Note: To work along with this tip, you can download the PivotTable Example file. The download file does not contain the PivotTables referred to below, it simply contains the source data so you can follow the steps to create the same PivotTables. PivotTables are a useful way to quickly summarize data and display it in an easy to read format. Their biggest problem is that not … [Read more...]
Using Text to Columns
If you have a list of data in a column, formatted in a similar manner throughout that you wish to separate into several columns, you can use Excel's Text to Columns feature to separate this information. For example, say your list is in column A and it contains a list of customer email addresses. You want to retrieve just the part before the "@", because that is also their ID … [Read more...]
Formula to Link Between Excel Files
Often times, you'll do work in one Excel file, that would be useful to show in another Excel file. You can simply copy and paste the data in, but if the data is dynamic (i.e. changes often), you might want to link between the two files. You can link to a cell in another file just as easily as you can link to a cell in the same workbook, the only difference is that you need … [Read more...]
Naming Ranges
An easy way to quickly reference a cell or list of cells is to define them with a named range. To do this, simply select a single cell or a range of contiguous cells, then click the name box next to the formula bar and type the name you wish to assign to those cells and press Enter. Your name must begin with a letter and can't have any spaces (an underscore "_" is a good … [Read more...]
Drop Down Lists Using Data Validation
Adding a drop down list to your worksheet allows the users of the worksheet to enter information in a neat, consistent format. For example, say your worksheet asks a user to input information that later will get summarized in a PivotTable. If the user doesn't enter the information consistently (i.e. spells out words some of the time, and abbreviates the rest), the … [Read more...]