A recent attendee at a webinar posed the question, can you change the Close & Load setting on an existing query? Here is the answer.
Category Archives: Tips & Tricks
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
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.
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.
Linking sheet controls to cells
Easy and quick way
Most spreadsheet controls need to link to a cell to enable interaction with the spreadsheet. There is an easy way to do that.
Some actions clear the clipboard
Some actions in Excel will clear the clipboard after you have copied or cut.
Two common ones are
- inserting a new sheet
- clearing a filter – using Clear in the Data menu (keyboard shortcut Alt a c )
So if you are going to do either of these, do them before copying or cutting.
Copying between sheets in Excel [VIDEO]
Mouse and keyboard shortcut to speed things up
Copying between sheets or files is a common task. I’d like to share a quick and easy way to do it.
Increase Font Size in VBA Window
Easy change
Yes, you can make the text in the VBA window easier to read.
It is also great for training.
(This tip may not work on 4K monitors.)
To open the VBA Window press Alt + F11.
Click the Tools menu and then Options – see image below.
Click the Editor Format tab and change the Size drop down to 14, or whatever you want – see image below.
Click OK and the font size will now be increased in the code window.
See below for a comparison between 10 and 14 point.
Must easier to read!
Windows File Explorer – New Folder
To insert a new folder in Windows File Explorer use Ctrl + Shift + N.
Unlocking coloured cells in Excel
Styles and Find solutions
When you create an Excel file that handles inputs it is best practice to colour code the input cells. The colour you choose isn’t important but making sure you use it consistently is. You may need to unlock the input cells if you plan to add sheet protection to the file. Here’s a couple of ways to do that.
Free Excel Webinar Recording – Financial Functions Part 2
Feedback score 87%
In July 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.
In July 2019 following on from the response and feedback from my June webinar, I covered more financial functions. These are more related to comparing and analysing cash flows. I have also included a couple of requested schedules.
This session will cover the following functions
- NPV – Net Present Value of regular cashflows (learn to trick to using it correctly)
- XNPV – Net Present Value of irregular cashflows
- IRR – Internal Rate of Return of regular periodic cashflows
- XIRR – Internal Rate of Return of irregular periodic cashflows
- Discounted Payback period schedule
- Flexible Loan schedule – handles lump sum payments
As with all my sessions, I will throw in a few other shortcuts along the way.
Full Screen
To switch to Full Screen mode – great for presentations – use
Ctrl + Shift + F1
Press it again to revert to the normal view.
Keyboard shortcut to insert a Text Box
A quick way to insert a Text Box is by pressing, in sequence (not held down) Alt N X.
A blank Text Box is placed in the middle of the sheet.
Default Function Arguments in Excel
What to leave out
Many of Excel’s functions have default arguments. What are arguments? Arguments are the sections within a function that you separate with commas and some of these arguments are optional.
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.
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.
Format as Table Extends Data Validation
Another advantage to formatted tables
Excel’s Format as Table feature on the Home ribbon has many advantages. One advantage that isn’t mentioned much is the automatic extension of Data Validations.
Fastest way to copy an image, graphic or chart
To copy an image, graphic or chart simply have the object selected and press Ctrl + D. You can press multiple time to paste multiple times.
If you line the first one up then the others will also line up as you duplicate them.
Related Posts
Avoiding keyed in values in Excel formulas
Table solution
One of the cardinal rules of Excel is don’t key-in a value into a formula if that value could change. Tracking the value down could be problematic if you need to change the value. Tables can be the solution to avoiding keyed-in values.
Zeroing an input range in multiple cells
Range names make it easy
In some cases you may have to make manual inputs across multiple cells that are spread across a sheet. Before making the entries you need to clear the existing entries. Creating a range name can make that process much quicker.