Home Archives for Conditional formatting in Excel
March 20, 2013 4 Comments

2.9 Million Views for My YouTube Channel – DannyRocksExcels

2.9 million viewsThis morning, I passed the 2.9 Million views milestone for my DannyRocksExcel’s YouTube Channel!

Thank you to all who have supported my Excel tutorials since I began posting them in August, 2008.

Top 10 Excel YouTube Videos Year-to-Date in 2013

Here are the Top 10 Videos that have been viewed so far (January 1 – March 21) in 2013. Click on the hyperlink to watch the video(s) on YouTube:

  1. How to Create an Interactive Pivot Table Chart – 65,095 Lifetime views
  2. How to Use Advanced Filters in Excel – 84,557 Lifetime views
  3. How to Add a Check Box Control to an Excel Form – 87,327 Lifetime views
  4. Compare 2 Excel Lists to Spot the Differences – 84,325 Lifetime Views
  5. Use Excel’s Built-in Data Form to Edit & Filter Records – 65,325 Lifetime views
  6. Use the Solver Tool in Excel – 46,035 Lifetime views
  7. How to Use an Excel Data Table for “What-if” Analysis – 72,694 Lifetime views
  8. How to Merge Multiple Excel Workbooks to a Master Budget – 104,376 Lifetime views
  9. How to Create a Summary Report from an Excel Table – 38,502 Lifetime views
  10. Import Excel Data into Microsoft Access – 54,601 Lifetime views

Quickly Improve Your Excel Skills

I have created many Video Tutorial Packages that I offer for sale at my secure online shopping website – http://shop.thecompanyrocks.com I invite you to visit and preview my training resources for MS Excel and the other programs in the Microsoft Office Suite.

The “Special Bundles” of videos are very attractively priced!

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Access Tips and Timesavers, Conditional Formatting, Excel Data Tables and Lists, Excel Forms, Excel Training, Most Viewed Excel Videos, Pivot Tables, What-if Analysis, Work with Multiple Worksheets, YouTube Videos by Danny Rocks Tagged: , , , , , , ,
November 21, 2012 Leave a Comment

How to Use Multiple Sorting Options in Excel

Sort Using Cell Icons

Sort based on Cell icons in Excel

Beginning with Excel 2007, the Sorting Commands gained several new features and became much more powerful. For example, you are no longer limited to three levels of sorting. You can sort using as many levels as you need. In addition, you can now sort by Cell or Font Colors and also sort using the new Cell Icons.

While I was training one of my clients last week, several questions about sorting came up. So, in this video I will demonstrate several of the new features as well as showing you how to take advantage of many sorting options that have been around for some time. For example, using a Horizontal Sort to quickly rearrange the order of your columns!

Sorting Options on Video Tutorial

Here are the sorting options that I demonstrate on my video:

  • Sort on Values using a Custom List
    • First, I use a built-in custom list (Months of the Year).
    • Next, I demonstrate how to create a custom list that you can use with AutoFill and also with custom sorting.
  •  Sort data based upon Cell Icon
    • Cell Icons were introduced in Excel 2007 as part of the major upgrade to Conditional Formatting.
  • Sort Horizontally to quickly rearrange the order of your columns (fields) in your data set.
    • This feature has been available for many years. However, in my experience, very few people are aware of its existence.
    • Once you  learn this technique, you can stop the tedious task process of Insert Column, Cut Column, Paste Column, Delete Column, etc.

Shop for Excel Training Resources

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How to Use Multiple Sorting Options in Excel [ 7:14 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (7603)
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Filed Under: Conditional Formatting, Essential Excel Skills, Excel Training Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,
September 13, 2012 2 Comments

How to Use a Check Box to “Toggle” Conditional Formatting On or Off in Excel

Sort by Color in Excel

Sort by Color in Excel

In my previous Excel Tutorial – “Conditional Formatting to Dynamically Format Dates” – I demonstrated how to  apply Conditional  Formatting based upon the number of days have passed since last contact with a customer. Now I will extend what you just learned.

Three Techniques in this Video:

  1. How to extend  Conditional Formatting Rules to additional cell ranges.
  2. How to use the “Sort by Colors” feature introduced in Excel 2007.
  3. How to add a Check Box Form Control that will “toggle” the Conditional Formatting On or Off.

Paste Special “Live Preview”

I demonstrate a great new feature introduced in Excel 2010, “Live Preview” for Paste Special. You will use Paste Special – Formats to extend the rules for Conditional Formatting to a new range of Cells

Sort by Color

Beginning with Excel 2007, you can now sort fields based upon the color of a font or a cell background. I show how this works.

The Check Box Form Control

The “key concept” to understand when using Excel’s Form Controls is the “Cell Link.” With a Check Box Control, the value in the Cell Link is TRUE when the box is “checked” while the value is FALSE when it is Unchecked. We can use this information to create a “Conditional Format based upon a Formula.”

Conditional Formatting Rules

When you base Conditional Formatting upon a Formula, the result of that formula must return TRUE in order apply this formatting. Setting the background cell color to “White” effectively “hides” the previous background cell colors.

Shop for The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007

Shop for The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007

Resources Offered for Sale

I encourage you to visit my secure online shopping website – http://shop.thecompanyrocks.com – to preview the many training resources that I offer you. Check out my latest Excel Training Videos:

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How to Use a Check Box to "Toggle" Conditional Formatting On or Off in Excel [ 8:29 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (3175)
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Filed Under: Conditional Formatting, Excel Forms, Excel Training, New in Excel 2007, New in Excel 2010, Podcast Tips & Timesavers Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,
September 11, 2012 1 Comment

How to Dynamically Color-Code Dates with Conditional Formatting in Excel

Conditional Formatting for Dates

Conditional Formatting for Dates

One of my viewers wants to learn how to “dynamically” color-code cells that contain dates. She is monitoring the frequency of contact with her clients and she wants Excel to automatically apply:

  • One background color to cells where it has been less than 60 days since last contact
  • A different color when the time frame is between 60 and 90 days
  • A third color when it has been over 90 days since the last contact with a client

Here, I demonstrate how she can do this using Conditional Formatting Rules. However, this will only work if you are using Excel 2007 or Excel 2010.

Understanding Dynamic Date Functions

In order to make this visualization “dynamic,” I make references to cells that contain the =TODAY() Function. This is a “volatile” function that updates automatically based upon the date in your computer system’s clock. I use this to classify the last date of contact with her clients.

Improvements in Conditional Formatting

Beginning with Excel 2007, you can now apply multiple rules that use formulas. Remember that when you use a formula, it must evaluate as “TRUE” in order to apply the formatting that you specify.

Formulas Used to Apply Conditional Formatting

Conditional Formatting Rules

Rules for Conditional Formatting

To make it easier for you to practice this skill, I have posted this table that details the formulas that I used for each of the three rules in my video tutorial.Note that with the middle condition, I use the =AND() Function. All logical tests must answer TRUE for the AND() Function to return TRUE.

It will take a little bit of practice for you to become comfortable with these formulas. As a Best Practice, I recommend that you create a table of formulas so that you can see how a “tweak” in your formula can turn a FALSE answer into a TRUE answer.

Related Video

Follow this link to Part Two in this Series. I demonstrate how to “toggle” Conditional Formatting On or Off by using a Check Box Control in Excel.

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How to use Conditional Formatting to Color-Code Dates in Excel [ 8:49 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (3143)
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Filed Under: Conditional Formatting, Date Functions and Formats in Excel, Excel Date and Time Functions, Excel Formulas, Excel Training, New in Excel 2007, New in Excel 2010, Podcast Tips & Timesavers Tagged: , , , , , , ,
July 30, 2012 6 Comments

How to Group People by Age Bracket Using an Excel Pivot Table

Pivot Table for Age Brackets

Pivot Table to Group Age Brackets

In my previous Excel Tutorial, I demonstrated how to use the Group Field command in a Pivot Table to summarize time periods by the Hour. Several viewers wanted to know what other grouping possibilities are available in Pivot Tables. One viewer wanted to know how to group people who responded to a survey by Age Brackets. That is why I created this tutorial!

Use DATEDIF Function to Calculate Age

From my perspective, the DATEDIF() is an invaluable function. However, it is not documented in Excel. Watch how I use its three arguments to calculate the age of each person in the data set.

Group Field by Age

Select a single value in the “Age” Field and then select the “Group Field” Command. In the dialog box, choose the “step-value” for your groups. In this case, I chose the Default Setting of 10 years.

Show Pivot Table Values As

Some of the most powerful Pivot Table tools are found on the “Show Values As” tab of the “Value Field Settings” Dialog Box. Watch me demonstrate how to show each Age Bracket as a Percentage of the Column.

Apply Conditional Formatting to Pivot Table

Take advantage of the greatly improved Conditional Formatting Commands in Excel 2007 and Excel 2010 to focus attention on the key information in your Pivot Table. In this case, I use the “Top 10 Items” rule to apply Conditional Formatting to the two highest Age Brackets- by percentage – for each gender.

Learn Excel Pivot Tables Quickly

Follow this link to learn about the focused 90 minute video tutorials that I have published to help you to really learn how to get the most out of Pivot Tables. Available in versions for Excel 2003, Excel 2007, and Excel 2010.

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How to Group People by Age Brackets with an Excel Pivot Table [ 8:12 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (3400)
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Filed Under: Conditional Formatting, Excel Date and Time Functions, Excel Functions, Excel Training, Pivot Tables, Podcast Tips & Timesavers Tagged: , , , , , ,
July 22, 2012 1 Comment

How to Group an Excel Pivot Table Field to Summarize By Hours

Pivot Table Summary Report By Hour

Pivot Table Summary Report By Hour

After viewing my previous video tutorial, one of my subscribers asked me to demonstrate how to actually summarize a minute-by-minute Excel report into an hour-by-hour report.

My viewer was unfamiliar with Pivot Tables – as are many Excel users – so I created this video to show him – and you how to do this.

Group a Pivot Table Field

Begin by right-clicking a single cell in the Time Field and choosing Group Field. In the dialog box, deselect Month and choose Hour. That’s it – it’s that simple!

Apply Conditional Formatting to the Top 10%

Beginning with Excel 2007, Conditional Formatting has been tremendously improved. Watch how I apply a “Top 10%” Conditional Format Rule with three mouse clicks!

Purchase My 90 Minute Focused Pivot Table Tutorial

Whether you are a novice or an experienced user of Excel Pivot Tables, you will learn some great Tips and Techniques when you purchase my 90 minute video tutorial: “Summarize, Analyze and Present Information with Excel Pivot Tables.”

Follow this link to learn more about my video tutorial for Pivot Tables. Available for ALL versions of Excel as either a DVD-ROM or as a Downloadable Product.

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How to Group an Excel Pivot Table Field to Group by Hours [ 6:32 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (4608)
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Filed Under: Conditional Formatting, Excel Training, Pivot Tables, Podcast Tips & Timesavers, YouTube Videos by Danny Rocks Tagged: , , , , , ,
March 19, 2012 Leave a Comment

Use Conditional Formatting in Excel to Highlight Cell Values that Match Criteria

Conditional Formatting in Excel

Conditional Formatting in Excel

Conditional Formatting has been available for many years in Excel. However, beginning with Excel 2007, Conditional Formatting got a major boost in its ease-of use and new visualization tools.

In this tutorial, I demonstrate how to use Conditional Formatting to highlight – via formatting – the cells in a range that anser “TRUE” to a set of criteria. For example, is the cell value “Above Average” or is it Greater than the value in a Target Cell.

How Does Conditional Formatting Work?

Conditional Formatting is “dynamic.” If you update the values – or formulas that generate cell values” the cell that receive the Conditional Formatting may change – based upon the criteria that you set as “the condition.”

Versions of Excel Covered

For this lesson, I demonstrate Conditional Formatting in BOTH Excel 2010 and Excel 2003.

Learn More About Conditional Formatting

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Filed Under: Conditional Formatting, Excel Training, New in Excel 2007, YouTube Videos by Danny Rocks Tagged: , ,
January 29, 2012 Leave a Comment

How to Apply Alternate Row Shading Using Conditional Formatting in Excel

Alternate Row Shading

Alternate Row Shading w/ Conditional Formatting

This is the first tutorial in a new series. In collaboration with my good friend, Alan Friedman – CPA and partner with the firm Friedman, Kannenberg & Co., PC – I am using Alan’s Financial worksheets to demonstrate how to get the most out of Excel. In this lesson, I show you how to apply Alternate Row Shading – aka “Green Bar Shading” – to a Year-end Inventory Analysis Excel worksheet.

Conditional Formatting in Excel

In this lesson, I create a new rule that uses a formula to determine the “condition” – or criteria – that must be met in order to apply the “formatting” to my selection of cells. The “key” to understanding this rule: The formula that you use for this “rule” must return either TRUE or FALSE. The cells – in the selection – that evaluate to TRUE will receive the special formatting – a background shading.

Extending Range of Cells to Receive Conditional Formatting

In general, you can use Excel’s AutoFill Handle to extend Conditional Formatting to adjacent cells. If, however, you want to apply the “Rule Using a Formula” to non-adjacent cells, first copy a cell that contains the Conditional Formatting. Then, use Paste Special – Formatting to apply this rule to your new selection of cells.

Resources for This Tutorial

I invite you to visit my secure online shopping website – http://shop.thecompanyrocks.com – to preview all of the resources that I offer to you.

Please visit the Friedman, Kanneberg & Co. website to download the worksheet used in this series of lessons – and other seminar handouts.

 

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Filed Under: Conditional Formatting, Excel Financial Tools, Excel Training, Format Cells in Excel, YouTube Videos by Danny Rocks Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,
January 12, 2012 2 Comments

How to Clear All Underlying Cell Formatting in Excel

Clear Underlying Formatting

Clear Underlying Formatting

Have you ever typed data or a formula in a cell only to be surprised by the result? For example, you type in a number and then, unexpectedly,  Excel displays a Date or a Time in that cell. This happens frequently when you reuse an older Excel Worksheet of if you start working on a worksheet that a colleague or client has sent you.

Why does this happen?

Clear All Underlying Cell Formatting

In my experience, I have found that many Excel users mistakenly think that pressing the DELETE Key will “erase” the cells in the selection. No, No, No. The Delete key only erased the cell content – the data, text or formulas entered or pasted into the cell(s). The Delete key does NOT remove the Underlying Cell Formatting!

In this tutorial, I demonstrate how to remove the underlying cell formatting while leaving the cell Contents in place.

Topics Covered in this Tutorial

  • Using the Clear Formatting Command
  • Adding the Clear Command to your Quick Access Toolbar
  • Using Go To Special to Find and Select all cell that use either Conditional Formatting or Data Validation
  • Finding the Last Cell in your worksheet – you may be surprised to find a “remote cell” is NOT Blank!

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Filed Under: Consolidate Excel Data, Data Validation, Excel Basics, Excel Training, Format Cells in Excel, YouTube Videos by Danny Rocks Tagged: , , , , , , ,
September 24, 2011 Leave a Comment

How to Take Advantage of the Go To Special Dialog Box Options in Excel

Go To Special Options

Go To Special Options

In my opinion, the Go To Special Options Dialog Box offers some of the most useful tools in Excel!

Why?

Because,  you must…

Select Cells Before Performing an Action on these Cells

The “key” to understanding ANY MS Office or Windows Program is… You MUST select a single cell or a range of cells BEFORE you can perform an action on them – e.g. Formatting you selection, deleting your selection, editing your selection or auditing your selection.

Tips Presented in this Video Tutorial

  • Select cells with Comments – so that you can “format” these cells to make them easier to identify.
  • Select cells that contain Constant Numeric Values – so that you can easily “spot” cells that should – bu do not – contain formulas.
  • Select cells that contain Specific Types of Formulas – e.g. Text Formulas – to “audit” your formulas.
  • Find the “Last Cell” in your worksheet – the last cell that contains EITHER content OR FORMATTING – This can be an “eye-opener!” for you.
  • Select the cells that contain Data Validation – perhaps you failed to “validate” all of the cells in a range.
  • Select the cells that contain Conditional Formatting – perhaps your did not select ALL of the cells in a Range BEFORE you applied a Conditional Formatting RULE!
  • Learn how to select the “Visible Cells Only” before performing a copy and paste operation – especially helpful when copying the “collapsed cells” for an Excel Outline.

I am positive that Excel users at ANY LEVEL will be able to pick up at least one solid tip from this Video Tutorial. Please send me your comments to let me know what you learned – or what you need clarification on.

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Learn About My New Extended Length Excel Video Tutorials

I have just published the first in a series of “Extended Length” – 90 Minutes – Video Tutorials, “Excel Pivot Tables to Summarize, Analyze and Present Your Data.” Follow this link to learn more about this tutorial. I have created separate versions of the tutorial for Excel 2010, 2007 and 2003.

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Filed Under: Conditional Formatting, Data Validation, Excel Formulas, Excel Training, YouTube Videos by Danny Rocks Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,
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