One of the more useful toolbar icons is the 'format painter'. It looks like a yellow paintbrush. It allows you to click on a cell that has a format you want to use and then click the 'format painter' (notice that the mouse cursor shape turns into a paint brush) and then click the range where you want to paste the format. When you single click the 'format painter' it only allows you to paste once.

If you double click the 'format painter' then you can paste as many times as you want. The mouse cursor will stay in the paint brush shape after you have double clicked the 'format painter'. Press the Esc key or click on the 'format painter' icon again to reset the cursor.     

Neale Blackwood is a senior business analyst with Access Analytic Solutions, which provides financial modelling, management reporting services, as well as advanced Excel training. You can email Neale at nblackwood@accessanalytic.com.au