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?
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
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
Free Webinar Recording – Excel Formatting Tips
Feedback score 94% based on 70 responses
In October 2019 I re-ran my Formatting Tips session. The detailed pdf manual and example file can 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:
- a format to avoid and the one to use in its place
- keyboard and mouse shortcuts
- how to use and create customer number formats
- about Styles and how they can make your formatting more consistent
- that colours can be used to filter, sort and even find things in your sheets
- how to stop zeroes displaying plus other general formatting tips
- a quick demo of Flash Fill
Excel Macro to Insert a Formula
When I am creating a file for my training or for my blog or other articles that I write I regularly use the FORMULATEXT function to display the formula in a cell on the right of the actual formula. To save time I created a macro to do the work for me.
Sequential Numbers Formula
A ROWS by any other name
Getting a single formula to create a series of sequential numbers is most commonly done with the ROWS function.
Extract Email from Copied Outlook Address
Macro to the rescue
I frequently copy an email address from Outlook to Excel and most times it looks like John Smith<jsmith@email.com>. To be used as an email I need to extract from between < and >. To do that in a single cell is tedious, so I wrote a macro to do it for me.
Allocating Across Financial Years
Make the most of MOD
A recent question from a CPA in Canberra allowed me to combine the MOD function and helper cells to offer a solution.
Hiding Zero Rows in Excel with No Macros
Filter technique
Over the years I have had regular requests for a technique to hide zero rows in reports. You can use macros but you can also use filters. Let’s see how you can implement a filter solution.
Free Webinar Recording – Interactive Excel Chart
Feedback score 93.7% based on 58 responses
In September 2019 I re-ran my very first webinar that was based on an August 2012 INTHEBLACK feature article. I have provided a detailed pdf manual and example files which you can download at the link below.
This session covers
- using controls with charts to make the user experience easier
- tips for using controls on spreadsheets
- flexible formula techniques to make reports more dynamic
- a technique to stop figures plotting on charts
- using range names with controls and reports
- general charting tips
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.