type one key instead of shift colon

  • Thread starter Thread starter OfficeGirl
  • Start date Start date
O

OfficeGirl

I am entering in a series of times to be calculated in Excel. Is there a way
to "assign" a key on the keyboard to mean "shift + colon" rather than having
to type the shift key and the colon every time?
 
you can go into autocorrect and add something:

replace ; with :

just remember to delete it when you're done

in 2003,
tools
autocorrect options

in 2007
click the office button then
Excel Options
Proofing
AutoCorrect Options.
 
Directly answering your question, yes, there's a way.

Assuming you use the numeric keypad to enter numbers, typing in a decimal
point should be second-nature.

**Temporarily** set an AutoCorrect option to replace . (dot, period, decimal
point) with : (colon).

Then enter the times in 24hr decimal point format. For example, 1:45 PM gets
typed in as 13.45.

After you're done make sure you delete the temporary AutoCorrect option then
format the time entries in the style of your choice.

Also see this: quick date/time entry:

http://www.cpearson.com/Excel/DateTimeEntry.htm
 
T. wrote on Sun, 26 Jul 2009 19:30:47 -0400:
Assuming you use the numeric keypad to enter numbers, typing
in a decimal point should be second-nature.
Click to expand...
**Temporarily** set an AutoCorrect option to replace . (dot,
period, decimal point) with : (colon).
Click to expand...
Then enter the times in 24hr decimal point format. For
example, 1:45 PM gets typed in as 13.45.
Click to expand...
After you're done make sure you delete the temporary
AutoCorrect option then format the time entries in the style
of your choice.
Click to expand...
Also see this: quick date/time entry:
Click to expand...
http://www.cpearson.com/Excel/DateTimeEntry.htm
Click to expand...

Why not set a two symbol autocorrect with something you can remember and
don't other wise use like " ~; " ";s" to autocorrect to ": " ? You could
also record a macro for SHFT-; and give it an icon couldn't you?

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not
 
the reason i wouldn't do that is you're adding another keystroke. with your
~; example, why not just use the shift colon because a ~ is another shifted
character and it would be easier just to type the shift colon.

i'm guessing the op wants to use as few keystrokes as possible.
 
If I had to do this my first choice would be to use the event macro
mentioned in Chip Pearson's article.

If for some reason I couldn't do that then I'd use the technique I
described. You can use any key replacement you want but the whole idea is to
*not have to move your hand/fingers away from the numeric keypad to "search"
the keyboard for the replacement key*. Professional number crunchers can use
10 key blindfolded! You don't have to "search" for the decimal point key,
it's right there!
 
For that exact reason I've set-up the girls in our offices to use *double
decimal* entry to denote the colon for Monday morning time card entry.

5..45 is an easy 10key entry, and most of them leave it on their machines
permanently.
--

Regards,

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

If I had to do this my first choice would be to use the event macro
mentioned in Chip Pearson's article.

If for some reason I couldn't do that then I'd use the technique I
described. You can use any key replacement you want but the whole idea is to
*not have to move your hand/fingers away from the numeric keypad to "search"
the keyboard for the replacement key*. Professional number crunchers can use
10 key blindfolded! You don't have to "search" for the decimal point key,
it's right there!
 
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