Ctrl + D in Excel: Functions and How to Use
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In this tutorial, you will learn completely about the Ctrl + D (Command + D in Mac) shortcut in excel. We will discuss the shortcut functions and how to optimally utilize them when working in excel.
We have many button shortcuts we can use in excel and one of them is Ctrl + D. By mastering the Ctrl + D shortcut, you should be able to do your job in excel more productively.
Want to know what can Ctrl + D do for you and master the shortcut usage? Read this tutorial until its last part!
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Table of Contents:
Function 1: Copy Above (Cell)/Top (Cell Range) Cell Content
One of the useful Ctrl + D functions in excel is copying the content in the cell above the cell you highlight. If you highlight a cell range, then Ctrl + D will copy its top cell content to other cells in the range!
Using Ctrl + D, you can copy either data or formula. If you copy a formula, then its cell references will move accordingly to where you copy the formula (unless you use the $ symbols).
To better understand how to use this Ctrl + D function, here is the step-by-step to do it.
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Highlight the cell/cell range where you want to do the copy process. If you highlight a cell, highlight one cell below the cell which content you want to copy. If you highlight a cell range, make the cell which content you want to copy as the top cell
- Press the Ctrl (Command in Mac) and the D letter buttons on your keyboard simultaneously
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Done! If you highlighted a cell, then the cell content will become the same as the cell above it. If you highlighted a cell range, then all its cell contents will be the same as the top cell
Function 2: Duplicate an Object and Its Relative Position
Besides duplicating a cell content, you can also use Ctrl + D to duplicate an object in excel. Moreover, Ctrl + D won’t just duplicate your object normally. If you have duplicated the object before, then Ctrl + D will also consider the duplication position to the object when duplicating.
This can be useful when you want to duplicate an object multiple times with the same distance between the duplications. By using this Ctrl + D function, you don’t have to position your duplicate each time you finish your duplication process!
To better understand this Ctrl + D function, here are the chronological steps to utilize it.
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Select the object you want to duplicate
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Press the Ctrl (Command in Mac) and the D letter buttons on your keyboard simultaneously. Doing that will make excel immediately duplicate your object
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Drag the duplicate to the position where you want it next to the original object
- If you need more duplication, then press Ctrl + D again while still selecting the duplicate
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Your new duplicate will mirror the position between your previous duplicate and your original object!
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Repeat step 4 if you still need more duplicates
Exercise
After you have learned the functions of and how to use the Ctrl + D shortcut in excel, let’s do an exercise. This is so you can understand what you just learned more practically!Download the exercise file below and do the instructions. Download the answer key file if you have finished the exercise and want to check your answers! Or probably if you are confused about what to do!
Link to the exercise file:
Download here
Instructions:
Do the instructions in the appropriate sheet using the Ctrl + D functions!Sheet 1
- Fill all the cells in the “Class” column with A-1!
- Copy the formula in the first row of the “Pass/Fail?” column to all of the rows!
Sheet 2
Duplicate the object in the sheet to the right, bottom, and diagonally, five times each. Make sure all the duplications have the same distance to each other!
Link to the answer key file:
Download here
Additional Note
You can also do the cell content copy function of Ctrl + D with the excel AutoFill feature.Related tutorials for you to learn:
