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November 29, 2010 1 Comment

My Most Viewed and Downloaded Videos for Excel and PowerPoint

My iTunes Podcast

Danny on iTunes

I began to post my videos as podcasts at the iTunes store this past summer. Since then, my video lessons for Excel and PowerPoint have been viewed and downloaded many times. I am thirlled. And, I thank you for your support and encouragement.

Here are the links – on my website – to the most popular video episodes. I have organized them by category in the order of their popularity. You can click on any link to view or download that video from my website. Or, you can go to my video Podcast by clicking on this link – “Danny Rocks Tips and Timesavers” Podcast on iTunes.

Merging and Consolidating Excel Worksheets

 PowerPoint Presentations

Data Visualizations

What-If Analysis in Excel

Importing Data From Other Programs

Pivot Tables

Excel Tables

Social Media

Formula Errors

Please add your comments below – or on my iTunes Channel. I welcome your feedback.

You can learn how to “Master Excel in Minutes – Not Months!”

Sincerely,

Danny Rocks

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Filed Under: Consolidate Excel Data, Excel Data Tables and Lists, Excel Functions, Excel Training, Goal Seek in Excel, Import Data into Excel, Integrating MS Office Programs, Most Viewed Excel Videos, MS Excel Training, New in Excel 2007, Pivot Tables, Podcast Tips & Timesavers, Powerpoint Techniques, Presentations, Public Speaking, What-if Analysis Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
July 9, 2010 Leave a Comment

Use Excel’s Goal Seek to Find Formula Error

A viewer wrote me seeking help with a formula. He was calculating a monthly payment for a loan using Excel’s PMT() Function and he was surprised at the result of the formula. I reviewed his formula and discovered that it was not a “formula problem.” Rather, it was a “results problem!” Watch this short video to see how I solved this problem for my viewer by using Excel’s “Goal Seek” tool. So now, instead of a monthly payment of $10,666.67, the result is $501.38 – a very different result!

You can download this video – for free – here on my website. Just click the button below the video image.

You can also subscribe to my Podcast, “Danny Rocks Tips and Timesavers” at the iTunes Store.

You can “Master Excel in Minutes – Not Months!”

Use Goal Seek to Find Formula Error Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (755)
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Filed Under: Excel Formulas, Excel Functions, Excel Training, Goal Seek in Excel, Podcast Tips & Timesavers, What-if Analysis Tagged: , , , , , , ,
June 7, 2009 2 Comments

My New DVD – The 50 Best Tips for MS Excel 2007 is now on sale

50 Best Tips fo MS Excel

New! Now available from the online store at www.thecompanyrocks.com

Do you ever have one of those “A-ha” moments? You know – those moments when everything falls into place. When everything becomes crystal clear. When you finally “get it!”

Well, here is your opportunity to experience 50  “A-ha” moments. Here is a great way for you to learn “The 50 Best TIps, Tricks, and Techniques for Microsoft Excel 2007.”

I spent almost three months filming these short Excel training videos. I worked hard to create this DVD in order to make it easy for you to learn how to remain productive at work while learning to use the new Excel 2007 interface.

And, the Excel 2007 interface is really quite different.

So different, that many long-time Excel users just give up on it and return to the tried and true Excel 2003 program.

And that is too bad. Because, Excel 2007 allows you to perform so many business tasks faster and better. But … first, you must get over “the initial learning curve” to understand how to navigate in Excel 2007.

This DVD makes it easy for you to learn how to use Microsoft Excel 2007 – guaranteed!

In selecting the 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007, I wanted to include tricks that all Excel users could put to use – now! I include tips at the Introductory, Intermediate and Advanced levels.

Each lesson is short – five to six minutes on average – and focused on just one topic. Each lesson on the DVD is self-contained – I teach you how to solve one problem per lesson.Overall, the DVD contains 5 1/2 hours of training on Excel 2007!

This DVD is available exclusively from the SkillPath Seminars bookstore. They are offering it for sale at the introductory price of $49.95 Here is a link to the demonstration / order now page.

I am proud of this product. I know that you will gain some new insights into how to get the most out of Excel 2007. I welcome  your feedback. Please drop me a note  – danny@thecompanyrocks.com Or … add your comments below for all readers to share.

Thank you for your support!

Danny Rocks

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Filed Under: Excel Training, MS Excel 2007 DVD, Online Store for The Company Rocks Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
March 29, 2009 Leave a Comment

How to Create Scenarios in Excel

Scenarios are part of Excel’s “What-If” Analysis tool set – aka Data Analysis. Use Scenarios when you need to know what the result will be when you change one or more variables in one or more  situations (scenarios).

Frequently, I create Scenarios to define  a “Good, Better, Best” or “Worst Case, Best Case, Case Most Likely” outcome.

In this short Excel Training Video, I demonstrate how to create, edit,  and report four Scenarios for a Monthly Office Expense Budget.

These are the steps used in this Excel Video Lesson:

  • Create (or open) an Excel worksheet that contains a formula. Identify the formula and the precedent  cells that feed into the formula.
  • Select the “target cell” – the cell that contains the formula whose result will change with each Scenario.
  • Choose TOOLS – SCENARIOS and follow the directions in the Create Scenario dialog box.
  • First, click ADD. Name the Scenario. Click OK. Confirm that you have selected the “Target Cell” and then click / type in the “Changing cells.” The Changing cells should be either direct or indirect precedents to the Target cell formula. Click Add. Add additional Scenarios as desired.
  • Click on the name of your Scenario and select SHOW to display the changing cell values and the new result in your target cell.
  • If you wish, choose SUMMARY to create a summary report in a separate worksheet.
  • I strongly recommend that you create named cells and use them in the formulas and changing cells of your Scenario.

NEW! Download the Excel Practice file used in this lesson:

Use my Index to search for the free Excel Training Video that you want to view.

New! Danny’s DVD Training Series, “The 50 Best Tips …” is now available at the online store for The Company Rocks

Related Videos

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Filed Under: Excel Training, MS Excel Training, What-if Analysis Tagged: , , , , , , ,
October 24, 2008 1 Comment

Click & Drag a Data Series to Goal Seek in Excel

Did you know that you can click on a Data Series in an Excel Chart and “drag it to reach a new value?” You can!

Changing the data value in your chart brings up the Goal Seek Dialog Box. Now, it is a simple matter to confirm your new value and tell Excel which cell reference to change in your formula. Instantly, your chart redraws and your data and formula are updated with the substitute value – and your NEW GOAL!

Here are the steps to follow in this Excel Video Lesson:

  1. I use the =FV() Function to show the future value of my investment for each year that we invest. The =FV() Function requires a “fixed” interest rate and a constant investment value contributed each period.
  2. I inserted a “Line” type chart onto my worksheet – i.e. I “embedded” the chart on the sheet.
  3. I used a “Custom Format” on the Value Axis for our numbers (#,##0,K) to show the numbers as thousands ($80K)
  4. For this chart, I also changed the “Maximum Value” of the Value Series by typing in a new (higher) number.
  5. To reach a “new goal” on our chart, first click to select the data series. Then click again and drag the data line to a new point on the chart.
  6. This brings up the “Goal Seek” Dialog Box. Edit your new goal if necessary. Then click on the cell that you want to change in order reach your goal. That cell must be referenced in your formula. The chart redraws and your formula results are updated.

Find the Excel Video Lesson that you want – Index of all Excel Topics

News! My DVD, “The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007” is now available to purchase. I invite you to visit my online bookstore for more details.

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Filed Under: Excel Charts, Excel Functions, Excel Training, What-if Analysis Tagged: , , , , ,
August 1, 2008 4 Comments

Goal Seek to optimize the results of the =PMT() function

Here are the steps to follow in this video lesson:

  1. Calculate your monthly payment on a loan using =PMT() function
  2. =PMT() requires three arguments: “Interest Rate” / # of payments per year, “# of payments” over the course of your loan, the “Amount Borrowed.”
  3. For Goal Seek: Select the cell that contains your formula and then choose Tools – Goal Seek.
  4. In the “To Value:” box type in your GOAL – e.g. The amount that you want your =PMT() to return.
  5. In the “By Changing Cell:” select a cell that is referenced in your =PMT() formula.

Find the video lesson that you want – Index to all Excel Video Lessons

“The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007” DVD is now available to purchase. I invite you to visit my online bookstore for more details.

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Filed Under: Excel Functions, Excel Training, Tips and Time Savers Tagged: , , , , ,