Calculating an Average within a Date Range

Need to find an average of the values that fall within a date range? Excel provides a number of ways you can do this, relying on a number of worksheet functions.

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(Thanks to Steve Aprahamian, Andrew Gray, Tony Greaves, John Vander Linden, Andrija Vrcan, Jim Williams, Bob Myers, Michael Avidan (MVP), Steve Peterson, Dave Towne, Wayne Edmondson, Phil Webb, Alec Whatmough, Jacques Raubenheimer, Henry Arthur, Fred van der Meulen, and James Hoyt for contributing to this tip.)

Automatically Breaking Text

Want to convert the text in a cell so that it wraps after every word? You could edit the cell and press Alt+Enter after each word, but there's an easier way using a formula.

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Finding Wayward Links

Combining workbooks that have cross-links to each other can offer some special challenges. This tip examines how you can get around those challenges.

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Reading Values from Graphs

Adding a trendline to a graph will allow you to see trends a bit easier, depending on your data. You can even utilize an option that allows you to see what formula Excel uses to create the trendline from your graph's values.

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Using Strong Workbook Protection

Need to protect the data in your workbook so that others can't get at it? Here are some ideas on how you can approach the problem.

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Adding Buttons to Your Worksheet

You can easily add a button to your worksheet that will allow you to run various macros. This tip shows how easy it is.

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This section is for those having problems making Excel behave. If Excel is giving you fits, feel free to submit your own Help Wanted question.

If you have a solution for the problems below, click the link after the problem to send us your answer. (All responses become the sole property of Sharon Parq Associates, Inc., and can be used in any way deemed appropriate.) If your response is used in a future issue, you will be credited for your contribution to the answer.

Generating Random Strings

I have a need to generate random 15- and 20-character strings, and thought I might be able to do it in Excel. The strings can contain letters and digits, with no spaces. I know about the RANDBETWEEN function, but don't really see how it could be helpful for my purposes.
—Richard Clark (provide an answer for this Help Wanted question)