---
title: "Minitab Tips and Tricks: Top 10 Countdown Finale"
description: "Minitab Tips and Tricks: Top 10 Countdown Finale"
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# Minitab Tips and Tricks: Top 10 Countdown Finale

 Minitab Blog Editor  |  10/24/2011

- [Share](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/statistics-and-quality-data-analysis/minitab-tips-and-tricks-top-10-countdown-finale)
- [Share](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/statistics-and-quality-data-analysis/minitab-tips-and-tricks-top-10-countdown-finale)

![screaming fans](https://blog.minitab.com/hs-fs/hubfs/B2BML%20-%20NEW%20FILE%20MANAGER%20STRUCTURE/Blog%20Images/Imported_Blog_Media/screaming_fans-3.jpg?width=250&height=162&name=screaming_fans-3.jpg "screaming fans")The countdown on my favorite Minitab tips and tricks continues. If you missed tips #6-#10, [check out my previous blog](https://blog.minitab.com/blog/statistics-and-quality-data-analysis/minitab-tips-and-tricks-top-10-countdown?hsLang=en).

Coming in at #5, the answer to last blog's trivia quiz:![Tip #5](https://blog.minitab.com/hs-fs/hubfs/B2BML%20-%20NEW%20FILE%20MANAGER%20STRUCTURE/Blog%20Images/Imported_Blog_Media/number_5-3.jpg?width=383&height=28&name=number_5-3.jpg "Tip #5")   
**Export a Minitab graph to PowerPoint**  
 You won't believe how easy this is. Right-click any graph you've created in Minitab and choose **Send Graph to Microsoft PowerPoint**. You don't even need to open PowerPoint. Minitab does it all for you--like magic. (You can send it to Word, too!)  
     
  ![powerpoint](https://blog.minitab.com/hs-fs/hubfs/B2BML%20-%20NEW%20FILE%20MANAGER%20STRUCTURE/Blog%20Images/Imported_Blog_Media/powerpoint_2-3.jpg?width=450&height=633&name=powerpoint_2-3.jpg "powerpoint")

![Tip #4](https://blog.minitab.com/hs-fs/hubfs/B2BML%20-%20NEW%20FILE%20MANAGER%20STRUCTURE/Blog%20Images/Imported_Blog_Media/number_4-3.jpg?width=324&height=30&name=number_4-3.jpg "Tip #4")  
**Clear a dialog box**  
 If you got burned, it’s time to wipe the slate clean. Press **F3** to clear a Minitab dialog box and return it to default settings.  
![clear dialog](https://blog.minitab.com/hs-fs/hubfs/B2BML%20-%20NEW%20FILE%20MANAGER%20STRUCTURE/Blog%20Images/Imported_Blog_Media/clear_dialog_3_w640.jpg?width=600&height=339&name=clear_dialog_3_w640.jpg "clear dialog")

![tip #3](https://blog.minitab.com/hs-fs/hubfs/B2BML%20-%20NEW%20FILE%20MANAGER%20STRUCTURE/Blog%20Images/Imported_Blog_Media/number_3-3.jpg?width=441&height=24&name=number_3-3.jpg "tip #3")  
**Customize Minitab menus and toolbars**  
 Choose **Tools > Customize** to modify the Minitab interface to suit your needs. Add, delete, move, or edit menu or toolbar items. Create or edit menus or toolbars. Add items that link to executable or macro files. Set new keystrokes for commands.  
     
![custom menu](https://blog.minitab.com/hs-fs/hubfs/B2BML%20-%20NEW%20FILE%20MANAGER%20STRUCTURE/Blog%20Images/Imported_Blog_Media/customize-4.jpg?width=176&height=114&name=customize-4.jpg "custom menu")  
    
    
![tip #2](https://blog.minitab.com/hs-fs/hubfs/B2BML%20-%20NEW%20FILE%20MANAGER%20STRUCTURE/Blog%20Images/Imported_Blog_Media/number_2-3.jpg?width=368&height=29&name=number_2-3.jpg "tip #2")  
**Go to the dialog box you last used**  
 Press **Ctrl+E** to return to the dialog box you used most recently. This is a quick and easy way to rerun your most recent analysis if you want to modify the settings and try it again.  
![last used dialog](https://blog.minitab.com/hs-fs/hubfs/B2BML%20-%20NEW%20FILE%20MANAGER%20STRUCTURE/Blog%20Images/Imported_Blog_Media/last_used_dialog-3.jpg?width=350&height=232&name=last_used_dialog-3.jpg "last used dialog")  
 And, without further adieu, my number 1 tip, which is appropriately paired with a hit from one of the top recording artists of all time.

![tip #1](https://blog.minitab.com/hs-fs/hubfs/B2BML%20-%20NEW%20FILE%20MANAGER%20STRUCTURE/Blog%20Images/Imported_Blog_Media/number_1-3.jpg?width=328&height=30&name=number_1-3.jpg "tip #1")

**Open Excel files in Minitab**  
 If you’ve been copying and pasting your data, or worse yet, manually re-entering your data, from Excel into Minitab, this tip might make you cry. Over the years, Minitab and Excel have come to understand each other better and better. And their relationship promises to only get deeper and more harmonious as time goes on.

To directly open Excel files in Minitab, **File > Open Worksheet**. From **Files of Type** choose **Excel** (\*.xls; \*.xlsx).

![excel](https://blog.minitab.com/hs-fs/hubfs/B2BML%20-%20NEW%20FILE%20MANAGER%20STRUCTURE/Blog%20Images/Imported_Blog_Media/excel_worksheet_2_w640.jpg?width=640&height=167&name=excel_worksheet_2_w640.jpg "excel")

The worksheet above opened in Minitab exactly as shown on the right, with no adjustments needed. Depending how your data are formatted in Excel, you might have to tweak the data after you open the worksheet in Minitab. You can also click **Options** or **Preview** to specify how to import and format the imported data correctly.

I’ll sign off now. I hope these tips have been helpful, and that the associated hit tunes weren’t too painful to recall. Just remember, as you use Minitab, to “Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars…”

**Note**: There are many more tips and tricks you can use with Minitab Statistical Software. Check out [this larger list of advanced tips ](http://it.minitab.com/en-us/support/answers/answer.aspx?id=1914)compiled by Minitab’s Technical Support Specialists.

 

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