There are an estimated 1.2 billion global users of Microsoft Office. The well-known software package comes with Excel, but a third of users never even use it.

Yet, companies that hire marketing analysts, accountants, office managers, and more, expect Excel skills from their employees.

The trouble is, Excel is a complex spreadsheet software that can overwhelm first-time users.

Luckily, learning some Excel quick tips will help. If you’re one of those people who’ve never opened Excel before, read on to learn the Microsoft Excel tips and tricks that will save you time and energy.

1. Use the Sort Data Set Tool

The sort data set tool lets you treat your spreadsheet like a living thing since you can adjust it as your needs change.

For example, you can sort numerical data from smallest to largest or sort names alphabetically. This will save you time since you won’t need to make a separate spreadsheet for each set of data.

To use it, highlight all the data you want to sort, click the Data tab, and then Sort. Choose what you want to sort by and then click OK. If you have multiple columns, highlight those too or your data will get mismatched.

2. Freeze Row Numbers and Column Headers

If you have a large spreadsheet, you might forget which column is for which data set as you scroll down the document. The freeze panes feature fixes this problem.

Select the row below your column headers, click the View tab, and then click Freeze Panes. You’ll be able to see the headers for every column. This is one of the simplest Excel formatting tips, but it will keep you organized.

3. Save With the Right File Type

Choosing the wrong file type can waste hours of work and cause problems for other people who need to access your spreadsheet.

XLSX is the default file type, and it saves all the formatting, from pivot tables to formulas. But the person opening it needs Excel to read it. CSV is a text file that saves the data without the formatting or formulas. Plus, anyone can open and edit it, which makes it a good choice for sharing basic data.

If you’re an advanced user who uses Excel for programming, you’ll need to convert your Excel file if you want to use it with C#. That’s not a problem since you can find C# read XLSX file converters online.

4. Use Formulas for Simple Calculations

You can use formulas to add, subtract, multiply, or divide the data in your spreadsheet. You’ll save time since you won’t have to find a calculator and work row by row.

For addition, choose a cell for the total, type SUM=, select the cells you want to add together, and hit Enter. The other calculations start with = and use these symbols in between the two cells you’re manipulating: subtraction (-), multiplication (*), and division (/).

Boost Your Productivity With These Excel Quick Tips

Whether you need to learn Excel skills to apply for a job or you want to improve the skills you have, these Excel quick tips should help.

With the help of a few simple tools, you’ll save yourself hours of frustration. Plus, you’ll get an easy-to-use spreadsheet that’s easy to share with others.

If you’re looking to expand your tech skillset, check out our articles on technology.