The SEQUENCE function returns sequential numbers. Let’s see how we can use it with a list of dates.
Tag Archives: formula
Time to Play with Dynamic Arrays
Let play time begin
Many things that were hard or complex are now much simpler. Creating dynamic drop down lists based on previous selections used to be tricky in Excel. Dynamic arrays make it straightforward.
Switching Rows and Columns is Now Easier
TRANSPOSE rules
With the introduction of Dynamic Arrays in all versions of Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) it is now a lot easier to use the TRANSPOSE function.
The End of SUMPRODUCT
Dynamic arrays will carry it off in to the sunset
The SUMPRODUCT function has been my favourite function for about 20 years. It is so flexible. Soon it will be redundant thanks to dynamic arrays.
Adding a message to grouping icons
A SUBTOTAL trick
It is best practice to use grouping to hide and unhide rows in Excel. I recently saw a technique that also displays a message.
Extracting End of Quarter Dates in Excel
Another MOD solution
A few years ago I wrote an article on extracting the end of quarter date from a date. I recently had a query that was related and I tweaked the previous solution to solve it.
Indian Financial Year Month Number in Excel
The Indian Financial Year start on 1 April. Like Australia its Financial Year month numbers can be painful. Here is a formula to sort them out.
Sometimes you need a conditional AVERAGE
AVERAGEIF to the rescue
There are times when estimating numbers that an average is a good message to use.
Issue with extracting a sheet name in Excel
Single sheet file issue
I wrote about a formula to extract the sheet name many years ago, but I just found an issue with it. Click here to see older blog post.
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.
Weeks and days calculation in Excel
In Excel we tend to work in years, months or days. There may be times when you want to work in weeks.
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
Another plural technique for Excel
Out of LEFT field
Recently I found an interesting way to handle plurals in Jordan Goldmeier’s book on dashboards.
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.
Data Validation and Conditional Formats in Excel
Part Two - a good combination
In my previous post I showed how to have a flexible data validation and how to validate it. This post will look at adding conditional formats to inputs and validations.
Validating Data Validation in Excel
Part One
The most common type of Data Validation in Excel is a drop down list. In the example below I allow the user to select a year, then a month (using a drop down) and then enter a valid day in the month.
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.
Counting Duplicates in an Excel Range
Another SUMPRODUCT solution
The Duplicates option under conditional formatting is useful to identify when there are duplicate entries within a range. This requires you to review the range to see if there are any duplicates. You can use a formula to identify ranges that contain duplicates.
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.
Extracting initials in Excel
Handling a space or a comma separator
If you have a system that uses initials to identify people then being able to extract initials from a first name and last name combination can be handy. A formula can automate the process and there is also a quick, manual way to do it.
Conditionally Selecting a Column in Excel
The IF function can return a range
When creating a formula sometimes you need to conditionally choose the column to perform a calculation on. The IF function can be used, but there is a trick to shorten the formula.
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
Excel Macro to Insert a Formula
When I am creating a file for my training or for my blog or other articles that I write I regularly use the FORMULATEXT function to display the formula in a cell on the right of the actual formula. To save time I created a macro to do the work for me.
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.
Highest and lowest values in an Excel filtered list
AGGREGATE function solution
If you need to find the highest or lowest three entries in a filtered list you can use the AGGREGATE function to find them.
Handling Exceptions in Excel
Two ways to consider
When developing budgets and financial models you may need the same rate/value (say debtor days) for 10 months of the year but need to adjust it for 2 months. It is usually December and January as they tend to be a little different due to the Christmas / New Year period. Here’s a couple of ways to handle exceptions in Excel.
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.
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.
Free Excel Webinar Recording – Custom Number Formats
Feedback score 92%
In April 2019 I demonstrated many of Excel’s Custom Number Formats.
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 brand new webinar we examine Custom Number Formats which hide away at the bottom of the Number Format tab. These custom made formats offer some useful techniques.
They can
- display negatives in red and with brackets
- format mobile phone numbers correctly
- display numbers and text together and still perform calculations
- hide zeroes
- display rounded numbers to thousands and millions
- display the day of the week
- create customised dates
- be saved and be available in new sheets and files using a Template
- be saved as a Style
See examples and demonstrations of many different custom number formats and learn how to create your own.
As always I will share a few other tips.