In my previous post I showed how to have a flexible data validation and how to validate it. This post will look at adding conditional formats to inputs and validations.
Validating Data Validation in Excel
Part One
The most common type of Data Validation in Excel is a drop down list. In the example below I allow the user to select a year, then a month (using a drop down) and then enter a valid day in the month.
Hyperlinking to a Cell in Another Excel File
It is possible
You can create a hyperlink to another Excel file in Excel but you can’t control what sheet or cell will be active. Well you can actually, but you need to know how.
Grouping Icon Above Group Rows in Excel
Finding a well hidden setting
The default setting is to have the grouping icon below the grouped rows. But you can switch things and have the icon at the top of the grouped rows.
Free Webinar Recording – Introduction to Power Query
Feedback score 94.5% based on 91 responses
In October 2019 I ran my Introduction to Power Query webinar for free (previously it was a paid session). I want to get this information out to as many people as possible. please share this resource with colleagues and your network.
The detailed pdf manual and example file can be downloaded by using the button below. Content listed below the video.
Power Query allows you to automatically perform data cleansing routines on your data sources – no manual intervention required. Simply refresh and your data is ready to use. You can use csv files; txt files; databases and existing Excel tables as your data sources. Learn the basics, plus an advanced technique to automate data cleansing routines on your data sources.
CPD note – if you are claiming CPD for watching this recording you need to keep your own records. People who attend the live sessions receive an annual listing of attendances.
This session covers
- fixing dates so that Excel can recognise them
- formatting columns as text – retaining leading zeroes in CSV files
- deleting unwanted rows and columns from your data
- removing leading and trailing spaces
- populating blank values with zeroes
- populating blanks with entries from above
- correcting trailing minus signs
- unpivot a report – how to convert a report layout into a data table layout
- converting a MYOB report into a data table
Grouping Measures in Power BI
Its in the Model View
It is considered best practice to use Measures for all your values in Power BI reports and dashboards. One way to make it easier to find Measures is to group them together.
Free Webinar Recording – Excel Yourself 2019
Feedback score 93% based on 41 responses
In December 2019 I reviewed four of my articles from 2019 plus some new content.
The detailed pdf manual and example file can be downloaded using the button below. Content listed below the video.
CPD note – if you are claiming CPD for watching this recording you need to keep your own records. People who attend the live sessions receive an annual listing of attendances.
This year’s webinar includes
- a new logic function IFS
- how to do budget allocations across months using the MOD function
- how to do complex monthly budget allocations
- using helper cells to achieve advanced conditional formats
As always there will be other tips and tricks shared along the way.
Creating Groups for Power Queries in Excel
Put some order in your queries
Once you start to use Power Query you may find yourself with quite a few queries in the one file. To make it easier to control them you can use groups to keep similar queries together.
Excel Sort within a Sort
Colour by numbers
Did you know you can sort by colour in Excel? Did you know you can sort ascending or descending within that colour? I was asked a question in a recent webinar and in answering I found out that you can sort within a sort.
Applying a standard custom format in Excel
Styles to the rescue
One of the most common custom number formats used in Excel is the mmm-yy format. As an example this format displays all the dates in January 2019 as Jan-19. This format is used in most reports, budgets and financial models. There is quicker way to apply it than using the Format Cells dialog.
Counting Duplicates in an Excel Range
Another SUMPRODUCT solution
The Duplicates option under conditional formatting is useful to identify when there are duplicate entries within a range. This requires you to review the range to see if there are any duplicates. You can use a formula to identify ranges that contain duplicates.
Free Webinar Recording – Excel Chart Tips and Tricks
Feedback score 94.5% based on 59 responses
In November 2019 I re-ran my Excel Chart Tip sand Tricks session.
The detailed pdf manual and example file can be downloaded using the button below. Content listed below the video.
CPD note – if you are claiming CPD for watching this recording you need to keep your own records. People who attend the live sessions receive an annual listing of attendances.
This webinar is focused on showing you how to create and modify charts in Excel 2016 with a minimum of fuss.
The Chart interface changed in Excel 2013 and I take you through some of the changes.
You will see best practice design and formatting techniques demonstrated and explained.
See how to create dynamic charts that automatically change based on selections made or data added.
Learn about the feature added in Excel 2010 called Sparkline charts.
I also include some useful date-based functions.
Putting Emphasis on Words in Excel
Don't overdo the colours
Did you know that you can format individual words and letters differently within an Excel cell or text box?
Extracting initials in Excel
Handling a space or a comma separator
If you have a system that uses initials to identify people then being able to extract initials from a first name and last name combination can be handy. A formula can automate the process and there is also a quick, manual way to do it.
Top 5 reports with PivotTable and PivotCharts
Switch the order of the Axis
When you create a top 5 sorted report with a PivotTable, the Pivot Chart isn’t always what you expect, there is an easy solution.
Activating a Sheet When an Excel File is Opened
Its a macro
There are times when you would like to have the same sheet visible each time a file is opened. You can achieve that with a Workbook Event macro.
Changing the Close & Load settings in a Power Query
Its a right click option
A recent attendee at a webinar posed the question, can you change the Close & Load setting on an existing query? Here is the answer.
Conditionally Selecting a Column in Excel
The IF function can return a range
When creating a formula sometimes you need to conditionally choose the column to perform a calculation on. The IF function can be used, but there is a trick to shorten the formula.
Power Query feedback
Received this email after a recent Power Query session – some things may take a few goes to understand, that’s OK, that’s how we learn.
Free Webinar Recording – Excel Formula and Function Tips
Feedback score 95.8% based on 66 responses
In October 2019 I re-ran my Excel Formula and Function Tips session.
The detailed pdf manual and example file can be downloaded by using the button below. Content listed below the video.
CPD note – if you are claiming CPD for watching this recording you need to keep your own records. People who attend the live sessions receive an annual listing of attendances.
This session covers lots of tips, tricks and techniques to speed up the formula creation process. You will learn:
- how to quickly start a formula
- the benefits of the numeric keypad
- to use AutoComplete to save typing
- how to easily insert $ signs to fix references
- about the calculation sequence
- how to use the colours Excel displays when editing formulas
- the tricks on selecting large ranges
- using formulas and Format as Table together
- a helpful technique when working with ranges in other sheets