Let me ask you a question. How do you hide a row or a column? Since this is Excel we are talking about, there are several methods to accomplish this goal. Common Approaches One common approach is to select the row or column, and then select the Hide command, either from the Format Ribbon icon […]
We are getting close to the release of Excel University Volume 2! I’m absolutely excited about this volume. We cover the mechanics for setting up hands-free reports. The manuscript is with the publisher now, going through a round of copy-editing. I expect it to be released in July or August on Amazon. I want to […]
You know I love keyboard shortcuts. I believe that keeping your hands on your keyboard will improve your speed. I recently came across two very cool shortcuts I’d like to share in this post. Precedent First, let’s get a term cleared up. A Precedent is something that comes earlier, or before. In Excel, this idea […]
This post demonstrates how to count the number of distinct (unique) values in an Excel 2013 PivotTable. Prior to Excel 2013, this capability was not built-in to the PivotTable feature. For Excel versions earlier than 2013, there are a variety of different workarounds available, some use VBA code, some use helper formulas, and some of […]
I happened to notice that the MSN MoneyCentral Investor Stock Quotes IQY file did not install automatically with Excel 2013. I’m not sure if this just occurred on my system, or, if this is by design. In any event, I’d like to talk briefly about what iqy files are, and then, provide a download link to them […]
Microsoft Excel 2013 offers many new features and functions worth exploring. This post provides a few highlights and a link to my May-2013 CalCPA Technology and Business Resource Guide article, “Spreadsheet Nerdiness” which goes into more detail. Summary Design With the exception of some minor cosmetic changes and some animations, the design is similar to […]
Have you ever called up the Go To dialog in Excel? There is a little button in it that enables you to go to special places in Excel. This post explores some of these special destinations. For starters, let’s call up the Go To dialog within an empty workbook. There are a few different ways […]
The Data Validation feature allows you to control what a user can type into a cell. This post digs into the details of the data validation alert style options. Data Validation Primer First, a quick overview of the Data Validation feature. Data Validation has been in Excel for a long time, and it is one of […]
This post explores Excel’s lookup functions, approximate matches, fuzzy lookups, and exact matches. The built-in Excel lookup functions, such as VLOOKUP, are amazing. When implemented in the right way for special projects or in recurring use workbooks, they are able to save a ton of time. The VLOOKUP function alone has saved countless hours in […]
Did you know that Excel has two levels of hidden worksheets? Excel has “hidden” worksheets, and, “very hidden” worksheets. This post walks through the differences, and how to hide worksheets at each level. By default, all new worksheets are visible. A visible worksheet’s tab appears in the bottom of the Excel window, enabling the user […]