The Alt key offers a way to use icons without using the mouse. In some cases, these Alt key shortcuts can be quicker than using the mouse.
Category Archives: Videos
One Minute to Excel #22 – Normalise a budget
Power Query can be quick
The standard budget layout isn’t great for pivot tables. You can easily and quickly convert it in to data using Power Query
See now in this short video.
One Minute to Excel #21 – Hiding Zeroes
Two ways
If you want to display a blank cell instead of a zero there are two ways to do it.
See both in this short video.
One Minute to Excel #20 – Custom Lists
Built-in feature
Do you have a list or lists that you use all the time? Would you like to write the first entry and then drag it like January to get the rest of the list? Here’s how.
One Minute to Excel #19 – Skip Blanks
Paste Special Technique
If you have data that has blanks in it you may be able to combine columns using Paste Special – Skip Blanks.
One Minute to Excel #18 – Convert real numbers to text numbers
Two techniques
When you are working with text numbers in tables sometimes you need to convert real numbers into text numbers to do look ups.
There are at least two ways to do this.
Let’s see how to convert real numbers into test numbers, real fast.
One Minute to Excel #17 – Convert text numbers to real numbers
Two techniques
When you import numbers from other systems they sometimes come in as text and are left aligned.
There are a couple of ways to fix them and they can both be done in less than a minute.
One Minute to Excel #16 – Create a useful macro
Wow - a replacement for Merge cells in less than a minute
The Merge cells format has lots of issues. It can crash macros and stop you copying and pasting.
In less than a minute you can use a macro to solve the problem.
One Minute to Excel #15 – Replace Colours
It can be done
Replacing colours manually can be a tedious task.
Did you know you can use Excel’s built-in Find & Replace to do the job for you?
One Minute to Excel #14 – Flash Fill
Excel's Super Hero
Joining names; extracting codes or converting dates is usually done with formulas, but there is now a formula-free solution called Flash Fill.
One Minute to Excel #13 – Create and Use a Check Box
Tick it to the next level
A check box is an easy interface to create and use.
See how to add one to a sheet and use it in a calculation.
One Minute to Excel #12 – Hide Cell Entries
It is a special format
You can’t hide a cell, but you can stop the cell value from displaying on the sheet.
It involves a custom number format.
One Minute to Excel #11 – Add % to a Pivot Table
It is not intuitive
Often people perform calculations off to the right of Pivot Tables to calculate percentages.
In this short video I show you those calculations can be done inside the Pivot Table itself.
The solution is not intuitive, but it is easy.
This example builds upon the previous One Minute to Excel post.
One Minute to Excel #10 – Create a Pivot Table
It is easy
Note sure why, but Pivot Tables are often seen a “hard” or “advanced”.
In the short video we see how easy they are.
Oops – I go over my one minute time limit by a few seconds because I format the Pivot Table as well.
One Minute to Excel #9 – Drop down list in a cell
Three techniques
This short video covers different ways to insert a drop down list into a cell.
I go over my one minute time limit by a couple of seconds, but I do cover three techniques.
Excel’s Formatted Tables [Video]
Free webinar recording
Learn about Excel’s powerful Table feature that treats tables like little databases.
I ran this free live webinar in March 2021.
You can access the pdf manual and example file by clicking the button below the video.
One Minute to Excel #8 – Incrementing a Long List of Dates
It is easy when you know how
In this short video I cover how to increment dates in long ranges.
It uses a little know dialog.
One Minute to Excel #7 – Copy Date down a Long Range
Quick and easy technique
In this short video I cover how to insert dates in long ranges.
Its simple and quick.
One Minute to Excel #6 – Add Subtotals Automatically
Built-in feature
In this short video I cover how to insert automated subtotals.
Its a built-in feature, that is easy to use.
One Minute To Excel #5 – Extracting Unique Entries
Three techniques
In previous videos I worked with duplicated entries.
In this video I demonstrate how to extract unique entries from a list.
Three different ways in 60 seconds.
Off we go!
Related Posts
One Minute to Excel #3 – Filling in the blanks
No blank looks
Imported data often has missing entries you need to populate.
You can use Power Query, but that duplicates the table.
This technique works on the existing table and is quick and easy to apply once mastered.
Start the clock!
One Minute to Excel #2 – Identify Duplicates
Short, sharp video tips
In the previous video I removed duplicates, in this video we identify duplicates using Conditional Formatting.
I identify the duplicates twice in a minute in this video.
The clock is ticking.
One Minute to Excel #1 – Remove Duplicates
Working against the clock
I have started a new series of short videos showcasing Excel’s features that work in less than a minute.
There is a countdown to see if I can do it.
In this first one I remove duplicates in less than a minute.
Free Webinar Recording – Excel Format as Table Feature
Feedback score 95% based on 58 responses
In March 2020 I presented a session on Excel’s Format as Table Feature. I covered it’s advantages and how to use it to improve your Excel files.
The detailed pdf manual and example file can be downloaded using the button below. Content is 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.
In this session you will learn all about Excel’s formatted tables.
Many of Excel’s features and functions work seamlessly with formatted tables. They can help you improve the structure and reliability of your spreadsheet files.
Formatted tables can allow you to create powerful reports like those in a relational databases.
Topics covered
- advantages and limitations of formatted tables
- keyboard shortcuts
- using formatted tables with formulas
- solutions to some of the limitations of formatted tables
- using range names with formatted tables
- using formatted tables with data validations
- creating a running total
- using PivotTables
- Relationships (Data tab)
As always I will share a few other tips.
Free Webinar Recording – Excel Budget Challenge Solution
Feedback score 92% based on 83 responses
In February 2020 I reviewed my solution to an Excel Budget Challenge from late 2018. This included some advanced Excel budget techniques.
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 session includes a lot of useful content and it brings together a number of different techniques. The content is worthy of a paid session but since it was a public challenge I am presenting the session for free.
The materials includes the challenge documentation, the pdf manual and the solution file. I assume you have read the documentation. You also receive the blank Excel file if you want to create your own solution.
Techniques/topics covered include
- using INDEX-MATCH (better alternative to VLOOKUP)
- 3-D formulas to summarise all report sheets and techniques to make using them easy
- using a reporting template to speed up creation
- validations
- extracting sheet names
- automating reports
Free Webinar Recording – Date and Time Calculations
Feedback score 95% based on 61 responses
In January 2020 I looked at solving some of the frustrations date and time calculations can cause in Excel.
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.
Discover the functions that handle different types of calculations.
See how to avoid some of the frustrations that dates and times can cause. Topics covered include:
- adding months to a date
- formulas for the first and last day of the month
- using today’s date in a formula
- handling days of the week calculations
- automating dates in headings
- how to avoid the traps in time calculations
- remove times from dates
- generating random dates (for testing)
As always there will be a few other tips and tricks shared during the session.
Free Webinar Recording – Excel Yourself 2019
Feedback score 93% based on 41 responses
In December 2019 I reviewed four of my articles from 2019 plus some new content.
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 year’s webinar includes
- a new logic function IFS
- how to do budget allocations across months using the MOD function
- how to do complex monthly budget allocations
- using helper cells to achieve advanced conditional formats
As always there will be other tips and tricks shared along the way.
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.
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 – 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