Right-Click Context Menus
Right-clicking shows a menu of the commands that make sense for whatever you clicked on.
The Menu That Knows Where You Are
Right-click a cell and you get cell commands. Right-click a sheet tab and you get sheet commands. Right-click a chart and you get chart commands. It is always the shortest route.
- Right-click something — Anything at all
- A relevant menu appears — Only sensible commands
- Pick a command — Faster than the ribbon
How to do it
Right-click any cell, heading, tab, chart or object ▸ a menu of relevant commands appears
Shift + F10 opens the context menu from the keyboard, as does the menu key on most keyboards.
| Item | What it does |
|---|---|
| Right-click a cell | Cut, copy, paste, insert, format |
| Right-click a heading | Insert, delete, width, hide |
| Right-click a tab | Insert, delete, rename, colour |
| Right-click a chart | Chart type, data, formatting |
What You Get Where
Shift + F10 opens the context menu without a mouse
| Right-click on | Top commands you get |
|---|---|
| A cell | Cut, Copy, Paste Options, Insert, Format Cells |
| A column letter | Insert, Delete, Column Width, Hide |
| A row number | Insert, Delete, Row Height, Hide |
| A sheet tab | Insert, Delete, Rename, Tab Color, Hide |
| A chart | Change Chart Type, Select Data, Format |
Result: Shift + F10
When you cannot find a command, right-click the thing you want to change.
Do this
- Right-click before hunting the ribbon
- Use Shift + F10 to open it from the keyboard
- Right-click the exact object you want to change
Avoid
- Searching the ribbon for something one right-click away
- Right-clicking the wrong object and getting the wrong menu
- Not knowing the keyboard equivalent
📌 Many commands are quicker from a right-click than from the ribbon. Try it before you go hunting.
Practice
- Right-click a cell, a heading and a tab in turn.
- Compare the three menus.
- Open a context menu with Shift + F10.
Quick quiz: You want to change a chart's type. What is the shortest route?
- Insert ▸ Charts and start again
- Right-click the chart ▸ Change Chart Type
- Delete it and make a new one
Show answer
Right-click the chart ▸ Change Chart Type — Right-clicking the object you want to change is almost always the shortest route.
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