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November 23, 2010 4 Comments

How to Use the Undocumented DATEDIF Function in Excel

Want to get in on a secret? The DATEDIF() Function is a well-kept secret in Excel. You will not find it in the list of Excel Functions. And, you will not find any documented Help for it from Microsoft! Amazing, because it is a great function to use. Be sure to bookmark this video, because this may be the only help that you get for the DATEDIF Function!

DATEDIF() has three required arguments: Start_Date, End_Date, Date Code.

Six Date Codes

  1. “Y” – Gives you the difference in “years” between the starting and ending dates.
  2. “M” – Gives you the difference in “months” between the starting and ending dates.
  3. “D” – Gives you the difference in “days” between the starting and ending dates.
  4. “YM” – Ignores the years and days to give you the difference in “months” between the starting and ending Months.
  5. “YD” – Ignores the years to give you the difference in “days” between the starting and ending Days and Months.
  6. “MD” – Ignores both the years and the months to give you the difference in “days” between the “day” of the Start_date and the “day” of the End_date.

You can add “clarifications” to the results by using the “&” (Ampersand) and a “text label.”

I use DATEDIF frequently – for example to find out a person’s exact age or to document the number of years an employee has been worked for you.

Follow this link to visit my Archive of  Video Lessons for Time and Date Functions in Excel

Click here to watch this Excel Video Lesson in High Definition, Full Screen Mode on YouTube.

Learn how to “Master Excel in Minutes – Not Months!”

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November 22, 2010 1 Comment

How to Efficiently Select Data in MS Office Programs

Before you can copy data in Excel, you must first select the cells with the data you wish to “copy and paste.” Before you can apply formatting in MS Word, you must first select the word, the sentence, the pararagraph, or the document that you wish to format. So let me demonstrate my tips for efficiently selecting data in any MS Office Program.

Selecting Data in Excel

  • To select data that is contiguous (adjacent cells) in Excel, hold down the SHIFT key and use the directional arrow keys to “draw” your selection.
  • To select data that is non-contiguous (non-adjacent cells), make your 1st selection and then hold down the CTRL key as you make additional selections.
  • You can use CTRL + SHIFT + Directional Arrow to quickly select all of the cells that contain data in a contiguous direction.
  • Use the keyboard shortcut CTRL + A to select all of the cells with data in a Data Set.
  • Watch this video for additional Excel tips for selecting data.

Selecting Data in Word

  • Double-click a word to select it.
  • Hold down the CTRL Key as you click to select the entire sentence.
  • Triple-click to select the entire paragraph,
  • Use the keyboard combination CTRL+ SHIFT + Directional Arrow to select entire words moving in that direction.
  • Use the F8 key to enter “Selectiion Mode.” As you continue to press the F* key, you will cycle to select a Word, a Sentence, a paragraph, the complete document.

I guarantee that you will save time and become more efficient when you use these tips to quickly select data in any MS Office Program.

Follow this link to watch this video in High Definition Full Screen Mode on YouTube.

Learn how to “Master Excel in Minutes – Not Months!”

How to Effieciently Select Data in MS Office Programs [ 7:36 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (660)
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November 17, 2010 1 Comment

Use the Choose Function in Excel to Quickly Lookup a Value

The CHOOSE Function in Excel is an incredibly useful – albeit, relatively unknown – tool to use when you need to look up a Value in a list. In Excel 2007, you can now use CHOOSE to return up to 254 different Values in a list! (In Excel 2003, the limit is 29 values.)

Here is the Syntax: =CHOOSE(Index_Num, Value1, Value2…) where the Index_Num is a positive serial number between 1 and 254 (In Excel 2007)

In this lesson, I first demonstrate how to look up a “label” (January, February, etc.) for a cell that contains a “Number” for the month (1,2,3, etc).

Rather than struggle with “nested IF()statements,” use the CHOOSE Function when you need to return a value for any number between 1 and 254 – it is so much easier!

Click here to watch this Excel Lesson on YouTube in High Definition Full Screen Mode.

Learn how to “Master Excel in Minutes – Not Minutes!”

Use the Choose Function in Excel [ 5:56 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (865)
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November 15, 2010 Leave a Comment

Use a Combo Box to Dynamically Change Your Excel Chart Data

You can “drive” your Excel Charts – dynamically change the data behind the chart. Focus your audience’s attention on the information that you are discussing. Let your audience see a chart that illustrates the scenario that they select.

To do this – add a Combo Box that lists the choices for each chart display that you offer!

(Click here to view my free Excel Training lesson on Combo Box Controls for more information.)

Key Steps to Take:

  • Use the INDEX() Function to look-up the values for your chart data.
  • For the 2nd argument in the INDEX() Function select the cell that is the “cell link” for your Combo Box. Use the F4 Keyboard Shortcut to make this part of the formula “Absolute.”
  • Insert the Chart Type that best represents your data. Position your chart adjacent to the Combo Box.

Click here to watch this video on my YouTube Channel – DannyRocksExcels –  in High Definition and Full Screen Mode.

I have several lessons that cover Charting in Excel 2007 on my DVD, “The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007.” Buy it now!

Learn to “Master Excel in Minutes – Not Months!”

Use a Combo Box to Dynamically Change Your Excel Chart Data [ 6:53 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1407)
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November 12, 2010 1 Comment

How to Create a Thermometer Chart in Excel

When you want to create a chart that tracks your progress towards reaching a goal – e.g. Monthly Sales Goal – use a Thermometer Chart in Excel. This is a fairly easy chart to create. However, there are a few “got’cha” steps along the way to avoid. Here are the key points to consider when creating a thermometer chart in Excel:

  • Base the chart on one cell. This cell contains the formula =”month to date number” / goal – formatted as a percentage.
  • Be sure to clearly separate this one cell from the other cells – e.g. insert a blank row about the formula cell.
  • Begin with a Column Chart Type.
  • Format your Vertical Axis on the chart – the percentage values. Set the Minimum Value to be “fixed” at 0.0 and the Maximum Value to be “fixed” at 1.0
  • Add a Data Label to your chart – there are several options for placing this on the chart.
  • Continue to format your chart as desired.

Follow this link if you want to watch this video in High Definition, Full Screen Output.

You can learn more about creating and formatting charts on my DVD, “The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007.” Click here to add this to your secure shopping cart.

How to Create a Thermometer Chart in Excel [ 7:12 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (874)
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October 30, 2010 1 Comment

How to Add a Data Validation Drop Down List to an Excel Form

Several viewers wrote to me after I posted my previous video – “How to Add a Combo Box Control to an Excel Invoice Form” to suggest that there is another way to create a “drop down list” for a form. Yes, you can use Data Validation in Excel and use “Allow from List” as your setting. Use the “Stop Style” to prevent a user from typing in a value that is not in the list.

In this Excel Training Video I compare both approaches: Using a Combo Box Control and Adding a Data Validation Drop Down List. Both work well on Invoice Forms. However, you will use a different function to “lookup” other values – e.g. Unit Price – depending upon your choice:

  • With a Combo Box Control, use the =INDEX() function to find the “Unit Price” for the product selected in the Combo Box
  • With a Data Validation Drop Down List, use the =VLOOKUP() function to find the matching “Unit Price.”

Let me know which approach that you prefer. Try both – expand your Excel Skill Set. Add your comments below or send me an email with your thoughts and suggestions: danny@thecompanyrocks.com

You can start to shop for my DVD, “The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007” by clicking this link.

Learn how you can “Master Excel in Minutes”

How to Add a Data Valication Drop Down List to an Excel Form [ 6:55 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (3114)
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October 28, 2010 13 Comments

How to Add a Combo Box Control to an Invoice in Excel

If you are creating or modifying an Invoice Form in Excel, you will want to add a Combo Box Control to allow users to select products from a listing. The key in formatting your Combo Box Control is to choose the correct cell to contain the “Cell Link.”

Cell Link in Form Control

I think that you will benefit from “seeing how this is done” in this video lesson. I know that I always struggled with “reading about” Excel Form Controls. Once you see how important the “Cell Link” placement is, you will better understand how Combo Box Controls work.

Use INDEX Function

Once we have formatted the Combo Box, we need to be able to look up other values to place on our Invoice. In this example I demonstrate how to use the INDEX() Function to lookup the “Unit Price” for each product selected from the Combo Box list on the Invoice. As a best practice, I recommend that you use “Named Ranges” for the “array” that you Index. The INDEX() Function has three arguments:

  1. The ARRAY to Index – In this case our “named range” with three fields (Product Name, Unit Price, Cell Link)
  2. The ROW reference – In this case the cell in the ARRAY that contains our CELL LINK for the Combo Box
  3. Optionally, the COLUMN reference – in this case “2” for the 2nd Column in the ARRAY (Unit Price)

Let me know if my videos in this series have helped you to understand how to use Form Controls in Excel. It took me some time to figure out how they worked; I hope that I can save you some time and ease your frustration in apply them to your forms. Add your comments below or send me an email – danny@thecompanyrocks.com

Find Additional Videos for Form Controls in Excel

Form Controls include Option Buttons, Spinners, List Boxes and more. Here is a link to the other videos in my series on Form Controls in Excel.

Watch Tutorial on YouTube

If you prefer, follow this link so that you can watch this video on my YouTube Channel – DannyRocksExcels

Resources Available at My Online Shopping Site

I invite you to visit my new, secure online shopping site  where you can Learn how you to “Master Excel in Minutes – Not Months!

How to Add a Combo Box Control to an Invoice Form in Excel [ 8:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1645)
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October 27, 2010 Leave a Comment

How to Lookup a Value Using Multiple Columns in Excel

There are times when the VLOOKUP Function will not return the value that you want to lookup. Suppose, for example, that you need to lookup the “Title” for an employee where the First Name and Last Name are in separate columns. A VLOOKUP() will not help you in this example. Let me show you how to accomplish this.

Key Concepts Covered

  • Use the “&” (Ampersand) to Join two cells that contain Text Values
  • Use the Index() and Match() Functions for the Lookup
  • Create an Array Formula to perform the Lookup – Use “Ctrl+Shift+Enter” with Array Formulas
  • Create and use “Named Cell Ranges” in your formulas to make it easier to enter and understand the formula

Be sure to check out all of the other Excel Video Lessons on Lookups. Click here to go to the Archive of Lookup Function Videos.

I invite you to subscribe to my “Danny Rocks Tips and Timesavers”Video Podcast on iTunes – it is free!

You can learn how to “Master Excel in Minutes!”

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October 25, 2010 Leave a Comment

How to Use the VLOOKUP Function in Excel

The VLOOKUP Function is one of the essential Excel functions that you need to understand in order to work with data tables, invoices and product listings. In response to numerous email requests, I created this video lesson to walk you through each step.

I share my best practices which include:

  • Use a “named cell range” for your “array.” The “array” is the table that contains the information that you are looking up.
  • Make sure that the “Leftmost” column in your array is sorted in ascending order and that this column contains the values that you are looking for.
  • Use “FALSE” as the optional fourth argument when you need to find an “exact” match in the Leftmost Column.

Work with Excel Workbook Used in This Lesson

Purchase DVD-ROM

You can learn more about essential Excel Functions on my DVD, “The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007.” You can buy it now!

Learn how to “Master Excel in Minutes – Not Months!”

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October 23, 2010 Leave a Comment

How to Add Scroll Bar Controls to Excel Forms

This is the fourth in my continuing series of Excel training video lessons on Adding Form Controls to your worksheets. Here, I demonstrate how to Add Scroll Bar Controls to a Loan Scenario. Form Controls help to make your Excel worksheets “interactive,” and they are great tools to add when you distribute spreadsheets to users who may not be proficient in Excel.

Understand the Cell Link

The key concept to understand with Form Controls is the “Cell Link.” The form controls are merely “drawing shapes” until you actually link them to a cell that controls their output. The “got’cha” step for Scroll Bars – as with Spin Buttons – is that the Maximum Value is 30,000. So, if you want a control to show a loan amount of, for example, $300,000.00 you make the Maximum value 300 and then create a formula that references the “cell link” and multiplies it by 1,000.

In my research on Form Controls, I rarely find authors who mention this point – and, in my experience, this is how most Excel users get “tripped up” when they want to add Form Controls to workbooks to make them interactive. Watch as I walk you through each step in this process.

Please, let me know if this video lesson has helped you to better understand how Excel Form Controls work. Add your comment below – I promise to respond to your comments!

Danny

You can click on this link to view the other videos in my series on Form Controls in Excel.

Learn how to “Master Excel in Minutes – Not Months!”

How to Add Scroll Bar Controls to Excel Forms [ 5:32 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1981)
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