Articles &amp; Guides

#Excel#IF function#text formulas

FormulasBeginner

2026-09-20

Excel IF Cell Contains Text: Formulas and Examples

Use IF with SEARCH, FIND, or COUNTIF to test whether an Excel cell contains text, with case-sensitive, multi-word, and blank-input examples....

Weighted Average in Excel: Formula and Examples

Calculate a weighted average in Excel with SUMPRODUCT and SUM. Follow price, score, and percentage examples, and handle zero weights and missing values....

#weighted average#SUMPRODUCT#averages

How to Count Unique Values in Excel

Count unique values in Excel, ignore blanks, count values that appear once, and add criteria. Includes modern formulas and an older Excel alternative....

#unique values#duplicates#data cleanup

How to Make a Gantt Chart in Excel

Make a Gantt chart in Excel with start dates and durations. Follow a five-task example, fix date-axis settings, and download the sample workbook....

#charts#dates#project-planning

Compound Interest Formula in Excel (With Annual and Monthly Examples)

Calculate compound interest in Excel with annual and monthly formulas, the FV function, a frequency comparison, and a downloadable example workbook....

#compound interest#financial formulas#percentages

How to Insert a Check Mark in Excel (5 Easy Methods)

Insert an Excel check mark with copy and paste, Symbol, a Windows shortcut, formulas, or conditional formatting. Learn when to use a checkbox instead....

#formatting#symbols#productivity

How to Change Case in Excel: Uppercase, Lowercase, and Proper Case

Learn how to change case in Excel with UPPER, LOWER, PROPER, Flash Fill, and Paste Special so you can safely replace text values....

#formulas#data cleanup#text functions

Compare Two Columns in Excel

Learn how to compare two columns in Excel for matches, differences, duplicates, missing values, and case-sensitive text....

#formulas#data cleanup#lookup

7 min read

#formulas#troubleshooting#circular references

FormulasTroubleshooting

2026-05-19

How to Find and Fix Circular References in Excel

Learn how to find a circular reference in Excel, trace the formula loop, fix common circular reference errors, and handle intentional iterative formulas....

How to Calculate Percentage Change in Excel

Learn the percentage change formula in Excel, including examples for increases, decreases, percentage formatting, and avoiding divide-by-zero errors....

#percentages#formulas#math

The Karpathy Loop for Excel: How Autoresearch Changes the Way We Optimize Spreadsheets

Learn how Karpathy's autoresearch pattern — the AI experiment loop that ran 700 tests in two days — applies to Excel formula optimization, VBA macros, and AI-assisted spreadsheet workflows....

#ai#automation#formulas#optimization

Claude for Excel Review: Best for Complex Models and Error Tracing?

Review Claude for Excel for complex models, error tracing, and careful workbook analysis, including the limits that still matter in beta....

#ai#formulas#review#spreadsheets

ChatGPT for Excel: What It Does Well and Where It Still Needs Review

Review ChatGPT for Excel after the March 5, 2026 launch and see where it helps most with formulas, workbook analysis, and spreadsheet workflows....

#ai#formulas#spreadsheets

Gemini vs ChatGPT for Spreadsheet Analysis

Compare Gemini vs ChatGPT for spreadsheet analysis, including uploaded Excel files, cross-platform workflows, summaries, and verification risks....

#ai#comparison#spreadsheets

How to Use =COPILOT in Excel

Learn how to use the =COPILOT function in Excel, what kinds of prompts work best in cells, and where this feature still needs careful review....

#ai#formulas#microsoft-365

Copilot in Excel vs ChatGPT: Which Is Better for Real Spreadsheet Work?

Compare Copilot in Excel vs ChatGPT for workbook analysis, formula help, messy data, privacy tradeoffs, and day-to-day spreadsheet work....

#ai#comparison#spreadsheets

How to Upload an Excel File to ChatGPT and Analyze It Safely

Learn how to upload an Excel file to ChatGPT safely, what kinds of workbook questions it handles well, and what you still need to verify manually....

#ai#file-analysis#privacy#cleanup

Can AI Fix Broken Excel Formulas? Real Tests With VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, and SUMIFS

I tested whether AI can fix broken Excel formulas in real scenarios involving VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP-style logic, and SUMIFS errors caused by dirty data....

#ai#formulas#troubleshooting#lookup

How to Use AI to Explain Excel Formulas Step by Step

Learn how to use AI to explain Excel formulas step by step, including how to verify the explanation and catch what the model still gets wrong....

#ai#formulas#troubleshooting

Best AI for Excel Formulas: Copilot vs ChatGPT vs Claude

Compare Copilot, ChatGPT, and Claude for Excel formulas using the same prompt, the same workbook task, and the same verification standard....

#ai#formulas#comparison

4 min read

AI in ExcelTroubleshooting

2025-12-04

Why Copilot Is Not Working in Excel: Common Fixes and Requirements

Fix the most common reasons Copilot is not working in Excel, including table setup problems, licensing issues, platform limits, and messy workbook structure....

#ai#troubleshooting#microsoft-365

How to Use Copilot in Excel for Formulas, Analysis, and Cleanup

Learn how to use Copilot in Excel for real workbook tasks such as formula writing, data cleanup, and quick analysis without trusting the first answer blindly....

#ai#formulas#cleanup#data-analysis

AI in Excel: Practical Guide to Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini

Learn how to use AI in Excel with Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. Compare strengths, limitations, use cases, and how to verify AI-generated formulas, analysis, and automation....

#ai#data-analysis#automation

16 min read

#xlookup#troubleshooting#errors#lookup

FormulasTroubleshooting

2025-10-09

How to Fix Common XLOOKUP Errors in Excel

Fix common XLOOKUP errors in Excel, including #N/A, spill problems, mismatched ranges, and text cleanup issues that break lookups....

How to Use XLOOKUP with Wildcards for Partial Matches

Use XLOOKUP wildcards for starts-with, contains, and ends-with SKU matches. Return the first or last match, or use FILTER to show every matching row....

#xlookup#wildcards#text-cleanup

How to Return Multiple Columns and Rows with XLOOKUP

Learn how to use XLOOKUP to return multiple columns or rows in Excel and how spill behavior changes the way lookup formulas work....

#xlookup#dynamic-arrays#lookup#spill-formulas

How to Use XLOOKUP with Multiple Criteria in Excel

Learn how to use XLOOKUP with multiple criteria in Excel by combining Boolean logic or concatenation for cleaner, more flexible lookups....

#criteria#lookup#formulas

XLOOKUP vs VLOOKUP in Excel: Which Should You Use?

Compare XLOOKUP vs VLOOKUP in Excel, including syntax, left lookups, exact matches, and when the older function still makes sense....

#xlookup#vlookup#comparison#lookup

XLOOKUP Function in Excel: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Learn how to use XLOOKUP in Excel with beginner-friendly steps, practical examples, and a clear comparison with VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, and INDEX MATCH....

#xlookup#lookup#excel-formulas

Currency Conversion Using Live Exchange Rates in Excel and Google Sheets

Convert currencies in Excel or Google Sheets with current exchange rates, numeric formulas, and safe currency formatting....

#financial#conversions

How to Remove Last Saved By Information from an Excel File on Mac and Windows

Learn how to remove Last Saved By info from Excel files on Mac and Windows to maintain privacy when sharing documents. Follow our easy guide....

How to Insert a Timestamp in Excel: Static, Dynamic, and Automatic Methods

Insert a fixed timestamp with Excel shortcuts, show the current time with NOW, or record data entry with an iterative formula or VBA....

#date#shortcuts#time#timestamp

TRUNC Function in Excel: A Comprehensive Guide

Discover the power of Excel TRUNC function with this comprehensive guide. Learn practical applications, and excel at truncating numbers in Excel....

Excel Worksheets: A Beginner's Guide

Want to start using Excel worksheets? With this guide, you can get a basic understanding of what worksheets are and how to make them work for you....

VLOOKUP Not Working with Text Values: 6 Fixes You Need

Fix your VLOOKUP not working with text issue using our troubleshooting tips. Don't let #N/A or #VALUE errors stop you from getting accurate results....

Learn How to Add In Excel Using the SUM Function and AUTOSUM

We focus here on the SUM function and AUTOSUM feature, demonstrating how these tools are essential for understanding how to add in Excel....

How to Get Excel for Free (Including Best Free Excel Alternatives in 2023)

Is Microsoft Excel free? Learn how to access Microsoft Excel for free and discover Excel free alternatives in 2023....

#excel-alternatives#google-sheets

How to Create a Drop Down List in Excel with Data Validation

Are you wondering how to create a drop down list in excel? Don't worry. Our step-by-step guide tells you everything that you need to know....

2022-01-21

How to Calculate Hours Between Two Dates and Times in Excel

Calculate elapsed hours between Excel dates and times, display totals over 24 hours, convert to decimal hours, and handle overnight shifts....

How to Convert Excel to Google Sheets

Google Sheets gives you several excellent features, but there may be a time where you need to know how to convert Excel to Google Sheets....

8 min read

FormulasGeneral Updates

2020-05-01

The Data Adds Up: Using the Addition Formula in Excel

In this article you'll learn the basic addition formula for Excel with examples and a how-to guide for entering formulas and using the sum feature....

FormattingGeneral Updates

2020-04-02

Pivot Charts: An All-Encompassing Guide

Pivot charts are often the best way to spot trends or errors, and a better way to present your data. Here's everything you need to know to make them in Exel...

HLOOKUP In Excel: Everything You Need to Know

If you're looking on how to use hlookup in excel, you came in to the right place! In this article, we discussed on how to use it and it's common problem....

The Best Excel Book to Purchase from Amazon

We have compiled a list of the ten best Excel book options that can help you use Excel with ease and to its full potential. Check this out!...

How to Create a Database in Excel

Excel database files are useful for creating simple tables or spreadsheets based on numbers and formulas. Learn here on how to create a database in excel....

Google Sheets vs Excel: How Do They Differ?

Google Sheets vs Excel? Check here for the similarities and differences between the two to help you choose which program is right of your budgeting needs....

The History of Microsoft Excel: How It Came to Be

Excel is a popular spreadsheet system, which organizes data in columns and rows. Learn more here about the history of Microsoft excel....

What to Do When Excel Keeps Crashing

Excel hangs or freezes when you open an Excel workbook. Well, this is a very frustrating issue. Learn more common issues why excel keeps crashing....

How to Find Outliers in Excel in 5 Easy Steps

This article will give you a walk-through on how to find outliers in Excel and why finding outliers is an essential piece of data analytics in statistics....

How to Calculate Z Score in Excel: What You Need to Know

Getting some clarity on the topic will make it that much easier to learn how to calculate a z-score in Excel when the time comes....

How to Find Variance in Excel? Follow These Tips

Knowing how to find variance in Excel is a helpful skill to have while designing any spreadsheet, especially if one understands the nuances of the function....

How to Print Labels from Excel: Ultimate Guide

By following instructions on how to print labels from Excel, you'll be able to quickly and easily print any label from Excel....

How to Add a Row in Excel: Step by Step Process

Microsoft Excel is a great tool to use for work, school and even for personal data purposes. In case you're wondering, here's how to add a row in excel....

How to Remove Duplicates in Excel: An Easy Guide

Are you wondering how to remove duplicates in Excel? Check out our easy guide for step by step instructions and all the information you need....

How to Round Numbers in Excel: What You Need to Know

Use Excel’s feature to round decimals or large numbers in a spreadsheet. In this article, we'll show you how to round numbers in Excel....

The NOW Function in Excel: What It is and How to Use It

Are you wondering how to use the now function in Excel? Look no further. Our easy step-by-step guide has all of the information that you need to know....

How to Hide Columns in Excel

As great as columns are in Excel you don’t always need to see every single one. Let’s take a look at how to hide columns in Excel, and unhide them too....

#rows-columns#formatting

How to Randomize a List in Excel: Our Complete Guide

How to randomize a list in excel? How would you do it? In this article, we listed our complete guide to help you on this kind of formula....

Sort Your Life into Neat Little Boxes with These Excel Basics

Jobs nowadays require basic knowledge of Excel. Spark your skills with these excel basics we have on this article that will surely speed up your workflow....

28 min read

BeginnerFeaturesGeneral Updates

2018-06-25

How to Delete Duplicates in Excel: An Easy Guide

Learn how to easily delete duplicates in Excel with our step-by-step guide. Remove duplicate entries and keep your spreadsheets clean and organized....

Ready, Set, Scatter: How to Make a Scatter Plot in Excel

This article consists of all the basics of how to make a scatter plot in Excel. By using the guide, readers will be able to generate their own plots as well as format them and add design features....

#charts

7 min read

BeginnerFeaturesFormatting

2018-06-14

How to Freeze A Row in Excel: A Practical Guide

Learn to how to freeze a row in excel (or even more than 2 rows) using this practical how-to guide. Excel has an available feature allowing users the ability to freeze a row....

#rows-columns#freezing-rows-vs-splitting-panes

How to Freeze Cells in Excel So Rows and Columns Stay Visible

Do you often work with long rows & columns of data? Minimize the time you spend scrolling up, down, and sideways by learning how to freeze cells in Excel!...

How to Use Goal Seek in Excel

Use this guide to learn how to use goal seek in excel as well as how to put it into action. To use Goal Seek, you will have to open a new sheet....

#cloud#functions#goal-seek-function

5 min read

AdvancedFormattingIntermediate

2018-06-13

How to Alphabetize in Excel: Fast & Simple

Using Excel we can properly organize data for our businesses or personal finances. Learn how to alphabetize in excel so it is easy to read and refer back to whenever necessary....

How to Make a Line Graph in Excel

Organize data by learning how to make a line graph in Excel. Present information over time with this simple guide to creating a line graph....

How to Subtract in Excel

Learn how to subtract in Excel with this valuable how-to guide. This article will walk you through each step of the process from start to finish....

Excel SUM Formula: What Is It And When Do I Use It?

Perhaps one of Excel's best-known functions is the SUM formula. Learn more about a subset of data by totaling rows, columns and more with excel sum formula....

5 New and Creative Ways To Utilize Excel

Excel is a program that is beneficial to anyone who wants to organize the utility bills or for professionals who need to stay organized at the office. To most Excel users, it can seem like a pretty cut and dry program. W...

The 20 Most Useful Excel Shortcuts to Utilize

Do you use Excel every day but working with it seems slow and tedious? Learn 20 Excel shortcuts that help make creating spreadsheets faster and easier to do....

#shortcuts

8 min read

FeaturesFormattingIntermediate

2018-05-08

Pivot Tables (PV Table): Everything You Need to Know

When working with Excel spreadsheets, it can be difficult to extract the information you need from large sets of data. Pivot Tables (pv table) offer a great way to quickly condense and analyze, and present your data, all...

#functions#pivot-tables#worksheets

BeginnerFeaturesFormatting

2018-05-02

Learn How to Unhide Cells in Excel Using Keyboard Shortcuts or the Home Menu

Learn how to unhide columns in Excel using keyboard shortcuts or the Home Menu methods. While Excel does not allow you to Hide and Unhide individual cells using the Hide/Unhide command, here’s a trick showing how to hide...

#rows-columns

AdvancedFeaturesFormatting

2018-04-25

The Drop Down Basics: How to Make a Drop Down List in Excel

This article shows you how to make a drop down list in excel. It provides two ways for you to quickly and easily make dropdown lists in an Excel spreadsheet. You can follow the instructions to create a new dropdown list...

How to Use the AVERAGE Function in Excel

To figure out the average of a group of numbers, makes it easier for you to analyze important data. Learn how to use the average function in Excel right here....

How to Move Columns in Excel While Keeping Your Data Intact

Ready to hone your skills in working with Excel spreadsheets for a more organized workflow? Start with learning how to move columns in Excel. This especially helps with columns containing large swaths of data....

#copy#cut#drag-and-drop#selection

How to Add Cells in Excel to Sum Up Totals Automatically

Excel's great for displaying data and even better at crunching numbers. Here's how to add cells in Excel to sum up totals automatically... Even when you change the numbers....

#excel-legacy#excel-for-mac#formulas

How to Merge Cells in Excel (and Split Them) for Better Layouts

Do you want to make your Excel spreadsheets more presentable? Here are a few useful tips on how to merge cells in Excel that would surely make your work look tidier....

#merge-cells#split-cells#spreadsheets#unmerge-cell

How to Use the SUMIF and SUMIFS Functions in Excel

Lessen the time it takes to compute complex equations with the SUMIF and SUMIFS functions on MS Excel. This update may be just what you've been waiting for. Follow this in-depth, easy-to-follow guide to get started...

#criteria#formulas#functions#math

Excel for iPad - Paste as Values

A description of my Office for iPad experience with Excel Paste as Values functionality and my decision to get an Office 365 Personal account....

#excel-for-ipad#cloud

Control+Home in Excel for Mac: How to Go to the Start of a Sheet

Use Control+Home in Excel for Mac, or Control+Fn+Left Arrow on a MacBook. Learn the row-start shortcut and how to jump directly to A1....

#excel-for-mac#shortcuts

FormulasTime and Date

2013-02-15

Excel Fractional Part: Extracting Integers and Fractions in Excel

Sometimes you need to extract the integer or decimal part of a number. Sometimes the fractional part. Check this guide on Excel fractional part....

FormulasTime and Date

2012-11-01

Extract Time from datetime with the MOD Function in Excel

Use the MOD function in Excel to extract a Time value from a Date-Time number. Change the cell formatting to get the time format of your choosing....

#time

2012-10-10

How to Extract Time from DateTime values in Excel

Discover how to skillfully extract time from datetime values in Excel. Learn simple techniques to manage and analyze your data efficiently in this step-by-step guide....

#time

#excel-for-mac#shortcuts#vba

2012-09-16

Extract Date from DateTime Number in Excel

You can extract the Date value from a Date-Time number using the INT function in Excel. Then change the cell formatting to a Date format....

Add Macro Button to the Toolbar in Excel 2011

Here is a short tutorial on how to add a macro button to the toolbar in Excel 2011, with a few tips on how to change the button image....

Control + Home in Excel for Mac

I figured out how to get a Control + Home keyboard shortcut to work in Excel 2011 (for Mac). It's an Excel Windows favorite of mine....

Break Even Calculation with an Unlocked iPhone and International Rates

When on Holiday in the UK pick up a Sim card for your unlocked iPhone. Make the smart move with simplicity plans by O2: talk, text, data....

A Dynamic Dependent Drop Down List with a Horizontal Table Reference

I received a comment asking if a dynamic dependent drop-down list in Excel could have a list where the "table headers were actually rows and not columns?" Since...

#excel-legacy#excel-for-mac#names

The VLOOKUP Function - Inside Out

Learn the VLOOKUP function in Excel by looking at the four arguments in reverse order....

How to Update a List or Range without OFFSET

I avoid the use of Volatile Functions , especially OFFSET, which is commonly used to update a list or range. They can slow down the operation of your workbook....

#excel-legacy#excel-for-mac#vba

Select Excel's Used Range on a Mac

Selecting the used range in an Excel worksheet is complicated by not having a Home button on the Mac keyboard. Some VBA code can solve this problem....

#excel-for-mac#shortcuts#vba

Check the Analysis ToolPak Add-In in Excel 2003 [VBA Code]

This VBA code checks to see if the Analysis TookPak Add-In is installed in Excel 2003 when the file is opened, and will notify the user if not....

An Excel Crossroads - Mac and Windows

The Mac is my computer of the future but I need Windows versions of Excel, so enter Parallels software to make things easy to decide the issue....

Select a Column of Non-Sequential Data

This macro will select a column of non-sequential data when the active cell is located in the column heading....

Microsoft Office on the iPad

An Excel app from Microsoft may be coming in 2012 according to the latest buzz....

#excel-for-ipad#numbers

#excel-for-mac#pivot-tables

2011-10-31

Pay Periods and Funky PivotTable Controls

Use a PivotTable to find how many months in a year have an extra pay period. Excel 2011 PivotTable controls are funky looking, comparatively speaking....

Fill Down a Formula with VBA

Here is some VBA code I use to copy a formula down to the end of a data range. It assumes a heading in row 1 and the formula in row 2....

How to Customize Default Workbook and Default Worksheet in Excel for Mac

Boost productivity is by customizing the default workbook and default worksheet in Excel to reflect your preferences....

Settings and Shortcuts for Excel 2003

Here is a list of things I do to "normalize" Excel 2003. Along with a few explanations, reasons, and/or rationalizations....

Microsoft Query Incompatible with Mac OS X Lion [Updated]

Excel for Mac users should beware, Microsoft Query is an incompatible app in the upcoming Lion upgrade for Mac OS X....

#excel-for-mac

AdvancedFormattingFormulasTime and Date

2011-07-08

International Short Date Formatting for the TEXT Function

A quick method to automatically give the TEXT function a short date format that matches the computers region settings by using some VBA code in Excel....

That Damn Delete Key in Excel for Mac

The Delete Key on a Mac doesn't work in Excel for Mac to delete cell and range contents like a Windows computer. fn+Delete is the magic combination....

#excel-for-mac#video

#excel-legacy#excel-for-mac#names

BeginnerTime and Date

2011-06-22

Regional Date Format in Excel for Mac and Windows

Discover how to set and use regional date format in Excel effectively. Enhance your spreadsheets with this essential Microsoft Excel tip....

A Dynamic Dependent Drop Down List in Excel

Learn how to create dynamic dependent drop-down lists in Excel....

Pivot Tables in Google Docs

Google Docs now offers pivot tables in their online spreadsheets. This is the beginning of true change in the spreadsheet world....

Where is the Insert Tab in Excel 2011?

The Excel 2007 and 2010 Ribbon both have an Insert Tab, which does not exist in Excel 2011 (Mac). Here is a chart to tell where each item is located....

Worksheet Tab Protection Icon in Excel 2011

I opened a file from a colleague and realized that the padlock icon on the worksheet tab meant that the worksheet was protected. Only in Excel 2011....

#excel-legacy#excel-for-mac#ribbon

Ribbon Home Tab Comparison - Excel 2010 Windows and 2011 Mac

The Ribbon Home Tab in Excel 2010 (Windows) is quite different than in Excel 2011 (Mac) so here is a guide to finding those things that seem lost....

Select One Column of Data with VBA

Select one column of data in a table by using some simple VBA code and a Form button....

Create a List in Excel 2008

The List feature in Excel 2008 is a hybrid with a List Wizard providing lots of functionality. However a List with a Defined Name is not updated....

Create a List in Excel 2003

The List Object in Excel 2003 is the forerunner of the modern Excel Table with some of the same features....

Spreadsheet Size in Excel for Windows

Saving an older XLS file to the newer XLSX file format in Excel will not produce a bigger spreadsheet, unless you know the quirk involved....

Spreadsheet Size in Excel for Mac

When you open an XLS file in Excel for Mac versions 2008 and 2011, there are 1,048,576 rows and 16,384 columns. How odd....

Dynamic Table Reference with INDEX

A Defined Name with the INDEX function gives a dynamic range reference to a Table column, but moving a Table column can invalidate the reference....

The Table Address and Structured Data in Excel

Structured data in Tables include #All, #Data, #Headers, #Totals, and @ which are available in formulas to reference different parts of the Table....

Total Row Formulas in Excel Tables

Excel Tables have a Total Row that can be toggled on and off from the Ribbon. Several functions are available when the Total Row is turned on. In Excel 2010 and...

5 Obvious Things that 80% of People Don’t Know About Excel

This guest post by ExcelEverest explains five obvious things that 80% of people don’t know about Excel. Check out ExcelEverest.com to learn Excel....

Formulas and Structured Data in Excel Tables

Tables automatically extend formulas when data is entered. If a formula is changed in a Table cell, all rows in the column are automatically modified....

Table Names in Excel

Each Table created in Excel is given a default name that can be used in formulas, to select table data, and shows up in formula autocomplete lists....

Excel Tables - Styles, Conditional Formatting and Data Validation

Format Excel Tables with Table Styles, Conditional Formatting, and Data Validation. Turn off worksheet gridlines to make the Table more distinctive....

Table Design in Excel

I design a regular data table in Excel, show how it fails, then convert to an Official Excel Table and show how a Table remembers cell formatting....

Migrating to Tables in Excel

I'm going on quest to find out all about Tables in Excel....

Fat Fingers on the Space Bar - A Conditional Formatting Example

There is a Conditional Formatting solution for entering a blank or space character into a cell. A space character causes #VALUE! errors in formulas....

Speeding up VBA with the PrintCommunication Property in Excel 2010

Excel 2010's PrintCommunication property in VBA suspends communication with the printer while the code for PageSetup runs, making the code faster....

#vba

4 min read

#conversions#coordinates#gps

2011-03-22

How to Quickly Convert 1904 Dates to the 1900 Date System in Excel

Learn how to convert 1904 date system values to the 1900 date system in Excel. This guide covers methods for accurate date and date systems management in Excel....

Use Formula Auditing to Help Explain Formulas Excel

When you need to present a complicated spreadsheet, the Formula Auditing feature in Excel visually helps to explain formula relationships....

Documentation for VBA in Excel

Documentation for VBA in Excel is arduous yet can save you loads of time when you have forgotten the details of a project....

Putting Windows 7 on a Mac to Run Excel for Windows

I put three versions of Excel for Windows - 2003, 2007, 2010 - on my MacBook Pro with the Boot Camp Assistant. Had to be done, but scary nonetheless....

How to Copy Data to Another Worksheet with Advanced Filter

Unlock the power of Excel's Advanced Filter to seamlessly copy and organize data between worksheets. Learn techniques for precise data migration and efficient workflow....

Set the Number of Default Worksheets in Your Workbook

Control the default number of worksheets in a Workbook in Excel....

View Excel Spreadsheets with the Google Docs Viewer

If you have a Gmail or Google Docs account, getting a quick look at an Microsoft Excel file is now supported with the Google Docs Viewer....

Sorting with Custom Lists in Excel

Sorting with a Custom List makes things simpler when Excel doesn't have a default sort order to fit your needs....

How to Convert GPS Coordinates in Excel

Learn how to easily convert GPS coordinates in Excel. Discover tips and tricks to input, display, and map latitude and longitude data in Excel....

Open File As Read Only in Excel

To discourage users from making any changes to a macro file you can have the file recommend Read-Only when it's opened....

#charts#excel-legacy#excel-for-mac#sparkline

2011-02-23

A Woopra Chat About Excel

Convert minutes and seconds to a value of minutes followed by the text MIN and formatted correctly with no decimal places by using the TEXT function....

My First Excel 2011 Chart

My first chart made in Excel 2011 with a data table below, a sparkline chart, and a picture of the ski slope. The chart shows break a event point....

Sorting Columns From Left To Right in Excel Causes Problems

You may never have the opportunity to Sort columns of data from Left to Right , but beware of some apparent problems . A reader mentioned that when sorting from...

Sorting Columns Left to Right in Excel

A little know option in the Excel Sort feature allows sorting columns of data from left to right instead of the normal top to bottom....

FormattingTime and Date

2011-02-14

Let Excel Convert Hours Between Two Dates and Times

Let Excel Convert Hours Between Two Dates and Times by subtracting one time/date from another the use the custom time format [h]:mm or [h]:mm:ss....

The Mini Toolbar in Excel

Do basic formatting in Excel with the Mini Toolbar. It appears above the shortcut menu when you right-click an object - cell, range, chart, or shape....

F2 in Excel for Mac

The F2 key is a fundamental shortcut in Excel for Windows. But how works F2 in Excel for Mac?...

#excel-for-mac#shortcuts

How to Add Freeze Panes to the Quick Access Toolbar in Excel

Add Freeze Panes to Excel's Quick Access Toolbar, and learn how the historical one-click Freeze Sheet Panes command differs from the standard menu....

Excel 2011 Preferences

Default Preferences that should be changed in Excel 2011 [Mac] for General, View, Edit, Calculation, and Ribbon....

Excel 2011 Keyboard Shortcuts on Your Desktop

Locate Excel 2011 Keyboard Shortcuts Help web page and save to your computer for off-line access via your web browser, Firefox, Chrome, or Safari....

Import Data From the Web in Excel

Import data from a web page into an worksheet with Excel 2010 and 2007 (windows versions). This external data query can be refreshed if data changes....

#excel-legacy#shortcuts

Copy a Help Topic URL in Excel 2010

Help topics in Excel 2010 are shown in a separate window from Office.com that allows the URL to be easily copied from the Help topic's Properties....

#excel-legacy#shortcuts

INDEX and MATCH Functions Together Again in Excel

The INDEX and MATCH functions perform a lookups in Excel. INDEX returns a cell from an array, MATCH contributes the row and/or column position....

The INDEX Function in Excel

The INDEX function returns a cell value from a range, given a row and/or column position number. Three examples are given in this article....

The MATCH Function in Excel

The MATCH function in Excel returns the position number of a matched value from within a range, not the value itself....

FeaturesFormulasIntermediate

2011-01-17

Goal Seek in Excel

If you know the result that you want from a formula, but are not sure what input value the formula needs to get that result, use the Goal Seek feature...

2011-01-14

What Day of the Year is It?

The embedded spreadsheet will take a date value and return the Day of Year with a formula that uses the DATE Function....

#cloud

2011-01-12

Use the DATEDIF Function to Quickly Calculate Date Difference in Excel

Use the DATEDIF Function in Excel to find the number of Years, Months and Days between two dates. Only documented in Excel 2000 but in later versions....

The Repeat Command in Excel for Mac

Add the Repeat command icon to the Standard Toolbar in Excel for Mac, 2011 and 2008, from the Customize Toolbars and Menus dialog box....

Redo and Repeat Commands in Excel [Updated]

The Repeat command is useful in Excel and intertwined with the Redo command. Add the Repeat command to the Quick Access Toolbar to discover its uses....

Fixing the F4 Button in Excel for Mac

The F4 key in Excel for Mac is a shortcut for the Paste command, which can be reassigned to the Redo command so it works similar to Excel for Windows....

What Version of Excel am I Using?

A reference to find out what version of Excel you are using. Excel for Windows - versions 2010, 2007, 2003. Excel for Mac - versions 2011, 2008....

The TRIM Function in Excel and VBA

The Excel TRIM Function removes all spaces from text except single spaces between words. The VBA TRIM Function removes leading and trailing spaces....

Apple Keyboard Symbols in Excel

One key to understanding Excel 2001 for Mac is knowing the keyboard shortcuts , but to communicate them requires displaying the symbols that are specific to a M...

Automatically Expand a Named Range in Excel

Automatically expand the name reference of a data table when a user adds more data by using the sheet deactivate routine to call a simple subroutine....

Keyboard Shortcuts in Excel 2011

Create, Delete, or Peruse Keyboard Shortcuts in Excel 2011 or 2008 by using the Customize Keyboard dialog box....

VLOOKUP Function in Excel: The Essential Guide

The VLOOKUP function in Excel explained in relatively non-technical terms for the laymen. Two examples, FALSE and TRUE, from the fourth argument....

Recently Used File List in Excel

The number of files Excel will show in the Recently Used File List depends on the version of Excel you're using and vary between 9 and 99 files....

#excel-legacy#excel-for-mac#vba

Use Function Keys Normally in Excel 2011

Since I'm relatively new to the world of Mac but an old hand with Windows, making an effort to discover Excel 2011 for Mac comes with some adjustments. Using th...

Logical Operations in Excel

Logical operations in Excel on four TRUE/FALSE outcomes of A an B. Then ADD, MULTIPLY, and use functions AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR, & equals comparison....

VBA Help System Lacking in Excel 2011

The VBA Help system for Excel 2011 for Mac is a tangled web of confusion that's frustrating and difficult to say the least. Excel 2010 is much better....

ISNUMBER vs IsNumeric in Excel: Worksheet and VBA Differences

Learn the difference between Excel ISNUMBER and VBA IsNumeric, including how they handle text numbers, blanks, dates, and data-entry cleanup....

Worksheet Navigation in Excel

Keyboard and mouse shortcuts for navigating Excel worksheets in Windows and Mac....

AdvancedFormulasTime and Date

2010-12-08

Calculate the Xth Weekday of Any Month in Excel

A simple formula to calculate the Xth Day of any month using four inputs: Year, Month, Week, and Day. Data validation with custom formatting required....

#cloud#excel-legacy#excel-for-mac

Quick Access File List in Excel 2010

In Excel 2010 there's an new optional feature at the bottom of the File>Recent menu to Quickly access this number of Recent Workbooks....

Indent Left and Right to Align Cell Contents

Both Left and Right Indenting is useful to align cell contents in Excel to make data more readable. Left Indent for text and Right Indent for numbers....

Microsoft Office 2011 Document Connection

The Microsoft Document Connection program comes with Office 2011 for Mac and is a great way to access your SkyDrive files in the cloud....

Equation Editors in Excel 2010 and Word 2011

The Equation Editor is new in Excel 2010 and designed to create a mathematical equation as graphical object. Word 2011 has the same Equation Editor....

Switch Between Relative and Absolute References in Excel for Mac

Use the keyboard shortcut Cmd+T to switch between relative, absolute, and mixed formula references in Excel for Mac....

#excel-for-mac

2010-11-24

Converting Pace in Minutes per Mile to MPH and Back Again in Excel

I'm converting Pace to MPH and then reversing the process, converting MPH to Pace, to create a conversion chart....

Convert Seconds with the TIME Function in Excel

An iTunes playlist download shows time in seconds. Convert these seconds with the TIME Function in Excel and some custom formatting....

How to Calculate Letter Grades in Excel (IF and VLOOKUP)

Turn numeric scores into letter grades in Excel with nested IF, a VLOOKUP grading table, or a named array. Handle blanks and decimal grade boundaries....

Nested IF Functions in Excel

Nested IF Functions means having at least one IF Function contained within another IF Function, which can get complicated. Use a binary outcome chart....

The IF Function in Excel

The IF Function has three arguments. The first is required, the last two optional. Comparison calculation operators and example IF Functions shown....

Single-Cell Array Formula in Excel

The Evaluate Formula dialog box shows interim calculations for single-cell array formulas to reveal array values Excel holds in internal memory....

Multi-Cell Array Formula in Excel

A Multi-Cell Array formula is entered by selecting a range, typing a formula, then holding the Control and Shift keys down while pressing Enter....

Excel 2011 Ribbon Screen Shots

Just a few screen shots of the new Ribbon in Excel 2011, with a Home tab comparison to Excel 2010....

Hide or Show Names in Excel with VBA

Names can be hidden or shown in Excel with some simple VBA code....

Update Excel 2003 to Use Newer Excel Files

Install the Office Compatibility Pack so you can open Excel 2007 and 2010 workbook files from older versions of Excel: 2003, 2002, or 2000....

Excel 2011 for Mac - Installation, Preferences, and VBA

I install Excel 2011, review some Preferences, and take a quick peek at the VBA....

Hide Worksheets in Excel

Change the visible property of a worksheet to make it very hidden and won't show in the Unhide sheet dialog box....

A New Charts Editor - Google Docs Keeps Improving

Google Docs new Charts Editor is an upgrade by Google, who keeps on improving their free spreadsheet offering in the cloud. Microsoft beware....

Absolute and Relative Cell References in Excel

Learn what a relative and absolute cell reference means in rows and columns, then use relative and absolute in one formula with two cell references,...

Use the DATE Function to Find the Last Day of a Month

The DATE Function will return the last day of the month prior to the Month argument, by using zero (0) for the Day argument....

FeaturesIntermediateProduct

2010-10-21

Introduction to PowerPivot

PowerPivot works with Excel 2010 to import millions of rows of data from different sources, build relationships, and visualize data with PivotTables....

#excel-legacy

FeaturesFormulasIntermediate

2010-10-19

A Sparkline Example in Excel 2010

Create a dynamic range sparkline graphic to show the last seven data points. Sparklines are new in Excel 2010 and don't work with earlier versions....

Put an OFFSET Formula Inside a Named Range

Create a Named Range using a formula with the OFFSET Function to capture the last 7 days of a range....

The OFFSET Function - Last 7 Data Points

Use the OFFSET Function to return the last 7 rows of a range....

Switch Between Workbooks Faster in Excel 2007 and 2010

Add the Switch Window command to the Quick Access Toolbar in Excel 2010 and 2007 to switch between workbooks with only two clicks, like Excel 2003....

Become the OFFSET Function and Tell a Short Story

I become the OFFSET function to tell a simple story of how I give you a value for the last cell in a range by using an example....

2010-10-07

How to Convert Decimal Hours to Time in Excel

Master the art of converting decimal hours to time format in Excel. Easily track minutes and hours In work and log books, events and when analyzing time data....

Column Width Unit of Measure in Excel Versions

The units differ for column widths between Excel made for Windows and Mac, 8.43 characters verses 1.04 inches, respectively....

How to Start a New Line in Excel Cell With Keyboard Shortcut and Formula

If you need to include multiple lines of text within a single cell of a worksheet, you can start a new line in Excel cell by using a line break....

Keep Track of Passwords in Excel [Updated]

Keep track of passwords in Excel with a password protected file....

Enter a Constant Value in a Name

Create a Name in Excel that holds a constant value....

Name and Select a Range with the Name Box in Excel

Name a cell, range, or non-contiguous range by using the Name box, then go quickly to that Named Range....

Use the Name Box to Select a Range in Excel

Use the Name box to select a cell, range or multiple ranges in Excel....

Use the Name Box to View Recently Used Functions in Excel

Quickly see the Excel functions you've recently used with the Name box....

Copy a Worksheet Picture in Excel 2003 or Excel 2008

Copy a picture of a spreadsheet in Excel 2003 or Excel 2008 for Mac and paste into your presentation software or elsewhere....

Insert Screenshots in Excel 2010

Insert an image into an Excel 2010 worksheet from any program that is currently running on your computer and not minimized to the task bar....

General UpdatesIntermediate

2010-09-14

Save Time Entering Decimal Points in Excel

Have Excel automatically enter fixed decimal places for you....

Figure Those Pesky Fractions in Excel

Enter fractions in Excel by adding a space after the integer and before the fraction. Easily create a list of fractions.....

BeginnerGeneral Updates

2010-09-09

Excel Number Format Shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+!

Use Ctrl+Shift+! in Excel to add thousands separators and two decimals. Get Windows formatting shortcuts, Mac and web notes, and fixes when they don't work....

Stock Price Formula in a Spreadsheet

The GoogleFinance Function returns a stock price by default, given stock symbol for a company or mutual fund....

The TEXT Function in Excel

The TEXT Function in Excel converts a value to text and lets you specify the display formatting by using special format strings....

2010-09-02

The WEEKDAY Function in Excel

Excel 2010 has new function arguments for the WEEKDAY Function. It returns an integer value based upon the day of the week....

#excel-legacy

BeginnerTime and Date

2010-08-31

Date and Time Calculation in Excel

Date and Time are the components of a serial number value, and are represented by an integer and decimal, respectively....

Convert Seconds to a Time Format in Excel

Convert a large number of seconds to a hours:minute:seconds format using the TIME, INT and MOD functions....

Using the SUM Function for a Running Total in Excel

Using the SUM Function in Excel to provide a running total time for song duration....

Putting the TIME, INT and MOD Functions to Work in Excel

Convert a Time in seconds to a minutes:seconds format by using the INT and MOD functions inside the TIME function....

The TIME Function in Excel

Using the TIME Function to display minutes and seconds in a readable time format....

The MOD Function in Excel

Understanding how the MOD Function works to extract the number of seconds left over after dividing a number of seconds by 60....

QUOTIENT, ROUNDDOWN and INT Functions in Excel

Three functions to get the integer portion of a division calculation: QUOTIENT, ROUNDDOWN, INT Functions in Excel....

iTunes Playlist Export Task – Convert Seconds to a Time Format

Converting seconds to a minutes:seconds time format requires several formulas....

2010-08-10

How to Convert Text to a Date in Excel

Convert text dates to real Excel dates with DATEVALUE, format the serial number, and extract dates from a fixed text pattern with MID and RIGHT....

5 min read

2010-08-07

The VALUE Function in Excel – Converting Text Dates

Converting text string Dates to numeric serial number values using the Excel VALUE Function and with alternate methods: addition, multiplication, division, and double negation....

The TYPE Function in Excel

The TYPE Function in Excel will indicate the type of data in a cell. In this case between Text and Numeric....

CONCATENATE Function or Ampersand Operator in Excel

Choosing between the CONCATENATE Function or Ampersand Operator in Excel. Ampersand is easy and simple....

The RIGHT Function in Excel

The RIGHT Function returns a specified number of characters from the end of a text string in Excel....

The MID Function in Excel

Use the MID Function to extract characters from the middle of a text string in Excel....

FormulasTime and Date

2010-07-28

Extract a Date from Text in Excel

Extract a Date from Text values by using a formula in Excel....

Excel Files on the iPad or iPhone

Documents To Go® Premium allows Excel files to be viewed, edited, and created on the iPad and iPhone. Add Dropbox to the mix and you can access your Excel files in the cloud with ease....

#cloud#excel-for-ipad

Removing Duplicates in Excel 2008

Remove duplicate values from a data set in Excel 2008 for Mac....

Removing Duplicate Values in Excel 2003

In Excel 2003 removing duplicate values is a manual process. Here is a method that worked well for me on this particular data set....

Text To Columns in Excel

Parse text data with Excel's Text to Columns feature....

Change Excel 2008 to Look Normal

Change the default spreadsheet view in Excel 2008 for Mac to Normal....

Pin Documents, Workbooks, and Places to the Recent File List in Excel

Pin documents, workbooks, and places to the recent file list, or jump list, in Excel 2007 and Excel 2010....

Add the Freeze Panes Menu to Excel's Quick Access Toolbar

Add the Freeze Panes menu to Excel's Quick Access Toolbar on Windows so you can keep headings visible without switching back to the View tab....

Open a CSV File

I have a Lose It! app on my iPhone that automatically backs up data to my web account. The website makes it easy to download reports using CSV files, essentiall...

Excel on the Web – Another Spreadsheet in the Cloud

A look at the Excel Web App spreadsheet with integration to Excel 2010 desktop program....

#cloud#excel-legacy

2010-06-28

Generate a List of Dates in Excel

Generate a date series in Excel quickly with the Edit, Fill, Series pop-up box....