Changing Font Size Using a Shortcut Key

Summary: Want to adjust the font size used in a cell or range of cells? It's easy to do by using the shortcut described in this tip. (This tip works with Microsoft Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, Excel 2003, and Excel 2007.)

One of the interesting shortcut keys in Excel is the one that allows you to change the point size of the selected cells. The shortcut key is Ctrl+Shift+P, but exactly how the shortcut functions depends on what you have displayed on the screen.

This may sound odd, but you can try it out. If you have the Formatting toolbar displayed (as most people do), then pressing Ctrl+Shift+P selects the Font Size control on the toolbar. You can then type the font size you want to use and press Enter. (Pretty handy if you don't want to take your hands off the keyboard.)

If you don't have the Formatting toolbar displayed for some reason, then it seems obvious that the Font Size control can't be selected—it isn't even visible. Instead, pressing Ctrl+Shift+P results in the Font tab of the Format Cells dialog box being displayed.

In Excel 2007 there is no differentiation of behavior based on the presence of the Formatting toolbar simply because there is no longer a Formatting toolbar. Pressing Ctrl+Shift+P brings up the Format Cells dialog box, with the Font tab selected.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (3373) applies to Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2007

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Changing Font Size Using a Shortcut Key