Word Tip of the Moment Archive

Quick Calculations

Got some numbers in your Word document and you want to know what they total?  Use the Calculate feature!  I know what you're thinking...WHAT Calculate feature?  Well, it's awfully well hidden and most people don't know it exists.  But here's how you can use it...

First: We need to make it more accessible.  Right-click the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) and choose "Customize Quick Access Toolbar".  Change the "Choose commands from" window from "Popular Commands" to "All Commands" and scroll down to find "Calculate."  Click the "Add" button to add it to your QAT.  That done, click OK.

O.K., now find some text with numbers; such as "Jones offers $221,000 and Smith offers $764,000."  Want to know how much they offer combined?  Highlight the sentence and click the Calculate button on your QAT...then look at the status bar on the bottom left.  Pretty cool, huh?

In sentences like that Calculate appears to only add.  But if you insert mathematical expressions like "8-3" or "52*171" and highlight those calculate WILL perform those calculations.  Note that you have to use the asterisk "*" for multiplication, not the "x".

It doesn't replace Excel but it's a nifty little feature that you can use when you don't want to have to find your calculator for simple things.

SHIFT+F5 To Resume Your Work

Been scrolling about in your document and want to quickly jump back to the last place you were editing?  Press SHIFT+F5 on your keyboard.

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Last Updated: 05/26/2010