May 2014

How to create a variable drop down list in Excel

Tuesday, May 27th, 2014

Written by Jane Hames

Creating a variable drop down down list using Indirect

During some advanced Excel training, I was asked how to create a variable drop down list in excel using a data validation list that changes depending on the value in a related cell. The reason for the question was so that estimators entering building supplies into a data list could enter the name of the material and then select from a list of quantities that that specific material can be ordered in. Always up for a challenge, I decided to use my creativity and I found a solution through the combined use of data validation and the indirect function.

Remove date formatting from cells in Excel

Monday, May 19th, 2014

Written by Jane Hames

How to fix numbers when they appear as a date in cells:

When a cell has been formatted as a date, that formatting will be remembered (unless you clear it). What this means is that even if you press delete on the keybaord to clear the contents of a cell, that does not remove formatting. This often presents itself as a problem when a date has been typed into a cell and then later on a number is entered into the cell. This is how to remove date formatting in Excel:

Excel Data Labels: How to add totals as labels to a stacked bar chart (pre-2013)

Wednesday, May 7th, 2014

Written by Jane Hames

On some recent Excel 2010 training a question came up about how can the totals be shown as data labels rather than as a bar in the chart. In pre-2013 versions this is not obvious and to begin with I was stumped, but (as is often the case with software use) a bit of creative thinking and trial and error, we came up with a solution. Here’s what we did: