Excel Keyboard Shortcuts to Fill a Series

Here is the latest installment in my series of video tutorials on Keyboard Shortcuts in Excel. In this lesson, I demonstrate how to Fill a Series with Values or a Formula Down or to the Right.

The more interesting Keyboard Shortcuts that I demonstrate in this lesson are:

  • Ctrl + ‘ (apostrophe) – to copy the value from the cell directly above; to copy the formula from the cell directly above while retaining exact cell references.
  • Ctrl + Shift + ” (double quote) – to copy the value from the cell directly above; to copy the “result” of the formula from the cell directly above.

Download My Free “Chart of Popular Keyboard Shortcuts in Excel”

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How to Use Excel Keyboard Shortcuts to Cut, Copy and Paste Formulas and Formatting

Keyboard Shortcuts for Cut, Copy & Paste

Keyboard Shortcuts for Cut, Copy & Paste

In addition to showing you the Keyboard Shortcuts to Cut, Copy and Paste in Excel, I demonstrate how these actions affect formulas and formatting.

Topics in this Tutorial

Here are the topics that I demonstrate in this video tutorial:

  • Select multiple cells using the keyboard
  • Use Ctrl + Enter to update all cells in the selection
  • Use Ctrl + ~ to “toggle” between showing and hiding formulas in all cells
  • Use F2 to edit in the cell – and to diagram cell references for formulas
  • Use Ctrl + C to copy the “relative cell references” in a formula
  • Use Ctrl + X to cut an Excel formula that retains the original cell references
  • Open and use the Office Clipboard to store up to 24 most recent copy and cut items
  • Use Ctrl + Z to undo multiple actions
  • Use Ctrl + A to select all cells in a contiguous range
  • Use the Delete key to delete the contents of a cell or range while retaining the formatting
  • Use the Clear All command to remove both formatting and contents in a range of cells

Download My Complete Charts of Popular Keyboard Shortcuts

Follow this link to my Excelusive Membership Content Page where you can download all of my charts and tables of Keyboard Shortcuts.

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How to Use Keyboard Shortcuts in Excel to Control Basic File Operations

Excel 2007 File Operations

Excel 2007 File Operations

If you have recently upgraded to either Excel 2007 or Excel 2010, you REALLY NEED to master the Keyboard Shortcuts that I present in this lesson!

Many Excel veterans who upgrade, tell me that they initially felt “lost” with the new user interface. Some of my clients called me in a panic because they didn’t know where to look to Print their work or to open a document. If you know how to use the Keyboard Shortcuts that I present in this lesson, you will never be at a loss. As an added bonus, these Keyboard Shortcuts work with ALL Microsoft Office programs and also for most Windows-based programs.

The “N-O-W-S” Keyboard Shortcuts

I use this acronym – NOWS – to remember the keyboard shortcuts to Open, Close and Save Documents in MS Office programs. Use Ctrl + W to Close the active worksheet.

In this video tutorial, I also show you when NOT to use Keyboard Shortcuts! There are many times when you need to access the full file menu selection.

Keyboard Shortcut for Print Preview

Use Ctrl + F2 to open up the Print Preview pane. Use the “Esc” key to Exit Print Preview.

Download My Chart of Popular Keyboard Shortcuts as a PDF

Follow this link to go to the web page where I store my Keyboard Shortcut Charts and other download-able content.

These Keyboard Shortcuts work for all versions of Excel. So far, I have found only one Keyboard Shortcut that is different when used in Excel 2007 / 2010 than in Excel 2003.

More Video Tutorials for Keyboard Shortcuts

This is the first in a series of video tutorials that I have planned. Each video will focus on the Keyboard Shortcuts you can use to perform a specific task – e.g. Formatting Cells, Inserting and Deleting, etc. My plan is to post one new video in this series per week.

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Use the Show Values As Formulas in Excel Pivot Tables

Show Values As

Show Values As in Pivot Table

I participate in a number of Group Discussion Boards on LinkedIn. In this video tutorial, I address one question that was recently asked:

“Is it possible to show a Percentage of Running Total formula in a Pivot Table?”

The answer is, “Yes, if you are using Excel 2010. If you are using earlier versions of Excel, you can use a work-around outside the Pivot Table.”

New in Excel 2010

A great new feature introduced in Excel 2010 is the drop-down menu for the “Show Values As’ in a Pivot Table Calculation. In earlier versions of Excel, the Show Values As option was not so obvious. And, I found that many of my clients did not know how to use it – or could not locate the drop-down menu.

Work-Around for Show % of Running Total

While the “Running Total in…” calculation has been available for quite some time, the “% of Running Total in …” formula is brand new in Excel 2010. The work-around that I demonstrate is to first, create the Show As “Running Total in …” formula. Then change the Font and background of these cells to “White.” Next, write a standard formula “outside of the Pivot Table” that references these cells. Be sure to turn off the “GetPivotData” Formula when you write this formula.

Download Extended Length Pivot Table Video Tutorials

Click on this link to learn about my new “extended length” video tutorials for Pivot Tables. They are availabe for Excel 2003, Excel 2007 and Excel 2010.

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Three and a Half Ways to Average Excel Data Using Criteria

AverageIf Function in Excel

AverageIf Function in Excel

It is easy to use Excel’s AVERAGE Function to get the average for an entire range of data. But, what if you are asked to produce a report that shows the average for select groups of records – for example, average test results for the female students only; or for the male students only? What approach do you take? What Functions do you use to produce this report?

Three and a Half Ways to Produce this Report

  • SUBTOTALS – Easy to use. Remember to sort your data first using the field that you want to subtotal.
  • AVERAGEIF Function – Very easy to use. Only works in Excel 2007 and Excel 2010.
  • DAVERAGE Function – Will work in any version of Excel. Easy to add or change the Criteria.
  • PIVOT TABLE – Very easy to create. No need to write a formula. Create report with @ 6 mouse clicks!

My Preferred Approach – Create a Pivot Table Report

While Pivot Tables are the most powerful tool in Excel, they are also one of the easiest tools to use in Excel! Why?

  • Because you can create a Pivot Table Report without writing a single formula!
  • You can create this Pivot Table Report with about six clicks of the mouse.
  • You cannot possibly harm your underlying data when you create Pivot Tables!

Download a One Hour- Plus / In-depth Video Tutorial on Pivot Tables – for $9.95

I have created a series of Excel Video Tutorials that you can download for $9.95 US Dollars each. Here is a link to my informational page that gives you the details.

  • Are you Using Excel 2003? – I created a video recording for Pivot Tables using Excel 2003 that you can download for $9.95!
  • Are you Using Excel 2007? – I created a video recording for Pivot Tables using Excel 2007 that you can download for $9.95!
  • Are you Using Excel 2010? – I created a video recording for Pivot Tables using Excel 2010 that you can download for $9.95!

As with all of my products, I guarantee that you will be 100% Satisfied or I will refund your purchase price – no questions asked!

My Extended length Excel Training Video Recordings are hosted at: http://thecompanyrocks.webex.com – I use the secure shopping cart at WebEx by Cisco Systems, so you can be sure that your personal information is safe and secure.

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Use Excel’s AutoFill Tools and Formulas to Increment Time Intervals

In my experience, many Excel users get “frustrated” when trying to enter and calculate Time Intervals. For example, setting up a schedule for meetings that begin and end in 45 minute intervals. After you watch this video tutorial, you will learn how easy it is to set up this type of schedule!

The Problem with Time in Excel

When it comes to entering Time Values, Excel will only accept a short list of Time Formats. For example, 6:00 AM is a valid Time Entry in Excel. However, Excel will treat 6:00 A.M. as a “text entry!” 6:00 AM is stored as the decimal value 0.25 in Excel. Decimals are numbers that Excel can calculate and increment. In this video, I demonstrate a shortcut that ensures that you always enter a Time Value as a Number.

How to Increment in Two-Hour Intervals

As I demonstrate in this video, use this formula to increment a series of two-hour time intervals:

=starting_cell + 2*(1/24)

In this case the (1/24) portion of the formula indicates a “one-hour segment.” 1 hour out of a 24 hour day. The +2 part of the formula indicates that you want to increment by 2 – of what? The answer is +2*(1/24) – by 2 hours.

To indicate a 15 minute increment use this formula:

=starting_cell + 15 * (1/24/60) – That is, divide each one hour segment (1/24) by 60 minutes (1/24/60) and multiply this by the number of minutes that you wish for your schedule.

Watch Part 1 of this Series – Increment Dates in Excel

Follow this link to watch Part 1 of this two-part series – “Use Excel’s AutoFill Tolls and Excel Functions and Formulas to Increment Date Intervals.”

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Use Excel’s AutoFill Options and Formulas to Increment a Series of Dates

Excel AutoFill Options

Excel AutoFill Options

I begin this Excel Video tutorial by first, demonstrating how to use Excel’s AutoFill Options to increment a series of dates. Some of these AutoFill Options are:

  • Fill Weekdays Only (Monday through Friday)
  • Copy Formatting Only
  • Increment by Adding one month to the previous cell
  • Increment by Adding one year to the previous cell

Here’s a Tip: If you use your Right-mouse button to AutoFill a series, a menu of options will pop up automatically when you release the mouse. Try it!

Excel Functions and Formulas to Increment a Series of Dates

Two of my favorite Excel Date Functions are part of the “Analysis ToolPak” Add-in:

  1. The EDATE() Function – returns a “serial number” for a Month that is X number of months away from the starting date.
  2. The EOMONTH() Function – is similar to EDATE. However, it always returns the last Calendar Day of the Month that is X  number of months away from the starting date.

In Excel 2007 and Excel 2010, the Analysis ToolPak Add-in is activated by default. In this video, I demonstrate how to activate it if you are using Excel 2003 or older.

Other Functions Used in this Video Tutorial

  1. The DATE() Function. Remember that if you use this function to increment by one-year intervals that you need to “nest” the Year(), Month() and Day() functions in the arguments. This is a “tricky” function to use.
  2. The WEEKDAY() Function. In the video, I nest this function inside an IF() Function in order to get a series of dates that include Monday through Friday only!

Related Video Tutorial

My next video in this series demonstrates how to use Formulas to increment a series of times by “minutes” or by “hours.”

Watch This Video in High Definition

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Shop for Excel Training Resources

Shop for The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007

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How a Single Blank Cell Affects an Excel Pivot Table Report

As you will see in this Excel Video Tutorial, having a single blank cell in a data set will greatly affect how Excel Functions and Pivot Tables are designed and calculated.

Single Blank Cell in Data

Single Blank Cell in Data

Imagine, how a single blank cell, in a field of 848 records, can change the way your Pivot Table views the data type (text vs. the expected numeric data type) and subtotal function (Count vs. the expected SUM function).

Seeing is believing!

Preventing a Blank Cell from “Creeping into” your data set

Use the Keyboard Shortcut Ctrl + Down Directional Arrow to go to the last cell that contains data in a column. This is a great way to isolate “stray” blank cells that will have a great impact on your Pivot Tables and other calculations in Excel.

Also, in Excel 2007 and Excel 2010, look for where a “numeric” field is placed by default. A single blank cell will cause an (intended) numeric field to be placed in the Row (text) labels area. Even dragging this field into the VALUES Drop zone does not solve the problem because the COUNT Function will be used to Subtotal this field. This is a “disaster waiting to happen!”

Introducing My Extended Length Excel Video Recordings

This is my opportunity to introduce you to my new, extended-length (one-hour +) Excel Video Tutorials that you can download for only US $9.95!

Here is the link that gives you more information about this exciting new service:

http://www.thecompanyrocks.com/pivot-table-tutorial-videos-to-download-practice-files-instructional-manual-included/

I offer you multiple options:

Let me know what you think!

Let me know which topics you would like me to record for you to download.

Send me an email with your comments and suggestions: danny@thecompanyrocks.com

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Create a Custom Excel Function to Replace Formulas with Multiple IF Functions

Multiple Nested IF Functions

Multiple Nested IF Functions

Do you get tied up in a knot trying to write – let alone explain – a formula that has one IF Function nested inside another, and another…? I know that I do! And, what happens when your sales manager wants to revise the tiers for the quantity discounts? How many hours will this take you to review your logic and to make all of those multiple changes?

Usually, this will mean a lot of time, a lot of frustration and possibly some resentment thrown in as well!

Well, relax. I am going to demonstrate how easy it is to write a custom function in Excel using the “Select Case” Construct to replace the “rat’s nest” of multiple IF Functions in your formulas!

Scenario for this Function

You have been asked by your Sales Manager to write a formula to grant a discount, based upon the quantity of units ordered. There are 5 Tiers: Below 5 units ordered, no discount. From 6 to 24 units, a 10% discount, etc. Rather than spending a half hour nesting IF() functions and using AND() functions to create this formula, spend less than 10 minutes creating a Custom Excel Function instead.

Create the Custom Excel Function

  • Begin by opening the Visual Basic Editor. One way to do this is right-click any worksheet tab and select “View Code.”
  • Ensure that you have inserted a Module in the Project Explorer and that you have selected the module.
  • In the example that I use on this video tutorial, my first line of code is: “Function DiscQty(quantity)” and this is matched to an “End Function” statement
  • For this Custom Function, I am using the “Select Case” Construct in Visual Basic (VBA). Think of the keyword “Case” as a substitute for the =IF() Function.
  •  Rather than nesting the Excel =AND() Function inside the IF() Function, you will substitute – e.g. “Case 6 To 24” and then “DiscQty = 0.1” to indicate a 10% discount for quantities between 6 AND 24.

Watch the video to see how easy is is to create – and use – this custom Excel function. Invest the 7 minutes and 47 seconds to watch it – I guarantee that this investment of time will pay you many dividends for years and years to come!

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How to Maintain Accurate Subtotals When Your Data Set Expands in Size

Subtotal in Excel 2010 Table

Subtotal in Excel 2010 Table

This is Part 2 of my series of video tutorials demonstrating how to use the SUBTOTAL Function in Excel.

  • In Part 1, I showed you the value of using the Subtotal Function to summarize the results of applying a Data Filter to a range of cells.
  • In this part, I show you how to use an Excel 2007 or Excel 2010 Table to ensure that your Subtotal Formulas are automatically updated when you append records or add additional fields to your original data set.

I strongly recommend basing Filtered Lists and Pivot Tables on an Excel Table (in Excel 2007 or 2010) or an Excel List in Excel 2003. This way, any formulas, filters and references that you make will be automatically updated when you append additional records or otherwise change the structure of your data set.

Function Numbers 101 through 111

Notice that when you “toggle on” the Total Row for a Table or List that Excel uses this formula = SUBTOTAL(109, Table1, [Sales]). Function 109 will use the SUM Function(109) to total the values in the “Sales” field ([Sales]) of a Table named “Table1.” These Function Numbers + 100 were introduced in Excel 2003 and the are automatically applied whenever you are using a Total Row in an Excel Table.

I think that you will learn some cool tricks in this lesson. Let me know what you think!

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