Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic
2018-04-27
2018-04-27
Monthly Archives: April 2018
Name Box and Macros
I have found out yet another feature of the Name Box.
The Name Box is on the left of the Formula Bar and above the column letters – see image below.
During a recent macro webinar I tried to create a new range name called Test using the Name Box.
But I also has already created a macro called Test as part of the training.
As soon as I pressed Enter after typing Test into the Name Box to create the Test range name, I was magically transported to the VBA window to the Test macro – Wow!
This means you can’t create a range name in the Name Box that is the same as a macro name.
You have to use the Define name icon on the Formulas tab to do that.
Entering Headings via a Macro in Excel
Handle a range in one go
Let’s say you are creating a new table in a new sheet using a macro and you need to create the headings in row 1. There is a reasonably easy way to do it.
Easy Financial Year Formula
To get the Australian financial year from a date you usually use an IF function based on the month number.
I recently learned a new hack from Matt Allington of Exceleratorbi.
You can add 184 to the date and then use the YEAR function. See table and formulas below.
The formula in cell B2 is
=YEAR(A2)
The formula in cell C2 is
=YEAR(A2+184)
Both formulas have been copied down.
A simple solution to a frustrating issue. Thanks Matt.
Storytelling with Data (Wiley, 2015)
A great book to help you create better charts/graphs. (Note: I call them charts because I use Excel – graphs may be the correct term.)
The book explains many visualisation concepts and backs it up with step by step examples of improving charts.
The before and after charts speak for themselves.
The book also places emphasis on identifying the message you are seeking to convey to the reader of your chart and making sure you are using the best chart to get that message across.
With dashboards being the buzz at the moment learning how to best display your information is a good skill to have.
This quote was used in the book and encapsulates many of the recommendations. Highly recommend this book.
PivotTable Combinations Trick
How to get a list of combinations
I did a recent post on using Power Query to create an all combinations list. I found another technique on chandoo.org to create that list using a PivotTable.
Free Excel Webinar – recording Macros Tips Tricks and Traps
Getting started with macros
It is easy to create a recorded macro. It is not so easy to create a flexible and re-usable recorded macro. Click the materials Button below to download the pdf manual and example file.
Learn the techniques that can allow you to record effective macros that can handle different ranges and changes to sheet names.
Macros can speed up your work and reduce the time taken for tedious tasks, as well as adding functionality to Excel.
This is the first in a series of webinars dedicated to macros. Future paid sessions this month will expand on the techniques taught in this session.
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.
Excel and Outliers
New functions make it easier to find them
Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers is a great read – I reviewed it here. Its premise is that some outliers (events that are far outside “normal” expectations) have causes and hence are worthy of investigation. Excel have some functions that can help identify outliers in your data.
2018-04-02
Jon Peltier is a legend when it comes to charts in Excel – check out his post on Gannt charts in Excel.
Gannt charts are a project management tool that help you visualise and understand the relationships between tasks and how the project time line is progressing.
PivotTable Grouping Doesn’t Work
Rogue data the reason
Grouping is a powerful feature in PivotTable reports but sometimes Excel won’t let you apply grouping. There are a few reasons for this.
Don’t forget, many people (mainly men) have issues seeing all the colours.