One Minute to Excel #29 – Nine Names in a Minute

Shortcut to speed up name creation

In this short video I demonstrate how to create range names quickly based on labels. Range names are a powerful formula feature. I also demonstrate their use.

One Minute to Excel #28 – Eight More Charts in a Minute

Fast mouse work to the rescue

OK in the last video I cheated and used Sparkline charts to create 8 charts in a minute.

This time I set myself a real challenge to create 8 real charts in a minute.

Its close – check out the video and learn a few useful techniques.

One Minute to Excel #27 – Eight Charts in a Minute

Sparklines to the rescue

Let’s see if I can create 8 charts in a minute – one for each state and territory in Australia

I cheat a little bit and use Sparkline charts. If you haven’t seen Sparklines before check out the video.

Missing Chart Data in Excel

Another macro to the rescue

The default setting for charts in Excel is to hide the data on the chart if it is hidden on the sheet. I forgot that recently when I created a few charts using a workings area to hold the chart data. I later hid the workings with column grouping. Oops – when you hide the data in the charts go blank.

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.

Download Materials

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.

 

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.

Download Materials

Free Excel Webinar Recording – Financial Functions Part 1

Feedback score 93%

In June 2019 I explained and demonstrated a number of Excel’s  financial functions – see below for more details.

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.

Webinar Materials

These functions take three or more arguments, but there are a few things you need to know to use them correctly. Most involve loans or calculations associated with the time value of money.

This session covered the following six functions

  • PV – Present Value of future regular cash outflow
  • PMT – periodic loan repayment calculation
  • CUMIPMT – cumulative interest – great for loan schedules
  • RATE – interest rate
  • FV – future value of regular investment
  • NPER – number of periods

The session finishes with a loan model that calculates the “missing” value for a loan scenario based on two out of three inputs. The IFERROR function is also discussed.

Free Excel Webinar Recording – Dashboard #1 Guildelines & Techniques

Feedback score 92%

In May 2019 I examined and demonstrated some guidelines and techniques for creating charts for dashboards.

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.

Webinar Materials

In this session I focused on chart and dashboard guidelines plus some techniques used to create small charts for dashboards.

I also looked at creating a bullet chart, which is an alternative to gauge, speedo or dial chart.

The session covered

  • general chart guidelines
  • questions to ask yourself to develop better charts
  • best charts to use
  • charts and formats to avoid
  • using text boxes on dashboards
  • how to create small charts
  • chart templates
  • lining up and re-sizing charts
  • useful number formats for dashboard charts
  • using the #N/A error with charts
  • how to create a bullet chart

As always I shared a few other tips.

Bold Your Headings

Apparently this is not widely known, but you should always bold the headings in your tables.

Then when you use Format as Table (Ctrl + t) on the Home ribbon tab the header row will be correctly identified.

This also applies to the Ctrl + Shift + L shortcut to insert the filter drop downs.

It also applies to the ranges used for charts.

In general ALWAYS BOLD your headings – it is something Excel looks for.

Ctrl + b is the bold shortcut.

Horizontal or Vertical Progress Bar in Excel

Conditional Format or Sparkline take your pick

In a recent webinar on conditional formatting I was demonstrating how to create a horizontal progress bar using conditional formats when someone asked an interesting question about creating a vertical progress bar. It is possible and in this blog post I will explain both techniques.

Waterfall charts

2018-05-15

I prefer to call them Bridge charts rather than Waterfall charts, but Waterfall is the common name.

Excel added Waterfalls in Excel 2016.

I think the name Bridge is more descriptive since a bridge takes you from one place to another which is what the chart does with values.

Waterfalls in nature only fall down, whilst a waterfall chart has measures that rise and fall.

This blog post show many examples. Most examples are not done in Excel.

Link to blog post.