Going Crazy Crunching Numbers

Years ago, my job required "crunching numbers" in spreadsheets. It was tedious work, and it drove me crazy. Once I discovered how to work with macros, though, my entire outlook changed and I was able to whip through the tasks I needed to do in Excel every week. I told the story of how I was able to transform my use of Excel and the trajectory of my career in a short four-minute video you can find on YouTube.

This past Wednesday morning I threw open the doors to my Excel Macros Master Class courses and started accepting students. I only open the doors a couple of times each year. The last time I did so for the Beginning Excel Macros Master Class was six months ago. It was even longer for the Advanced Excel Macros Master Class; the last time I accepted students for that course was two years ago!

Regardless of what you know or don't know about using macros in Excel, there's a good chance that my newly updated courses can help you take your use of Excel to the next level. Through the course's great video sessions (over 24 hours worth!) and supplemental materials, you'll develop a firm grasp on the skills you need.

If you haven't checked out the courses yet, I invite you to do so. Plus, right now you can register for any course and any version at 20% off the regular price. This is a limited offer, though. You'll want to act soon so you don't miss out. You'll find complete details here:

    MacrosMasterClass.com

I hope you have a great day and that you enjoy the tips in this week's newsletter!

—Allen
     

ExcelTips (ribbon) for 6 August 2022
Comments
Changing the Comment Font

When you add a comment to a worksheet, Excel uses a default font and size for the text. If you want to make changes to that default font, it is more complicated than you might imagine.

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(Thanks to Steve Aprahamian, Claire Reynolds, Michael Avidan (MVP), Vincent Lord, Lou Mutt, and Becky Walton for contributing to this tip.)

 
Conditional formatting
Turning a Cell Red when a Threshold is Exceeded

Excel provides a great conditional formatting capability that allows you to change how a cell appears based on critiera you specify. It can be a bit confusing, however, to set up conditional formatting rules when dates or times are involved. This tip looks at how you can successfully set up a rule based on a number of accrued hours when compared to a threshold.

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Lookup Exactly the Data You Want

Excel's lookup functions are easily the most powerful worksheet functions you can use. Master these seven functions you'll never again view a worksheet full of data in the same way. The power these functions provide you is anything but small. Take your first step today!

 
Editing
Undoing an Edit

We all make mistakes. Fortunately, Excel makes it rather easy to undo your makes, right after you make them.

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Cell formatting
Creating a Center Across Selection Button

The ability to center text across a range of cells has long been a staple of experienced Excel users. Here's how to create a tool that can handle this type of formatting for you.

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Excel can calculate date in lightening time
Thoughts and Ideas on Significant Digits in Excel

Ruminations and reflections about significant digits in Excel. Includes examples of how significant digits can affect the outcome of various functions and formulas.

Read this tip »

 
Find and Replace
Using Find and Replace to Pre-Pend Characters

Need to add some characters to the beginning of the contents in a range of cells? It's not as easy as you might hope, but here are some great ideas.

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Help Wanted

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.

 
Taking Bold Text into Account in a Sort

I have a huge list of book titles in column A. Some of the book titles are in bold, but most are regular. If I sort the list, I would like the bold titles to be sorted as a group first, followed by the non-bold titles. Can the "bold/not bold" status of a cell be factored into a sort?
—Lana Bibbee (provide an answer for this Help Wanted question)

 
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