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Using Excel, there are many instances when I need to move the cursor back 'in-between' characters, like in the case where I write open and closed parenthesis and then fill in the rest:

()*my_cursor

(*my_cursor)

(stuff)

Unfortunately, when I try to do that, Excel assumes I want to go to the cell left of the cell I'm working on. After I click back to the cell I need, I don't get this problem. How do I disable this feature of Excel? It's really bugging me. Thanks in advance.

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1 Answer 1

Reset to default
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It will take an extra keypress but F2 will do it:

()F2Leftstuff

Will give you

(stuff)
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4
  • This is the best way. Using F2 instead of clicking in the formula bar or double clicking the cell is the most efficient. +1
    – Raystafarian
    Commented Oct 15, 2014 at 8:56
  • 2
    I should have probably mentioned this in the question but I'm using a Macbook Pro so F2 didn't work. Luckily it's easy to find the equivalent of F2 on the mac, which is ctrl+U.
    – Greg
    Commented Oct 15, 2014 at 12:09
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    Isn't there a way to change this behavior?
    – Herman Toothrot
    Commented Oct 1, 2015 at 14:54
  • @Greg It just occurred to me that Apple hates F keys XD.. Thanks Paul, great tip! I wish I could permanently reverse the function though, that is to press F2 before arrow to insert a cell reference or move to another cell, but normally the arrows should move the cursor within the current cell.
    – ADTC
    Commented Jul 14, 2016 at 3:52

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