Microsoft Excel
Tips and tricks
Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
Microsoft Excel
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Equations and formulas
Ranges
Absolute and relative addresses
Reorder information
Format cells
Repeat headings on printouts
Transpose data
Charts
Paul Mundy, www.mamud.com
Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
Calculate equations
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Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
Equations begin with =
=99/11 gives 9
=B2/C2 gives 9
=B2+C2 gives 110
=B2-C2 gives 88
=B2*C2 gives 1089
Calculate sums and averages
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Enter equation here
Cell B5: =sum(b2:b4)
gives 8099
Useful functions:
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Range of cells:
B2 to B4 = B2:B4
Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
=sum()
=average()
=count()
Named ranges
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To name a range, select
the cell(s), then Insert >
Name > Define
Use range names in
equations
Example
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Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
C2 (=15) is named price
C3 (=200) is named quantity
Cell C4: =price*quantity gives
3000
Use ranges in calculations
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Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
Cells B2 to B4 are
named production
Cell B5:
=sum(production) gives
8099
Relative cell addresses
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Create a formula in
cell B5: =sum(B2:B4)
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Copy the formula to
cell C5. It changes
automatically to
=sum(C2:C4)
The addresses C2 and
C4 are relative cell
addresses
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Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
Relative cell addresses
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Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
Cell C2: =B2/C7
gives $3.33
Copying the formula
to cell C3 gives
=B3/C8
But C8 = 0, so C3
gives an error
This is because the
formula uses relative
addresses
Absolute cell addresses
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Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
Use an absolute
address instead, like
this: $C$7
Absolute addresses
are fixed. They can
be moved or copied,
and will not change
Absolute, relative and mixed addresses
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Relative address: C7
Absolute address: $C$7
Mixed addresses:
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$C7 (column absolute, row relative)
C$7 (column relative, row absolute)
To toggle through relative, absolute and
mixed addresses, select the address and
press F4
Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
Reorder data
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Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
Select the data to
sort
Data > Sort >
Select the field(s)
to sort on
Click OK
Format cells
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Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
Cells formatted as
Date
Format > Cells >
Number > Date
Format cells
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Cells formatted as Date
Format > Cells > Number >
Date
Custom formatting
 Format > Cells > Number >
Custom:
 d mmm yyyy = 1 Jan 2004
 dd mmmm = 01 January
Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
Format cells
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Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
=WEEKDAY()
function, formatted as
ddd
Text alignment
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Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
Text aligned
right
Aligned to
top
Wrapped
within cell
Repeat headings on printouts
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Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
File > Page
Setup > Sheet >
Rows to repeat at
top
Select rows to
repeat
Transpose data
To replace columns with
rows
 Select the whole table
 Edit > Copy
 Click in an empty cell
 Edit > Paste Special >
Transpose > OK
Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
Charts
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Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
Select data
Insert > Chart
Select type of
chart
Format chart as
needed