Tech Tip : Instantly Find Microsoft Office Commands

If you can’t remember where a command is in Word, Excel or PowerPoint, Microsoft Office includes a built-in Search feature that can take you straight to it in seconds, saving you from hunting through menus and Ribbon tabs.

This can be particularly useful when using features you don’t access very often, such as Track Changes, Mail Merge, Page Breaks or PivotTables.

How To Find Any Command Quickly

In Word, Excel or PowerPoint:

  • Click the Search box at the top of the window, or press Alt + Q.
  • Type the name of the command or feature you’re looking for.
  • Select it from the list of results.

Office will either take you directly to the command or carry out the action immediately, depending on what you’ve selected.

Why This Is Useful

The Microsoft Office Ribbon contains hundreds of commands spread across multiple tabs, making it easy to forget where less frequently used features are located.

Using the Search box is often much quicker than browsing through menus and can also help you discover features you didn’t know were available.

An Apple Byte : Microsoft Office 2024 For Macs (Subs-Free!)

Microsoft is now offering a no-subscription, standalone version of Microsoft Office 2024, available as a “one-time purchase for 1 PC or Mac.” 

As a one-time purchase version of Microsoft Office, this provides permanent access to Microsoft’s classic productivity suite, representing a longer-term cost-saving alternative to the subscription-based Microsoft 365.

Two versions of the one-time purchase Microsoft Office 2024 for Mac are now available:

1. Office Home 2024 is priced at £129.99, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote (for non-commercial use).

2. Office Home & Business 2024 is priced at £249.99, which includes everything in the Home version plus Outlook and rights for commercial use.

Both require a Microsoft account and an internet connection.

Unlike Microsoft 365, which includes cloud-based services, this standalone version does not provide access to services such as 1 TB of OneDrive storage, 60 Skype minutes per month, Microsoft chat and phone support, or regular feature updates.

However, the Office Home & Business 2024 version offers added functionality for those needing Outlook or the ability to use Office apps commercially.

As Microsoft highlights, “one-time purchases don’t have an upgrade option, which means if you plan to upgrade to the next major release, you’ll have to buy it at full price”. 

This makes it a more cost-effective choice upfront for users, though Mac users will need to consider whether they prefer the lower initial cost over the ongoing updates and services available with a Microsoft 365 subscription.