Data Editing Shortcut?!

[Ramona Goutiere]

Any assistance with the following question will be sincerely appreciated:

I am editing a large database that already has information in each cell.

I need to enter (insert) new information at the BEGINNING of each cell while
retaining what's already there.

The F2 key takes me to the end of the cell. What key combination will
automatically take me to the beginning of each cell?

I've searched Excel Help and the Knowledge Base without success for an anwer
to this simple question. I am one frustrated puppy right now.

There IS an answer, isn't there???!!!

Ramona

 

[Gord Dibben]

Ramona

F2 default behaviour cannot be changed AFAIK.

Sort of work-around........

Tools>Options>Edit. Check "Edit directly in cell"

Hover cursor near left edge of cell and double-click to have editing point at
beginning of data. Type in new data and ENTER.

Is the new information the same in each cell? There are ways to select ranges
and have the same info added to every cell via VBA.

Gord Dibben Excel MVP

 

[Max]

Press F2,
followed by a couple of Ctrl + Left arrows
(hold down Ctrl, tap left arrow)

 

[Andy Brown]

What key combination will

*automatically* take me to the beginning of each cell?

None, AFAIK. This won't go down well, however you could use a macro ...

Sub CellStart()
Application.SendKeys ("{F2}{Home}")
End Sub

.... assigned to a shortcut, eg: CTRL+M.

Rgds,
Andy

 

[RagDyer]

F2 then <Home>
--

HTH,

RD
==============================================
Please keep all correspondence within the Group, so all may benefit!
==============================================

Any assistance with the following question will be sincerely appreciated:

I am editing a large database that already has information in each cell.

I need to enter (insert) new information at the BEGINNING of each cell while
retaining what's already there.

The F2 key takes me to the end of the cell. What key combination will
automatically take me to the beginning of each cell?

I've searched Excel Help and the Knowledge Base without success for an anwer
to this simple question. I am one frustrated puppy right now.

There IS an answer, isn't there???!!!

Ramona

 

[Mark Graesser]

Ramona
Rather than gonig into each cell and editing you might want to use two helper columns

1) Insert two columns after the one you need to edi
2) In first new column enter the info you want to ad
3) In second new column use the formula
=A1&B1 o
=A1&" "&B1 if you want a spac

4) The Edit>Copy the new column
5) Edit>Paste_Special>Values over the original column
6) Delete the two helper columns

If you are adding the same text to every cell then you only need one helper column and a fomula like
="add_this_text"&A

Either of these technique should be a lot quicker then editing each cell individually

Good Luck
Mark Graesse
(e-mail address removed)

----- Ramona Goutiere wrote: ----

Any assistance with the following question will be sincerely appreciated

I am editing a large database that already has information in each cell

I need to enter (insert) new information at the BEGINNING of each cell whil
retaining what's already there

The F2 key takes me to the end of the cell. What key combination wil
automatically take me to the beginning of each cell

I've searched Excel Help and the Knowledge Base without success for an anwe
to this simple question. I am one frustrated puppy right now

There IS an answer, isn't there???!!

Ramon

 

[Ramona Goutiere]

Hi, Gord:

Thanks so much for the suggestion. I figured this approach out literally by
trial and error but found it awkward because I really wanted to keep my
hands on the keyboard.

So I tried the macro solution from Andy Brown and the keyboard approach (F2
then Home) from Rag Dyer (see related posts). They seemed easier for me to
execute.

And the information I needed to enter was different for each cell, so ranges
wouldn't have worked. We are trying to update an ancient project list to
make it compatible with our list for recent years, so it was a row-by-row
challenge.

But thanks to you and all the others who generously offered their time and
expertise, I made it!!!

Ramona

 

[Ramona Goutiere]

Thanks, Max!

I ended up using the macro solution from Andy Brown and the key combo from
Rag Dyer (see related posts) because I accomplished what I needed to do in
two strokes--and I had a heck of a lot of rows to do!

Your solution definitely works, though, and I'm going to keep it in my "Neat
Tricks" file for future use.

When there's a will, there's a way. Thanks for taking time to share. I
appreciate you!

Ramona

 

[Ramona Goutiere]

Thanks so much for the macro idea, Andy!

I ended up using your solution and the one offered by Rag Dyer (see related
post) because they required only two keystrokes, and I really wanted to keep
my hands on the keyboard. And with your idea I also learned how to set up a
macro, which is something I hadn't done before. So I nabbed two birds with
one stone.

I am always amazed by how generous people are with their time and talent in
these newsgroups. You saved me hours of time.

And now I'm one grateful puppy!

Ramona

 

[Ramona Goutiere]

Simple and beautiful! And only two keystrokes.

I ended up feeling most comfortable with your approach and the macro
solution offered by Andy Brown (see related post). Both got me where I
wanted to be with little or no wailing or gnashing of teeth.

Thanks so much for kindly sharing your expertise. I couldn't have done it
without you!

Ramona

 

[Ramona Goutiere]

Thanks, Mark!

I ended up using the solutions offered by Andy Brown and Rag Dyer (see
related posts) because they met my needs for this particular project. I am
a very happy puppy now.

What I like about your solution, however, is that it offers a nifty way to
do major editing without losing my mind. I have a premonition (a very
STRONG premonition) that I'll be using your idea to do the next round of
editing on this database. We are trying to mesh an old project list with
our list for more recent years, and it's a bear.

You offered a creative solution that I've stored in my "Neat Tricks" file
for future reference. You taught me something today.

Thanks once again for taking time to share your expertise. Where would I be
without generous people like you?!

Ramona

Ramona,
Rather than gonig into each cell and editing you might want to use two helper columns.

1) Insert two columns after the one you need to edit
2) In first new column enter the info you want to add
3) In second new column use the formula:
=A1&B1 or
=A1&" "&B1 if you want a space

4) The Edit>Copy the new column.
5) Edit>Paste_Special>Values over the original column.
6) Delete the two helper columns.

If you are adding the same text to every cell then you only need one

helper column and a fomula like:

 

[Mark Graesser]

Ramona
Thanks for letting us now how things worked out. I only get responses from about 37% of the people I send answers to. It is definitely more gratifying when you know that you helped someone out. And I also learn new things by seeing how other people would have handled the same problem

Regards
Mark Graesse

----- Ramona Goutiere wrote: ----

Thanks, Mark

I ended up using the solutions offered by Andy Brown and Rag Dyer (se
related posts) because they met my needs for this particular project. I a
a very happy puppy now

What I like about your solution, however, is that it offers a nifty way t
do major editing without losing my mind. I have a premonition (a ver
STRONG premonition) that I'll be using your idea to do the next round o
editing on this database. We are trying to mesh an old project list wit
our list for more recent years, and it's a bear

You offered a creative solution that I've stored in my "Neat Tricks" fil
for future reference. You taught me something today

Thanks once again for taking time to share your expertise. Where would I b
without generous people like you?

Ramon

Ramona
Rather than gonig into each cell and editing you might want to use tw helper columns
2) In first new column enter the info you want to ad
3) In second new column use the formula
=A1&B1 o
=A1&" "&B1 if you want a spac
5) Edit>Paste_Special>Values over the original column
6) Delete the two helper columns

helper column and a fomula like

 

[Max]

Ramona, you're welcome !
Thanks for your feedback.

And it was very nice of you
to give individual responses
to all who responded with suggestions.

I'm sure it's appreciated by all who responded to you.

[I'd done the same thing as you did.. ]

As "typified" / noted by Mark, it seems
that the percentage of original posters [OPs]
who respond to replies given is sadly, quite
in the minority.

 

[RagDyer]

I must say that you are a refreshing change Ramona, compared to most of the
other posters to these groups.
I'm sure that your individual answers are very appreciated by all.
--


Regards,

RD
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please keep all correspondence within the Group, so all may benefit!
-------------------------------------------------------------------


Simple and beautiful! And only two keystrokes.

I ended up feeling most comfortable with your approach and the macro
solution offered by Andy Brown (see related post). Both got me where I
wanted to be with little or no wailing or gnashing of teeth.

Thanks so much for kindly sharing your expertise. I couldn't have done it
without you!

Ramona

 

[Max]

I must say that you are a refreshing change Ramona, compared to most of the
other posters to these groups.
I'm sure that your individual answers are very appreciated by all.

Without a doubt !

C'mon Ramona, what's your next question ? <bg>