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...]
Excel 2007
For a person who has used previous versions of Excel, Excel 2007 can be a little intimidating at first. For starters, there are none of the familiar menu options, and some of the keyboard shortcuts that have become second nature have changed. Don't let this discourage you though. With a little guidance and familiarization, you'll find that Excel 2007 is more powerful and … [Read more...]
Split a Worksheet Into Multiple Panes
You can split a worksheet area into vertical and/or horizontal panes so that you can click inside any one pane and scroll to locate information in that pane while the other panes remain in place. Drag a split box (the small box at the top of the vertical scroll bar, or at the right end of the horizontal scroll bar) in the direction you want the split to appear. To remove the … [Read more...]
Sequential Text or Values Using Fill Handle
If you need to fill cells with sequential text such as months of the year, days of the week, or text plus a number such as Quarter 1, Quarter 2,…, use the fill handle to quickly create labels for the cells simply by typing the first item in the series. For example, you would type January in your first cell, then hover the mouse over the bottom right hand corner until it … [Read more...]