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Archives for September 2010

September 12, 2010 Leave a Comment

Prevent Duplicate Cell Entries with Excel Data Validation

Unfortunately, it is much too easy for a data entry clerk to assign duplicate account numbers. And this is a disaster waiting to happen. To prevent this from happening, use Excel’s Data Validation tool. In this short video lesson, I show you how to use the =COUNTIF() function in the Data Validation dialog box to ensure that only unique account numbers can be assigned to your customers.

I also show you how to extend the range of cells that contain this data validation rule: You use the Paste Special – Validation command.

This is one of “The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007.” Click here to purchase the DVD using my secure shopping cart.

Learn how to “Master Excel in Minutes – Not Months!”

Use Data Validation to Prevent Duplicate Entries [ 5:38 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (761)
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Filed Under: COUNTIF and SUMIF Functions, Excel Training, Podcast Tips & Timesavers Tagged: , , , , , ,
September 6, 2010 Leave a Comment

Watch My Podcast on iTunes

View in iTunes

Tips and Timesavers Podcast

I have just uploaded my 25th video podcast to the iTunes Store. The “Danny Rocks Tips and Timesavers” podcast can be viewed or downloaded for free. Click here to go to my podcast. Or, if you wish, you can copy and paste this link to do this later:

http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/danny-rocks-excel-tips/id374923275

I am pleased to report that I am presently getting over 100 downloads per day for my videos. Thank you!

On average, I upload two new videos per week. The majority of my videos demonstrate tips for getting the most out of MS Office programs (Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) I also include video tips for running productive meetings, setting goals, and other topics related to Business Communications.

Besides viewing my videos on iTunes, you can automatically receive my latest vides by subscribing to my RSS Feed. Simply click one of the RSS Feed buttons here on this post or at the top right corner of my web pages. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is free and you do not need to provide any personal information except, of course, your e-mail address. If you have never used RSS, I encourage you to give it a try. Let me know what you think of it.

I always welcome your comments, thoughts and suggestions. And, if you enjoy my videos, please forward this post to a friend or colleague.

Sincerely,

Danny Rocks

P.S. You can Learn How to “Master Excel in Minutes – Not Months!” Click this link to get more  information.

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Filed Under: Business Communications, Communications, Excel Training, How to Lead Effective Meetings, MS PowerPoint 2007, Podcast Tips & Timesavers, Powerpoint Techniques, PowerPoint Video Training, Tips and Time Savers, Video Training Courses Tagged: , , ,
September 6, 2010 2 Comments

How Do You Respond When Equipment Fails During a Presentation?

Equipment will fail. Your Laptop will display the “Blue Screen of Death.” The Bulb in your Projector will suddenly “Pop!” You will:

  • Forget to pack your Power Cord
  • Bring the wrong PowerPoint Presentation
  • Trip over a Power Cord and …

It is not a question of IF; it is a question of WHEN. When your equipment fails, how will you respond? What will you do? How will you recover?

This question was posed on one of the LinkedIn Groups that I belong to – “Great Communicators! Effective Presenting & PowerPoint.” I posted my thoughts – including my own list of what to bring whenever I travel to make a presentation. Geetesh Bajaj, a Microsoft MVP for PowerPoint liked my response and he turned it into an article on his blog. Click here to read the article and to see my list of “essentials to pack” for your next presentation.

Prepare your presentation. Prepare yourself. Prepare your recovery from an equipment failure. Expect the unexpected!

Please let me know what you have done – or wish that you had done – when your equipment fails during a presentation or a training session. Feel free to share a “war story” or two about what happened to you or that you saw happen during a presentation.

This article is published by EzineArticles – Click here to read or download it.

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Filed Under: Business Communications, Communications, Excel Training, MS PowerPoint, PowerPoint, Speaking Tagged: , , ,
September 5, 2010 1 Comment

Quickly Create a Series of Dates in Excel

In this lesson, I demonstrate two approaches to creating a series of dates in Excel:

  1. Use Excel’s AutoFill Options to drag your mouse to fill in the series. Be sure to use the “AutoFill Options” button when you release your mouse.
  2. Use an Excel Formula to increment the series of dates (by day, week, month, year, or even weekday.) This approach gives you the most flexibility if you will use a different starting date on copies of your worksheet.

I devote several lessons to Excel date formulas and date formatting on my DVD, “The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007.” Click here to add it to your shopping cart.

Lear how you can “Master Excel in Minutes – Not Months!”

Quickly Create a Series of Dates in Excel [ 5:41 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2096)
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Filed Under: Excel Date and Time Functions, Excel Training, MS Excel Tips, Podcast Tips & Timesavers, Video Training Courses Tagged: , , , , ,
September 3, 2010 1 Comment

Use Excel’s Text-to-Columns Tool to Quickly Correct Date Entries

The Text-to-Columns tool in Excel is one of my favorites. I use it to quickly “parse” text elements in a cell. For example, to separate “First Name” from Last Name in a cell that contains the “Full Name” entry.

In this short – 3 minute, 23 seconds – video, I demonstrate another way to use Text-to-Columns. I show you how to separate the “Year,” the “Month” and the “Day.” A client called me in a panic – they downloaded daily transactions from their mainframe computer into Excel. However, the “dates” appeared as – e.g. 20100901 – and they could not find a way to format the dates as – e.g. 9/1/2010

Learn how to “Master Excel in Minutes – Not Months!”

Use Excel Text-to-Column Tool to Correct Date Entries [ 3:23 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (829)
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Filed Under: Excel Functions, Excel Training, MS Excel Tips, Podcast Tips & Timesavers, Text Functions Tagged: , , ,
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