Gauge charts are not a standard chart in Excel and are quite complex to create. Gauge charts should be avoided for dashboards.
Category Archives: Excel Blog
Fixing too many different cell formats
A VBA solution or two
In a recent webinar I was asked about the “Too many different cell formats” error. This tends to be an error in Excel 2010 and earlier versions. In many cases this error is caused by having too many custom Styles.
TreeMap a new chart in Excel 2016
A square pie chart
The TreeMap is like a square pie chart, but it has the added ability to show a hierarchy.
Suggested Excel Webinar Sequence
With over 20 free webinars, what order should you watch them?
Over the last five and a half years I have run more than 20 free Excel training webinars. The topics covered are varied and I have had requests to list the best order to watch the recordings.
Stopping the Clipboard from being cleared in Excel VBA
How to check if the clipboard is empty
It is common knowledge (or it should be) that running a macro clears the undo list. In general you can’t undo a macro. However some macros also clear the clipboard which can stop you copying and pasting. I have found a workaround for the clipboard problem.
Inserting a Blank Row Between Entries
Manual technique
Over the years I have had many requests to help people insert blank rows between entries is a list. Apparently it is for an input routine that requires blanks. My normal solution is a macro because it automates the process, but there is a manual technique that is quick and easy.
Step Charts in Excel
Hacking the error bars
The Step chart is not a standard Excel chart but it is a useful way to display values over time. You have probably seen a step chart but you may not have known what it was called. It sort of looks like the city skyline or something you would create on an Etch-a-Sketch.
Find the first and last dates in a filtered list
Super power to the rescue
Let’s assume you have a large table that you are filtering. Based on the current filter you want to work out the earliest date and the latest date. You may be surprised to learn the SUBTOTAL function can help you.
Pie Charts and Negatives – an Alternative
A waterfall solution
Pie charts have a lot of drawbacks and limitations. One major limitation is they can’t handle negatives. One of Excel’s new charts can help out.
Identifying Locked Cells in Excel
How do you know if a cell is locked in Excel? There is an easy was to find out. And it also makes it easier to lock or unlock the cell.
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.
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.
Identify Milestone Years in Excel
MOD function to the rescue
Recently a client wanted help in summarising a large data list of employees. They wanted to identify the years of service in terms of 5, 10, 15 years and other milestone years based on a start date.
My free Excel webinars are back
All webinars are not the same
I recently ran my first public webinar in nearly a year – Materials Link and streaming Video below.
I run free and paid Excel training webinars. Watch a recording or come along to a free session and see if you like them.
My aim is to make my live training webinars as enjoyable, useful and practical as possible, which means
- no PowerPoint slides EVER
- zero marketing or up selling – just Excel training
- no recorded content – its all live and interactive – comments and questions can be sent via a chat box
- detailed instruction manuals – yes, even the free sessions have a detailed pdf manual
- the free session recordings are always available – no time limits on watching
- paid recordings can also be downloaded
- annual attendance listing for CPD purposes when you attend a live session (sent out late January each year)
- you must record your own CPD when you watch a recording (like the one below)
Excel Test For One of Two Conditions
A shorter alternative
In Excel it is quite common to test a cell for either a zero or a blank. If either of these two entries are found then you do a particular calculation. There is an easy way to handle this.
Excel Formula to Extract the Domain
Using the SUBSTITUTE function
I recently read a blog post about using Excel for SEO (Search Engine Optimisation). It mentioned a function to extract a domain from a URL. The function was from Google docs, not Excel. So I wrote an Excel formula to extract the domain from their list of URLs.
Checking Rounded Totals in Excel
Another SUMPRODUCT technique
Rounded values in Excel can pose a few issues. There is a formula you can use that can round a range of values and then SUM the results. This can be used as a check total for rounded values.
Naming Charts in Excel
Two techniques
You may have noticed that Excel gives every chart a unique number when it creates the chart. It is displayed in the Name Box in the left corner above the grid. You have the ability to change that name and make it more descriptive.
Excel Protection Tips
Letting users make input entries
When you are setting up a protected sheet that allows users to make inputs, a few option changes can make the user’s experience a lot easier.
Stop Charts Resizing
Works with other graphic objects like text boxes
We’ve all been there, our charts are looking just right and then some one inserts a column or changes the column width and throws out all our perfectly proportioned charts.