Alrighty.

Sometimes, it’s the small things that can make all the difference. The first thing you need to set up in Excel is the Ribbon. It’s located in upper left corner of the Excel Sheet. Most everything I use often is on this Ribbon, unless it’s already on the Home Tab.

I like to have all my most-used tasks on this ribbon so I don’t have to click multiple times to get to what I need. (Not to mention, if you can’t quite remember which Excel Tab or tile it’s on).

The Excel Ribbon is a time saving tool, completely customizable to your liking.

Here’s mine.

Comments on each Icon in my ribbon follow:

1. Save. Once file has been named and want to save again with same name, click this. I like to save often as I hate to lose work.
2. Save As. I like to use this option as default so as to not over-right a previous file I want to keep intact.
3. Undo. Undo last thing or things since last save. Handy.
4. Redo. I use when I ‘Undo’ too much by mistake.
5. Blank Sheet. Quick way to start new file.
6. Recent File List. I work with the same files a lot. Handy way to get to them quickly. The last 25 are listed.
7. The next four have to do with inserting and deleting rows and columns. I use these quite a bit when creating new sheets.
8. Strike-thru. I use this on my work planning template on completed tasks so I can clearly see what’s still open.
9. Top Border. Like to keep this on the ribbon as my default line as one doesn’t get deleted if you delete the row just below the cell this line is on. Quirky.
10. Freeze Panes. I work with sheets that are large at times. Quick way to freeze the titles so you know where you are in the sheet.
11. Page Set-Up. Again, one click to customize your page options.
12. Print Area. Quick way to highlight the area to print (when not printing the entire sheet), then click it to set the print area.
13. Insert Function. A quick way to access the formula functions without having to go to the Formula Tab.
14. Sort. A really quick way to get to the sort functions.
15. Text to Columns. Use this feature if you export data into Excel where the data isn’t separated into columns already.
16. Switch Windows. I may have multiple sheets open. Preferred way to get to them quicker.

This is mine so I can get things done quicker. What’s on your ribbon?