It is common in Excel to use averages to summarise large data sets. It is also common to compare the averages across different segments. Here’s a technique you might find useful when comparing a segment against all other segments.
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Sometimes Power Queries generate errors. Some errors stop all data being returned and others will return a blank cell for the error in the returned table. You can list the rows that are generating the errors. This can help you identify what is causing the error.
(more…)In this recording of a live webinar I ran in late January 2023 you will learn how to import multiple files in a single Power Query. If you use data at all then Power Query is an essential skill to possess. Use the buttons below the video to download the materials. Download Materials Building on the skills covered in the Introduction session, we will start working with multiple files. For example you may have 12 separate CSV files in a…
In this recording of a live session ran in late January 2023 you will learn how to automate data importation in Excel with Power Query. If you use data at all then Power Query is an essential skill to possess. Use the buttons below the video to download the materials. Download Materials 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.…
In this session you will learn all about Excel’s formatted tables. Using Formatted Tables is an essential skill in Excel. Use the buttons below the video to download the materials and completed file. Download Materials Download Completed File 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…
I am not a fan of the merged cell format. It causes more problems that it solves. One issue you will face is trying to select a single column range within a range that has a merged cell. Here is how you handle it. This post is a video post as it easier to show the problem and the solution in a video. https://vimeo.com/739153569 This post is a video post as it easier to show the problem and the solution…
If you need to find the movement from the previous month a PivotTable can be your friend and do most of the work for you.
One of the problems with Excel’s Data Validation is that it is possible to have an invalid entry in a data validation cell. This can be caused by Paste Special Values or linked drop downs that don’t update if an earlier drop down is changed. To easily identify invalid cells you can use a macro.
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The UNIQUE function has a bit of an issue with blank cells, formulas that return blank cells and zeroes.
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If you need a logical test to determine if a list is unique you can use the MODE function with the ISNA function.
(more…)When you enter data into Excel you can format as you type. See how in this short video. https://vimeo.com/705601028
This is the recording of the second free Power Query webinar I ran in 2022. You can watch the first one at this link. In this session we see how to import multiple files in one Power Query. We look at importing CSV and Excel files. You can download the materials, including a detailed pdf manual using the button below. Download Materials https://vimeo.com/698458526
If we have a simple Profit and Loss and we want to figure out a breakeven point, we can use Goal Seek to find it. We can also use it to see sales required to meet a certain profit. All in less than in minute. https://vimeo.com/692114288
Let's say we need to do some testing and we need 1,000 random dates in 2022. We can use a new function to make this easy to create and easy to change. RANDARRAY usually works with numbers but in Excel dates are numbers, so we get it to create random dates for us. I set myself a challenge to do this in less than minute - see how I went in the video below. https://vimeo.com/692104077
When you have multiple filters across columns you may want to clear just the filter in one column. There is a keyboard technique to do that.
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I wrote an article years ago explaining how to use a related table to handle financial years in Excel Pivot Tables. You can read the article here. If you only want the months in financial year order you can just add an extra column to your table.
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In general, you should reduce the number of columns you import via Power Query to the minimum you require. Here is a quick technique to make that a bit easier.
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Excel has a Remove Duplicates option in the Data ribbon. It keeps the first item and removes any further items that match.
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Data types are an important part of Power Query in Excel and Power BI. They define the type of data that should be in a column. When performing some calculations, getting the column data type right is vital.
(more…)In my previous blog post I showed a technique to reduce clutter. The technique used a manual formatting method. Here is the automated version. You can see my previous post here. Below is the original table. We can use a Conditional Format to only display the first entry of each date in the Date column. Select the range A2:A11. Click the Conditional Formatting drop down and select New Rule (third from the bottom). Select the last option in the top…
When creating data input sheets, it is a good idea to use a table layout. Sometimes they can end up looking a little bit busy, especially if you are repeating entries down rows. To help users focus on what they need to do, you can use a little formatting hack to make the layout look a little less cluttered.
(more…)One thing you learn quickly about Excel is that there are many ways to achieve the same outcome. This is another example. In an earlier video I showed two separate ways to convert text numbers into real numbers. Well, I have just learned another way. An Excel MVP Rick Rothstein shared a third way. I tweaked it and share a keyboard shortcut to do it as well. Hope you enjoy it. Added Nov 27, 2021 If you use Text to…
I posted recently about how you can amend a custom list to change the sequence of a slicer – read it here. Here is another tweak I learned from Mr Excel (Bill Jelen).
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Dynamic arrays allow you to use a function normally built to handle a cell, with a range of cells. The TRIM function can remove extra space characters in cells. So with dynamic arrays it can handle ranges.
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On LinkedIn recently someone posted an Excel formula solution lamenting that it was long and complex. That of course was a challenge to me to simplify it.
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In Australia our financial year starts in July. Excel is set up to work with calendar years and we need to do some date gymnastics to have our reports start in July. Here is a hack for Custom Lists that can make some things better in Excel.
(more…)There are times when pasting to the bottom of an existing large, formatted table can take a few minutes to update. There is a quicker way. When the formatted table is selected there is a Table Design (or Design) tab visible. On the far left-hand side the Resize Table icon allows you to easily extend the range of the formatted. You can amend the range and add sufficient rows to handle the new data in the dialog that opens. When…
If you have a list of first names and last names and you want to make sure the list has no duplicates you can use a formula to confirm the names are unique.
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