In a recent post we have analyzed the Features and main differences between Google Sheets and Excel. Now we go into some more detailed aspects that, in the process, will help us better understand how both programs work and perhaps help us decide which of them best suits what we really need. In this article we will focus on how to add Bullets in Excel and Google Sheets.
Neither of these two programs is a word processor. Therefore, it does not offer the typical functions that we find in software of this type, such as creating vignettes. However, there are some ways to achieve a similar result. This specific function is quite similar in both programs, except for some small differences that we will try to explain in the following paragraphs.
Before starting, let's remember that bullets are a widely used resource to give emphasis to a text. They are usually placed at the beginning of the document in the form of numbered lists or as lists of points, with different styles available, as a summary or enumeration of some content.
Insert bullet points in Excel
Let's first analyze the possibilities that Microsoft Excel offers us, the reference software in the world when working with spreadsheets. This has some interesting options for inserting bullets, specifically three: using a keyboard shortcut, using symbols, or applying a function. Any user can use any of them as we explain below:
With a keyboard shortcut
As we have seen on other occasions, the key combinations and keyboard shortcuts (shortcuts) offer us a lot of possibilities. This is one of the cases, let's see how it is done:
- First, we place the mouse pointer over the cell in which we want to insert the bullet.
- Then we simultaneously press the Alt + 7 keys.
- Finally, we press the space bar and write the text.
Using symbols
Another method that we can use to insert a vignette is to do it via the Symbols function of Excel. This is how to proceed:
- First we go to the ribbon, where we look for the tab "Insert".
- There we first choose the option «Symbols» & AFTER "Symbol".
- The symbol box is displayed on the screen. To be able to see them all (since there are many) you can change the size of the box by dragging the lower right corner of the box.
- Then we go to the drop-down list on the right (called "Subset"), where we change the option that appears by default to that of overall score.
- Now, we choose the symbol what we want for our vignettes and click on the button "Insert".
- Finally, we close the box using the "Cancel" button and write the text of the bullets in the spreadsheet.
It is a method with advantages and disadvantages. The good part is that it gives us a lot of flexibility when choosing symbols for vignettes, but the bad thing is that we have to repeat this operation for each vignette.
Through a function
There is a specific function to add bullet points in Excel: the CHARACTER function. This is the way to use it:
We select the cell in which we want to insert our bulleted text.
- There, we write the CHARACTER function with the corresponding number required, which for the bullet is 149. It is written like this: =CHARACTER (149)
- We add the ampersand symbol (&) to concatenate the function with the cell text. For example: =CHARACTER (149) & «cell text»
This is the end of the options we have to add bullet points in Excel. As you can see, they are all relatively simple. Let's now move on to the possibilities that Google Sheets offers us.
Insert bullet points in Google Sheets
If we work with Google Sheets, there are two ways to insert bullets. Both are quite similar to what Excel offers us: using the Alt key or inserting symbols. We analyze them below:
With the Alt key
Since Google Sheets uses the same Alt codes as Excel, the method for adding bullets using a keyboard shortcut is almost the same, except for a few small details. This is the way to do it:
- First we must select cell in which we want to insert the vignette.
- Then we press the F2 key to enter editing mode.
- Then we press the keys at the same time Alt + 7.
- Finally, we write the text in the cell.
Inserting bullets with special characters
Although Google Sheets does not have a symbols function like Excel, it is possible to use the one in Google Docs. The way to access it is to open a Google document and use the “copy and paste” method from the document to the spreadsheet. We explain it step by step:
- In the menu of Google Drive, we are going to "Google Docs" and then we select "Document".
- In that new document, we go to the tab "Insert" and we select "special characters".
- A drop-down menu opens with various options: categories, symbols and geometric shapes. We select the one we want to use by double clicking on the symbol itself.
- Finally, we copy and paste the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V.