Using Point and Click to Build Formulas in Excel GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Software & Apps > MS Office 31 31 people found this article helpful

Using Point and Click to Build Formulas in Excel

Make formulas using your mouse

By Ted French Ted French Writer Former Lifewire writer Ted French is a Microsoft Certified Professional who teaches and writes about spreadsheets and spreadsheet programs. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on December 8, 2019 Tweet Share Email ​Lifewire Tweet Share Email MS Office Excel Word Powerpoint Outlook Using point and click in Excel allows you to use the mouse pointer to add cell references to a formula simply by clicking on the desired cell. Learn how to use this method for fast and easy formulas. These steps apply to all current versions of Excel, including Excel for Microsoft 365, Excel 2019, Excel 2016, Excel 2013, Excel 2010, Excel 2019 for Mac, Excel 2016 for Mac, Excel for Mac 2011, and Excel Online.

Creating a Formula Using Point and Click

Point and click is usually the preferred method for adding cell references to a formula or function as it reduces the possibility of errors introduced by misreading or by typing in the wrong cell reference. This method can also save a lot of time and effort when creating formulas since most people see the data they want to add to the formula rather than the cell reference. Type an equal sign ( = ) into a cell to start the formula. Select the first cell to be added to the formula. The cell reference appears in the formula and a dashed blue line appears around the referenced cell. Press the mathematical operator key on the keyboard (such as the plus or minus sign) to enter the operator into the formula after the first cell reference. Select the second cell to be added to the formula. The cell reference appears in the formula and a dashed red line appears around the second referenced cell. Continue adding operators and cell references until the formula is finished. Press Enter on the keyboard to complete the formula and view the answer in the cell.

Point and Click Variation Using the Arrow Keys

A variation on point and click involves using the arrow keys on the keyboard to enter cell references into a formula. The results are the same and it is really only a matter of preference as to the method chosen. To use the arrow keys to enter cell references: Type an equal sign ( = ) into a cell to start the formula. Use the arrow keys on the keyboard to navigate to the first cell to be used in the formula. The cell reference for that cell is added to the formula after the equal sign. Press the mathematical operator key on the keyboard, such as the plus or minus sign, to enter the operator into the formula after the first cell reference (the active cell highlight returns to the cell containing the formula). Use the arrow keys on the keyboard to navigate to the second cell to be used in the formula. The second cell reference is added to the formula after the mathematical operator. If required, enter additional mathematical operators using the keyboard followed by the cell reference for the formula's data. Once the formula is complete, press the Enter key on the keyboard to complete the formula and view the answer in the cell. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Subtract Dates in Excel Excel SUMIFS: Sum Only Values Meeting Multiple Criteria How to Hide and Unhide Columns, Rows, and Cells in Excel How to Use the Round Function in Excel How to Combine the ROUND and SUM Functions in Excel How to Calculate Percentage in Excel How to Add Numbers in Excel Using a Formula Google Sheets Formula Tutorial How to Use a Dynamic Range in Excel With COUNTIF and INDIRECT How to Create an Excel Lookup Formula With Multiple Criteria Relative, Absolute, and Mixed Cell References in Excel and Sheets How to Use the MONTH Formula in Excel How to Calculate Weighted Averages in Excel With SUMPRODUCT How to Rename a Worksheet in Excel How to Nest Multiple IF Functions in Excel How to Add Bullet Points in Excel Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies