Monday, May 28, 2012

Excel Formula Auto Complete Feature

Auto Complete feature is a useful one that is a great help when you develop spreadsheets. Select the cell that you want to put the function and start with an equal sign "=" and the first letter of the function. Excel automatically opens up a drop-down list that show all the possible functions that begin with the letter you typed.  There is also a Screen Tip with a short explanation for the function.



You can use the arrow keys to select the function that you want to input and press Tab or double click to insert the function.

How to Create a Chart with a Dynamic Title in Excel 2010

Say you created a chart that tells something about your data visually. But you want your chart title to change when your data changes or you want your title to be assigned from a cell. In this post, we will go through how to create a dynamic chart title in Excel 2010.

1. Select the range of cells that you want to use in your chart. Go to Insert / Line / Line Chart. This will automatically use your data and create a line chart.


2. Select your chart and go to Chart Tools / Layout / Chart Title / Above Chart to add a title to your chart.


3. First select your chart and then your title and go to the formula bar and enter "=" equal sign and  address the cell that contains the title. This will change the title to the value of the cell you pointed. 


4. The output will look like the picture below.


Sunday, May 27, 2012

How to Convert Formulas to Values in Excel

Sometimes you want your cells to have just the values instead of the formulas. In this post, we will learn how to copy the values, remove formulas and paste just the values into cells. Here is how to convert formulas to their current values.

1. Select the range of cells consisting formulas that you want to copy the values from. 

2. Use the keyboard shortcut key ( CTRL + C ) or the copy button as you see in the picture below to copy the information.


3. Right click on the cells that you want to paste that information and select Paste / Special Values. 


Each of the formula you selected and pasted is replaced with the latest values. The cells will no longer be able to perform the equations

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Excel Shortcut Keys

Excel has shortcut keys that will speed up the way you use it. Even if you use a few of them, they will make you look like an Excel master. You will save time and people will be amazed to see the speed you work on Excel. So go ahead, try to memorize the ones that you will use most. 




CTRL+PgUp Switches between worksheet tabs, from left-to-right.
CTRL+PgDn Switches between worksheet tabs, from right-to-left.
CTRL+SHIFT+( Unhides any hidden rows within the selection.
CTRL+SHIFT+)
Unhides any hidden columns within the selection.
CTRL+SHIFT+&
Applies the outline border to the selected cells.
CTRL+SHIFT_
Removes the outline border from the selected cells.
CTRL+SHIFT+~
Applies the General number format.
CTRL+SHIFT+$
Applies the Currency format with two decimal places (negative numbers in parentheses).
CTRL+SHIFT+%
Applies the Percentage format with no decimal places.
CTRL+SHIFT+^
Applies the Exponential number format with two decimal places.
CTRL+SHIFT+#
Applies the Date format with the day, month, and year.
CTRL+SHIFT+@
Applies the Time format with the hour and minute, and AM or PM.
CTRL+SHIFT+!
Applies the Number format with two decimal places, thousands separator, and minus sign (-) for negative values.
CTRL+SHIFT+*
Selects the current region around the active cell (the data area enclosed by blank rows and blank columns).
In a PivotTable, it selects the entire PivotTable report.
CTRL+SHIFT+:
Enters the current time.
CTRL+SHIFT+"
Copies the value from the cell above the active cell into the cell or the Formula Bar.
CTRL+SHIFT+Plus (+)
Displays the Insert dialog box to insert blank cells.
CTRL+Minus (-)
Displays the Delete dialog box to delete the selected cells.
CTRL+;
Enters the current date.
CTRL+`
Alternates between displaying cell values and displaying formulas in the worksheet.
CTRL+'
Copies a formula from the cell above the active cell into the cell or the Formula Bar.
CTRL+1
Displays the Format Cells dialog box.
CTRL+2
Applies or removes bold formatting.
CTRL+3
Applies or removes italic formatting.
CTRL+4
Applies or removes underlining.
CTRL+5
Applies or removes strikethrough.
CTRL+6
Alternates between hiding objects, displaying objects, and displaying placeholders for objects.
CTRL+8
Displays or hides the outline symbols.
CTRL+9
Hides the selected rows.
CTRL+0
Hides the selected columns.
CTRL+A
Selects the entire worksheet.
If the worksheet contains data, CTRL+A selects the current region. Pressing CTRL+A a second time selects the current region and its summary rows. Pressing CTRL+A a third time selects the entire worksheet.
When the insertion point is to the right of a function name in a formula, displays the Function Arguments dialog box.
CTRL+SHIFT+A inserts the argument names and parentheses when the insertion point is to the right of a function name in a formula.
CTRL+B
Applies or removes bold formatting.
CTRL+C
Copies the selected cells.
CTRL+C followed by another CTRL+C displays the Clipboard.
CTRL+D
Uses the Fill Down command to copy the contents and format of the topmost cell of a selected range into the cells below.
CTRL+F
Displays the Find and Replace dialog box, with the Find tab selected.
SHIFT+F5 also displays this tab, while SHIFT+F4 repeats the lastFind action.
CTRL+SHIFT+F opens the Format Cells dialog box with the Fonttab selected.
CTRL+G
Displays the Go To dialog box.
F5 also displays this dialog box.
CTRL+H
Displays the Find and Replace dialog box, with the Replace tab selected.
CTRL+I
Applies or removes italic formatting.
CTRL+K
Displays the Insert Hyperlink dialog box for new hyperlinks or theEdit Hyperlink dialog box for selected existing hyperlinks.
CTRL+N
Creates a new, blank workbook.
CTRL+O
Displays the Open dialog box to open or find a file.
CTRL+SHIFT+O selects all cells that contain comments.
CTRL+P
Displays the Print dialog box.
CTRL+SHIFT+P opens the Format Cells dialog box with the Fonttab selected.
CTRL+R
Uses the Fill Right command to copy the contents and format of the leftmost cell of a selected range into the cells to the right.
CTRL+S
Saves the active file with its current file name, location, and file format.
CTRL+T
Displays the Create Table dialog box.
CTRL+U
Applies or removes underlining.
CTRL+SHIFT+U switches between expanding and collapsing of the formula bar.
CTRL+V
Inserts the contents of the Clipboard at the insertion point and replaces any selection. Available only after you have cut or copied an object, text, or cell contents.
CTRL+ALT+V displays the Paste Special dialog box. Available only after you have cut or copied an object, text, or cell contents on a worksheet or in another program.
CTRL+W
Closes the selected workbook window.
CTRL+X
Cuts the selected cells.
CTRL+Y
Repeats the last command or action, if possible.
CTRL+Z
Uses the Undo command to reverse the last command or to delete the last entry that you typed.
CTRL+SHIFT+Z uses the Undo or Redo command to reverse or restore the last automatic correction when AutoCorrect Smart Tags are displayed.
Reference: office.microsoft.com