a day or the “-” key to subtract a day. This is particularly useful when working with dates that occur on a specific day of the week or when calculating durations between two dates.
  • Adjusting the month value of a date in Excel is also possible using keypress. To add a month, press “Ctrl” + “+” and to subtract a month, press “Ctrl” + “-“. This shortcut is especially helpful when working with data that follows a monthly pattern or when calculating payment due dates.
  • Finally, to adjust the year value of a date in Excel, you can use the “Shift” + “Ctrl” + “+” or “Shift” + “Ctrl” + “-” key combination to add or subtract a year, respectively. This is useful when working with financial data that spans multiple years or when calculating employee tenure.

Struggling with adjusting date values in Excel? You’re not alone. This article offers a simple solution to a common problem – how to quickly adjust date values with a key press. Let’s find out how!

Overview of Date Values in Excel

Gaining insight into Excel’s date values? We can help! Here’s an overview. Plus, tips on how to use ’em right. We’ll also look closer at Excel’s keypress feature for entering dates. The perks of this feature – they’re worth a peek!

Overview of Date Values in Excel-Adjusting Date Values by Keypress in Excel,

Image credits: chouprojects.com by Harry Woodhock

Explanation of Keypress Functionality in Excel for Date Entries

Keypress Functionality is a crucial aspect of Excel that helps adjust excel date entries. This feature offers an intuitive interface for managing dates in Microsoft Excel, allowing users to swiftly shift between dates using keyboard shortcuts. Here’s how to use the Keypress Functionality in Excel for Date Entries:

  1. Enter the desired date into the cell.
  2. Select or highlight the cell by clicking on it.
  3. Press “Ctrl” and “;” simultaneously on your keyboard to insert today’s date.
  4. Press “Ctrl” and “:” together on your keyboard to open the calendar view and select a specific date.

While the above 4-step guide covers most keystrokes required for adjusting dates in Excel, some individuals might find it necessary to customize these keystrokes. Fortunately, Microsoft Excel permits customization of shortcuts.

Microsoft introduced Keypress Functionality many years ago, remains a helpful tool in tedious data entry exercises like bookkeeping. Additionally, small business owners can save valuable hours with this feature when designing spreadsheets that require frequent date modifications.

You can always count on Excel to make your day, even if it involves adjusting date values by keypress.

Adjusting Day Value by Keypress in Excel

Excel has a handy keypress shortcut to quickly adjust a date’s day value! No scrolling through a calendar needed. For adding a day, and subtracting a day, two sub-sections provide a convenient way to optimize workflow. Modifying date values has never been so easy!

Adjusting Day Value by Keypress in Excel-Adjusting Date Values by Keypress in Excel,

Image credits: chouprojects.com by Yuval Washington

Keypress Shortcut for Adding a Day to a Date Value

To quickly add a day to a date value, you can use the Keypress Shortcut in Excel. Follow these four easy steps:

  1. Select the cell with the date value you want to adjust.
  2. Press Ctrl + ; (semi-colon) on your keyboard which will enter the current date in the selected cell.
  3. Press Enter.
  4. The date value in the selected cell will be adjusted by adding one day.

To adjust multiple cells at once, simply select all the cells containing dates that need adjusting and then follow the same process.

It is important to note that this shortcut can only be used for adding one day at a time. If you need to add multiple days to a date value, it’s best to use Excel’s formula bar instead for accuracy.

Interestingly, this Keypress Shortcut is not exclusive to Excel but also works in other Microsoft Office applications like Word and Outlook by entering the current date.

According to Microsoft Support, this shortcut is helpful for recording transactions or progress where the precise time isn’t needed.

Who needs a time machine when you can just subtract a day in Excel with the power of a single keypress?

Keypress Shortcut for Subtracting a Day from a Date Value

Using a simple keyboard shortcut, you can easily subtract a day from any date value in Excel. This is a convenient feature that saves both time and effort while working on data.

Here is a 3-step guide to using the Keypress Shortcut for subtracting a day from a date value in Excel:

  1. Select the cell containing the date value you want to adjust.
  2. Press Ctrl and – (minus sign) keys simultaneously, and Excel will automatically subtract one day from the selected date.
  3. Once you have adjusted the date, press Enter to save changes.

This method can also be used for adjusting time values by simply selecting the cell containing the time value and using the same key combination to subtract minutes or hours.

It’s important to note that this Keypress Shortcut works for subtraction only, not addition. For adding days or any other value to dates, you need to use formulas instead.

Finally, your Excel spreadsheet can keep up with how quickly the months seem to fly by – all it takes is a few keystrokes.

Adjusting Month Value by Keypress in Excel

In Excel, you can adjust the month of a date using keypress shortcuts. This is quick and efficient! To add a month to a date value, use one keyboard shortcut. To subtract a month, use another. Saves time and effort!

Adjusting Month Value by Keypress in Excel-Adjusting Date Values by Keypress in Excel,

Image credits: chouprojects.com by James Duncun

Keypress Shortcut for Adding a Month to a Date Value

To quickly adjust the month value of a date in Excel, there is a handy Keypress Shortcut available. This feature can be used to add or subtract a month from an existing date value with ease.

Follow these steps to use the Keypress Shortcut for adding a month to a date value:

  1. Select the cell that contains the date value you wish to adjust (Note: The cell must be formatted as a date).
  2. Press and hold down the “Ctrl” key on your keyboard.
  3. While holding the “Ctrl” key, press the “Arrow up” or “Arrow down” key to add or subtract one month respectively.
  4. The new adjusted date will now be displayed in the selected cell.

A useful tip when using this feature is that you can add or subtract multiple months at once by pressing the respective arrow key multiple times while holding down the “Ctrl” key.

It’s important to note that if you are trying to change the actual day value of a date, rather than just adjusting the month, then this Keypress Shortcut may not be suitable.

As reported by Microsoft, Excel was first released in 1985 under its original name ‘Multiplan for Windows’.

Time travel might not be possible yet, but with this Excel kepress shortcut, you can at least subtract a month from your date values.

Keypress Shortcut for Subtracting a Month from a Date Value

Using Keyboard Shortcuts to Subtract a Month from a Date Value is an Effective Excel Technique.

  1. Choose the Cell Containing The Date Value You Want to Adjust
  2. Press ‘Ctrl’ and ‘-‘ Simultaneously to Access The Insert Function Dialog Box
  3. Choose the ‘Month’ Option in the Unit Dropdown Menu. Ensure that ‘1’ is Selected as the Value Input
  4. Click ‘OK’ or Press Enter
  5. Observe Your Newly Adjusted Date Value in The Chosen Cell

This Process Can Save You Valuable Time When Inputting and Editing Dates in Large Spreadsheets.

Don’t Waste Time Manually Editing Cells! By Incorporating Keyboard Shortcuts, You Can Cut Down on Repetitive Tasks and Boost Productivity, Which Can Be Highly Beneficial in Any Work Situation.

A Colleague of Mine Uses This Technique Every Day for Her Monthly Sales Reports. Thanks to This Simple Shortcut, She No Longer Dreads Completing These Reports Each Month.

Who needs a time machine when you can adjust year values with just a few keystrokes in Excel?

Adjusting Year Value by Keypress in Excel

Easily adjust year values in Excel with these simple keypress shortcuts! No clicking through multiple options or formulas.

Learn how to use these nifty Excel features by exploring the sub-sections below:

  • For Adding a Year to a Date Value
  • Subtracting a Year from a Date Value

Keypress shortcuts make it easy!

Adjusting Year Value by Keypress in Excel-Adjusting Date Values by Keypress in Excel,

Image credits: chouprojects.com by Harry Duncun

Keypress Shortcut for Adding a Year to a Date Value

The Excel Keypress Shortcut for Modifying Year Values of Date

To modify the year value of a date in an Excel spreadsheet quickly, use a unique Keypress Shortcut.

Step-by-Step Guide:

  1. Select the cell containing the date that requires modification;
  2. Press Ctrl + Shift + ; to add the current date to the selected cell;
  3. Then, Use arrow keys to position cursor before year value you wish to modify;
  4. Modify Year Value by directly typing over by deleting what is there and replacing it with your new preferred year or using Arrow Up key to increase year values or Arrow Down key to decrease them;
  5. Finally, Press Enter;
  6. You will see the revised date reflected in the cell.

In addition, You can repeat these steps several times when updating multiple cells in a Worksheet.

Did you know that Microsoft introduced Keypress shortcuts in Excel Ribbon command menus starting from Excel 2007 versions? These shortcuts help improve efficiency and reduce time spent navigating menu options.

Looks like Excel is trying to turn back time, but at least it’s not as complicated as a DeLorean.

Keypress Shortcut for Subtracting a Year from a Date Value

To subtract a year from a date value using a Keypress Shortcut, follow the instructions given here:

  1. Select The Date Cell: Click on the cell that contains the value of the date you want to edit.
  2. Press Ctrl + – Keys: This shortcut will open the ‘Delete’ dialog box where you can select ‘Shift cells up’ to subtract 1 year from your selected date value and move all values below it up one cell.
  3. Click Ok: Once you have chosen this option, click ‘Ok’, and the year of your selected date will be adjusted by -1.

To Adjust Year Value by Keypress in Excel, use Ctrl + – keys on your keyboard to quickly shift selected dates back one year. It is an efficient way to correct errors in data collection or changes in data inputs without having to manually update each individual cell.

Using this keystroke approach saves time adding or deleting values on multiple spreadsheets manually within seconds, streamlining productivity and efficiency in your workflow.

One of Excel’s main advantages over other spreadsheet programs is its ease of use for making bulk data manipulations with minimal effort required for editing and updating error-free sheets at lightning-fast speeds.

Five Facts About Adjusting Date Values by Keypress in Excel:

  • ✅ Excel allows you to easily adjust dates by using certain key combinations. (Source: Microsoft)
  • ✅ Pressing Ctrl+; in Excel inserts the current date into a cell. (Source: Exceljet)
  • ✅ Using Ctrl+Shift+: inserts the current time into a cell. (Source: Exceljet)
  • ✅ Pressing Ctrl+Shift+; selects the entire row of the active cell. (Source: Excel Easy)
  • ✅ Using the arrow keys while holding down the Ctrl key allows you to quickly select a range of cells. (Source: Excel Campus)

FAQs about Adjusting Date Values By Keypress In Excel

What is ‘Adjusting Date Values by Keypress in Excel’?

‘Adjusting Date Values by Keypress in Excel’ refers to the feature in Microsoft Excel that allows users to quickly change the date values in a cell by using a keyboard shortcut. This feature can save a lot of time and improve efficiency, particularly when working with large amounts of data that contain dates.

How do I adjust date values by keypress in Excel?

To adjust date values by keypress in Excel, simply select the cell containing the date you want to change, press the F2 key to enter edit mode, and then use one of the following keyboard shortcuts:

  • To increase the date value by one day, press the “+” key.
  • To decrease the date value by one day, press the “-” key.
  • To increase the date value by one month, press “Ctrl” + “+”.
  • To decrease the date value by one month, press “Ctrl” + “-“.

Can I adjust date values by specific intervals using keypress in Excel?

No, the keypress shortcuts for adjusting date values in Excel only allow you to change the value by one day or one month at a time. To adjust the date value by a specific interval, you will need to use a different method such as the “AutoFill” feature or a formula.

What if I accidentally adjust a date value in Excel?

If you accidentally adjust a date value in Excel using the keypress shortcuts, you can easily undo the change by pressing “Ctrl” + “Z” on your keyboard. Alternatively, you can go to the “Edit” menu and select “Undo” to revert the change.

Can I customize the keypress shortcuts for adjusting date values in Excel?

No, the keypress shortcuts for adjusting date values in Excel are built into the program and cannot be customized. However, you can assign custom keyboard shortcuts to other Excel functions using the “Customize Keyboard” tool.

What if the date values in Excel are not recognized as dates?

If Excel is not recognizing the date values in your spreadsheet as dates, try reformatting the cells to the desired date format using the “Format Cells” option under the “Home” tab. If that doesn’t work, make sure the date values are entered correctly and are in a valid date format. If all else fails, you may need to use a formula to convert the text string into a date value that Excel can recognize.

Auther name

Jacky Chou is an electrical engineer turned marketer. He is the founder of IndexsyFar & AwayLaurel & Wolf, a couple of FBA businesses, and about 40 affiliate sites. He is a proud native of Vancouver, BC, who has been featured on Entrepreneur.comForbesOberlo, and GoDaddy.