Microsoft Excel — Step 1, Set Up Your Quick Access Toolbar
Everything You Want to Know (And More) About the QAT
I have found myself having this discussion a lot recently as I present on the topic of effective use of Excel. It seems intuitive that we would take the effort to streamline steps, but few actually do.
If you are a user of Excel, you WILL benefit from setting up and using your Quick Access Toolbar!
Here’s everything you need to know — from basic to more advanced topics!
The Basics of the QAT
My previous post — “Microsoft Excel — The Basics of the “QAT”” — covers getting started.
- Placement of the QAT Toolbar
- Adding frequent tasks to the Toolbar
- Going a little deeper…
The following YouTube video from the ExcelIsFun Channel also provides an excellent introduction.
Adding Custom Items to Your QAT
As you get more comfortable defaulting to your toolbar and NOT using the Ribbon commands, you will likely want to get a more advanced in the capabilities that you have access too.
Adding items from your QAT from your Personal Macro Workbook or custom add-ins that you have installed can super charge your productivity.
My Medium post “Microsoft Excel — Productivity with Add-In’s and the Quick Access Toolbar” takes you step by step to installing a custom add-in that I developed (request download here) and setting up shortcuts on the QAT for quick access.
You can also set up macros in a Personal Macro Workbook that can be added to the QAT.
When you record a macro, select “Personal Macro Workbook” as the destination.
Once you do this, any macro in this workbook will be accessible from any workbook you are in.*
*Your Personal Macro Workbook is a hidden workbook that opens anytime you open Excel, and it runs in the background.
If you are interested in learning more about the Personal Macro Workbook, I cover it (on page 8) in a presentation you can download here.
If you have not yet started taking advantage of the Quick Access Toolbar, start now!
Good luck and I hope this gives you a good start!
About Don
“On a mission to challenge the status quo to a more productive and effective end…”
Don is passionate about helping professionals and organizations keep up and adapt to the changing business world that we operate in.
One lesson learned over the years is that all of us, regardless of organization type or size, struggle with similar issues — primarily information management, organization, presentation, and effective use of our time. Let’s change that…one person at a time!
