What it does
Uses picker prompt to provide options for quickly inserting common items, such as new workbooks, worksheets, columns, rows, cells, shapes, pictures, etc.

When to use it
When working with data or files, and you want to insert something, this is an easy way to do it.  The most commonly-used options are inserting columns, rows, and cells.

Why to use it
It’s easier and quicker than using the mouse, combining several clicks into one step, providing shortcuts to tougher-to-find menu options, and providing options that extend the native capabilities of Excel.

Default shortcut
Ctrl+Shift+A

Other Details

• Category: Data / Content
• Difficulty: 3/5
• Usage/frequency: 3/5
• Automation factor: 3/5 (estimated 3 seconds saved each time used)
• Type: Shortcut
• Date added: 10/11/2018
• Tags: insert, picker

Related Macros
[A] Insert Shape Picker
[Q] Insert Comment
[T] Insert PivotTable
[V] Insert PivotChart

Note: most of the related filter macros above will be covered in the instructions below.  The picker option code is displayed in the [brackets].

Other Articles
None

None

Prerequisites
Most options: select the cell(s) where you want to insert other cell(s), rows, columns, shapes, pictures, etc.

Instructions
With the workbook/cells/etc. selected per the prerequisites above, run the Insert Picker macro.  It will present several helpful actions to run for common insert actions.  For the action you run most often, you can set your default so you don’t have to enter it (just launch the picker and press Enter).  Note that the default is highlighted when the picker is launched, so to change the action code, there is no need to press the backspace first.  Further instructions for the individual action codes are described below.

• [W] This will open a new, blank workbook.
• [S] This will insert a new worksheet in front of (to the left of) the active sheet.  You can optionally add a space and the worksheet name to name the sheet.  Note that certain characters are not allowed in sheet names.
• [R] This will insert one or more rows (depending on how many you have selected) above the selected row(s).  Note that this will insert one or more rows regardless of whether one or more entire rows is selected.
• [C] This will insert one or more columns (depending on how many you have selected) to the left of the selected column(s).  Note that this will insert one or more columns regardless of whether one or more entire columns is selected.
• [E] This will insert one or more cells (depending on how many you have selected) above the selected cell(s).  To insert the new cells to the left (shifting the selected ones to the right), add an R (so enter “ER”).  If you have entire row(s) or column(s) selected, this option will insert entire row(s) or column(s) like options [R] and [C] above. 
• [N] This will insert a named range for the selected cell(s).  Enter option [N], then a space, then the range name to apply.  Note that certain characters are not allowed in range names.
• [A] This will launch the Insert Shape Picker, allowing you to quickly insert common shapes or your favorite shape type (including formatting).
• [P] This will launch the insert picture window so you can browse for one or more pictures to insert in the active sheet.
• [L] This will insert a sparkline to the right of the selected data range.  By default, a line chart type is used.  For a column chart, add a C (enter “LC”), or for a win/loss chart, add a W (enter “LW”).
• [H] This will launch the insert hyperlink window so you can enter the text to display and the hyperlink address.
• [Q] This will insert a cell comment in the top-left selected cell and activate the cell comment in editing mode.  If a cell comment already exists, the cell comment is activated in editing mode with the cursor at the end of the existing cell comment.
• [D] This will insert the current date in the top-left selected cell.  To also insert the time, add an M (enter “DM”).
• [M] This will insert the current time in the top-left selected cell.  To also insert the date, add an M (enter “MD”).
• [T] This will insert a table and display a prompt to confirm the cell range the table should be applied to. 
• [V] This will insert a PivotTable on a new sheet named “Pivot” and reference the cell range selected when run as the data source.
• [W] This will insert a PivotChart on a new sheet named “Chart” and reference the cell range selected when run as the data source. 

Like most of the picker macros, you can set the default option to apply so you don’t even have to enter the letter/number – just the Enter key.  Just enter your preferred default letter(s), then click the default checkbox, and those letter(s) becomes the new default.