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.
Tag Archives: data
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 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.
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.
Power Query and Open Excel Files
Old school solution
Power Query can easily combine data from multiple Excel files. A problem can arise if one or more of the files is open. Power Query will generate an error and the import will fail. The solution involves an old school Excel feature.
Another date solution
Formula to the rescue
Getting dates into order is usually a job for Power Query, but not everyone has it or uses it so I still get requests for formulas to fix text dates.
Creating a table of all combinations in Excel [Video]
Power Query solution
Let’s assume you have three state codes and four department codes and you want to create a table of all the possible 12 combinations (3 x 4). How do you do it so that it is flexible? i.e. if you add a new state or department it must be easy to update the combination table.
Copying a Date Down a Long List in Excel
Two techniques make it quick and easy
There are a number of mouse and keyboard shortcuts for copying. But there is one type of copy that can be frustrating. Copying dates can be challenging because, in general, Excel wants to increment them, not copy them. There is a simple technique to instruct Excel to copy a date.
Dates are Easy with Power Query
Getting the date right and save time
You can create complex functions with Excel to handle dates. But it makes more sense to get your data structured correctly and then you can use simpler date formulas. Power Query allows you to fix your data so that you can use those simpler formulas.
Power Query Privacy Setting Problem
Excel 2016 solution
Privacy settings allow you to control who sees the Power Query data. There seems to be a bug that remembers your response to a dialog and this ignores any changes to the Privacy settings. Find out the VBA line of code that can fix it.
Inserting a Blank Row Between Entries in Excel
A sorting solution
Over the years I have had many requests to help people insert blank rows between entries is a list. Apparently there is an import routine that requires it. My normal solution is a macro because it automates the whole process but there is a manual technique that is quick and easy.
Excel Filtering for Blanks or Zeroes
Making the filter work across multiple columns
If you want to filter by blanks across multiple columns the standard Filter feature can’t help you. You can use the Advanced Filter but that takes time to set up and most users don’t know how to use Advanced Filter.
Filter by Cell Value Keyboard Shortcut
Its quicker to use the keyboard
I have found a keyboard shortcut combination to one on my favourite right click options and its quicker to use.
Understanding Filter Context in DAX
An Excel-based explanation
Are you trying to get your head around Filter context in DAX? I watched a video from the sqlbi.com guys and it explained it well. I thought I could add an Excel flavour to it.
Creating a Unique Dynamic List in Excel
A Power Query technique
There are a couple of techniques to automate a unique list of items in Excel. I have covered them in previous blog posts (see links below). I thought I would describe how to use Power Query to create a dynamic unique list.
Automatically Populating a Column with Text in a Formatted Table
A formula trick
Here’s the problem, we have four separate tables with the same layout. They hold four different metrics: Actuals, Budget, Forecast and Last Year. A column called Type is used to hold the metric name. We need to populate the Type column.
Excel Subtotal Sort Magic
Sorting by subtotals is possible
Sometimes Excel surprises me. In this case it sorts in a way I didn’t expect, but in a good way. Thanks to Mr Excel for the tip.
Do You Have Excel Inquire?
Its a built-in audit add-in
Inquire is a new add-in in some versions of Excel 2013 and later versions It is an auditing Add-in that can analyse and report on your Excel files.
Trailing Minus For Negatives in CSV vs TXT Files
You can control TXT files much better
Some Accounting systems (I think SAP is one) downloads negative values with a trailing minus sign. Excel doesn’t recognise this as a number. When you import TXT files, negatives are handled correctly. CSV files don’t.