Forum Discussion
Slash "/" key behaving weirdly (??) in Excel
Hi everyone, I've just realised that if I press "/" in Excel I will get similar result as if I press "Alt +H".
Is it supposed to be like that? If not, is there a way to fix it?
I am afraid I might have accidentally assigned "/" key to a shortcut.
For illustration:
Let's say I am navigating across a spreadsheet and I settle upon cell A1 (not in edit mode).
Then I press "/" key (not in edit mode), instead of getting "/" sign written inside cell A1, I will get a result as shown by attachment 1 (see the top bars have letters on it).
I think that is strange because if I press "*" or "-" or "+" (not in edit mode) on cell A1 I will get the respective sign written inside cell A1.
If I want to have "/" sign written inside cell A1, I have to go into edit mode first and then press "/" key.
This only happens in Excel.
In Word, Power Point, etc the "/" functions normally.
I am using Microsoft 365, Excel Version 2102 Build 13801.2036 Click-to-run.
Windows 10 64 bit operating system.
Thank you for your help
Select File > Options.
Select Advanced in the navigation pane on the left.
Scroll all the way down.
In the 'Lotus compatibility' section, clear the box 'Microsoft Excel menu key'.
If any of the check boxes in this section and the following one is ticked, you should clear those.
Click OK.
5 Replies
Select File > Options.
Select Advanced in the navigation pane on the left.
Scroll all the way down.
In the 'Lotus compatibility' section, clear the box 'Microsoft Excel menu key'.
If any of the check boxes in this section and the following one is ticked, you should clear those.
Click OK.
Thank you for your help. It works like a charm
That key is reserved to keep backwards compatibility for things like
/ir (Insert Row)
/ic (Insert Column)/eaa totally clear a range
and a host of other key combinations. Once you learn them, working with excel becomes VASTLY quicker (The Devs know not to remove backwards compatibility in this case lest legions of accountants descend upon them with sharpened pencils...)
