Excel Formulas, Macros & More

What does the Textbook cover? External Links 3D References Consolidation tool Vlookup / Index / Match / Misc. formula tips Worksheet Protection Data Validation Macros Sparklines / Forecasts / Goal Seek / Scenario Manager Variable Data Tables We will NOT be able to cover all topics today: you are strongly encouraged to explore the textbook on your own after class!

Which of the following can be typed in a cell without error? =SUM(A1:C1) =SUM(A1,B1,C1) =A1+B1+C1 =C10>A5

Dates and numbers What formula would you put in Column B to return 30 days after the hire date? 1/1/1900 = 1

Formula copying – Review/relative references The formula in Cell B4 calculated the number of days between 3/13/2013 (Cell C1) and the hire date (B4) Can this formula be copied down the page as is? Why or why not? How would we do this?

Ab$olute References The dollar signs around the cell creates an “Absolute Reference” preventing the change of the cells when the formula is copied. The F4 function key will cycle through the absolute options – position cursor in the formula bar on the cell reference to be changed and then press F4

Definitions – Match them Up =65 * $B$2 =SUM(A1:A100) =NOW() =AVERAGE(Table1[Qty in stock]) =Sheet10!B5*20 A function formula with no arguments A mathematical expression (all values on same worksheet) with an absolute reference A function formula with arguments A structured reference / data table formula A mathematical expression referencing a different worksheet than the one it is on

Review Lessons 1-3 Several other coworkers use this file on occasion. You open the file and notice that the first two sheets appear highlighted. What is this? Is it important that you understand what is going on? Cell B1 is the formula shown above. What happens if you move the North worksheet tab after the East tab?

Review Lessons 1-3 You inherit a file from a coworker and see formulas you aren’t familiar with. The Average one is a piece of cake – but AverageIf? Countif? And what’s that ampersand doing? How would you figure out what these formulas do?

Review – Lessons 1-3, continued Will this Vlookup formula work to return the Key for Item #3?

Review – Lessons 1-3, continued Will these Vlookup formulas work to return the achievement level for the number in E3?

Review, continued (answers to previous) No – FALSE in the third argument requires an exact match No – When the third argument is true, the first column in the lookup data must be sorted

Review - Lessons 1-3, continued What do these symbols on the spreadsheet represent? When might you use the F5 function key? (or its alternative, CTRL G Enter)

Review – Lessons 1-3, continued You open this file and make some changes to the data. As you update sales numbers, the Commission in Cell C11 changes. You are curious what formula is used, so you click on Cell C11, but the formula bar is empty! You try to change the cell but can’t, receiving a message that the cell is on a protected sheet. How can the number in C11 change as data is updated if there is no formula in the formula bar?

New Tip! Another use for that F5 key Pretend we have hundreds of rows of sales data as shown. You have been asked to replace all the blank cells with a zero F5 (Or Home, Go To) Special Blanks Enter zero Press CTRL ENTER

Review - Lessons 4-6 What feature would you use in Excel to force a user to always enter whole numbers in these cells?

Review - Lessons 4-6 What if you wanted the user to be able to enter decimals, but to receive a warning that it is probably an error?

Review - Lessons 4-6, continued Every Friday you receive a file from a customer that needs to be reformatted. You realize this is a good candidate for a macro. Which of the following would you use? What is wrong with the ones you would not use?

Review - Lessons 4-6, continued You created a macro that is in your Personal Macro Workbook that you use frequently. A coworker wants to have the same macro on their computer. You copied and pasted the code into an email and told the user how to put it in their Personal Macro Workbook using the VBE code window and project explorer. They tell you they don’t have a Personal Macro Workbook. How can that be?

Review Lessons 4-6, continued When surfing the net looking for snippets of VBA code that will perform a specific task, you find exactly what you are looking for. The code isn’t given on the site – but you can download a file that already has the code in it. Should you? How might you safely do this?

Review – Lessons 4-6, continued You suspect the macro recorder MIGHT work for a task you do all the time, but you do not know for sure. What should you do? Make a copy of the file, record the macro, then test it: the worst that can happen is you’ll get an error message Make a copy of the file, record the macro, and wait until someone with more experience checks the code before testing it The first one is the correct answer!

Review Lessons 4-6, continued Look at the completed file for Activity 5-1 You want the Pennsylvania and New Jersey consistent growth to stand out How can you make the Sparklines for just those two states a different color and wider?