No matter if India lost another one.... here is another excel tip

Cell Function


This function examines a cell and displays information about the contents, position and formatting.

=CELL("TypeOfInfoRequired",CellToTest)
The TypeOfInfoRequired is a text entry which must be surrounded with quotes " ".


The following example uses the =CELL() function as part of a formula which extracts various information

Formula on request

I have been requested a formula, which checks the contents of column A, if it is a number and greater than 0, then number is to be multiplied by 100. If it is a number but is less than 0, the number is to be multiplied by 50. However if it is not a number but some text, text should appear as the result.

Here is it, Have written only single formula, which gives the desired result. Have a look!!!!!

Fill the empty cells below

I am sure you have faced a situation where the data has been copied out of a pivot table, which looks like this

Many a times there is a need that you fill up the empty cells under a section with the same values. Like in the above example you need ABC in row number 2 to 5 and BCD in row number 8 to 11. There are many ways to accomplish this, with Copy - paste, Ctrl + D, Using power utils add in to name a few.

There is a way using formulas and selecting visible cells. To use this way apply the formula in the first empty cell (A3 in our case). The formula should pick up the value from the cell above to it. In our case A3 should contain a formula "=A2".

Follow these steps to fill all the empty cells with the contents which appear once in the section.

1. Copy the cell in which the formula is applied.
2. Apply an auto filter on the same column. Select all the empty cells that come as a result.
3. Filter for the blank cells, press "Ctrl +G". From the Go To dialog box, click on "Special". From the "Go To Special: dialog box select "Visible Cells only" and then click "OK". This will leave only the empty cells which are below the section text.
4. Now paste the formula which you have copied. And all the empty cells will be filled with the section text. 

How to add a ± symbol?

Hello everyone.... I am back... Its been a long time and a lot has happened since June this year. But now I will make sure I am regular contributor :)

Will start with a very small post today. How to add a ± symbol in an excel cell.

Basically this is a symbol which we use in financial & statistical data. To add ± in any cell go to Insert Tab on the ribbon & then click on Symbol from the text group.

From the symbol window, you can select the plus minus symbol. You can find this symbol under the Latin -1 Supplement subset. Once you spot the symbol, select it and then click Insert.

Mini Toolbar

Excel 2007 adds a mini toolbar just above the menu which open when you right click on any cell. This mini toolbar draws useful commands from the Ribbon.

Automatic Calculations

By default an Excel sheet calculates the formula result automatically. This is indeed a great feature with the user only need to worry about the values in the cell, and any change in these values result in changes in the formula result  by its own.

How to remove Data Validations

There are multiple ways to do it and probably the simplest is to copy and paste an empty cell over the cell which contains the data validation. However if you just want to clear the data validation leaving the data & the format intact. Use the Clear All button on the Data Validation dialog box.

Difference between Excel 2003 & Excel 2007

How to remove duplicates

Lets start with the original data which contains the duplicate values. Similar to one shown below

First select the entire data including the header row.

Now go to the Remove Duplicate command which is available on the Data tab of the ribbon

Select the column header from which you want to remove the duplicates, then click ok.

That is it, the duplicates have been removed. You will be shown a message showing how many duplicates have been removed and how many unique values remain.

Excel 2007 - Filter / Sort by Color!!!!!

Now along with the normal text filtering you can filter by the cell or by the font colors as well. The filter by color option appears in the normal auto filter drop down.

It is as simple as single click....

Similar way even sorting can be done based upon the cell or the font color.

Quick Tip - Traffic Lights in Excel?

Traffic lights, yes the red, yellow & green lights can be created in our own excel as well. Excel 2007 has enhanced feature of conditional formatting, which not only fills the cell's background with a color but can also do a lot more.

Based upon a range of values you can show the Red, Yellow or Green indicators in the cell. To create Traffic light lets take this sample data

Step 1
Select the data and click on the Conditional Formatting drop down from the Styles group of the Home tab

Step 2
Select Icon Sets and then 3 Traffic Lights

If you want to change the conditions, select Manage Rule from the Conditional Formatting drop down.

Select the rule then click on Edit Rule. Change the conditions then click on Ok

You can also check the Show Icon only check box to see only the lights and not the data.

How to change the alignment in the Chart Axis

Many a times when you create a chart the horizontal axis get diagonally aligned by default. This happens to fit the contents in the chart window. If you are wondering what I am talking about, this is how it appears

To change the direction of the text follow these steps

Step 1: - Select the Axis from the chart

Step 2: - Choose the Orientation option on the Alignment group of the Home tab.

Depending upon the option you choose the direction of the text will be changed. In this case it will be rotated upwards like this.

Creating Hyperlinks

A hyperlink is a link from a document that opens another page or file when you click it. The destination is frequently another Web page, but it can also be a picture, or an e-mail address, or a program. The hyperlink itself can be text or a picture. Hyperlinks can be created to open a new document or any existing document using the following steps:

For the new Document

1. Right-click the cell or graphic you want to represent the hyperlink and then click Hyperlink on the shortcut menu. (or press Ctrl + K)
2. Under Link to on the left side of the dialog box, click Create new document.
3. Type a name for the new file in the Name of new document box.
4. To specify a location other than the one shown under Full Path, type the new location in the Name of new document box or click Change and then select the location you want. Click OK.
5. Under When to edit, click an option to specify whether to open the new file for editing now or later.
6. To assign a tip to be displayed when you rest the pointer on the hyperlink, click ScreenTip and then type the text you want in the ScreenTip text box. Click OK.

For any existing Document or a webpage

1. Right-click the text or graphic you want to represent the hyperlink and then click Hyperlink on the shortcut menu.  (or press Ctrl + K) 
2. Under Link to on the left side of the dialog box, click Existing File or Web page.
3. Do one of the following:
1. To select a file from the current folder, click Current Folder and then click the file you want to link to.
2. To select the Web page from a list of browsed pages, click Browsed Pages and then click the Web page you want to link to.
3. To select a file from a list of files you have recently used, click Recent Files and then click the file you want to link to.
4. If you know the name and location of the file or Web page you want to link to, you can type that information in the Address box.
5. To select the Web page by opening your browser and searching for the page, click Browse the Web, open the Web page you want to link to, and then switch back to Microsoft Excel without closing your browser.
4. To assign a tip to be displayed when you rest the pointer on the hyperlink, click ScreenTip and then type the text you want in the ScreenTip text box. Click OK.

Modifying Hyperlinks

1. Right-click the hyperlink you want to change and click Edit Hyperlink on the shortcut menu.
2. Make the changes you want.