Inserting a drop-down list to a cell is a slick way to add a touch of professionalism to your worksheets – and also ensure that erroneous data is not entered into the cell. Best of all, macros are not required. For a simple example, let’s say you have an input cell in which the user is supposed to enter a month name: January, February, and so on.

• Enter the items for your drop-down list into a list on the worksheet, one item per cell. In this example, we’ll assume the month names start in cell E1 and extend down to E12, but they can be in any out-of-the-way location on the worksheet.
• Select the cell that is to contain the drop-down list. If you’d like more than one cell to display the same list, select them all now rather than setting them up one at a time.
• Choose Data/Validation to display the Data Validation dialog bo ... Read More »

When worksheets are wide, it is often helpful to shade every other row to help the eye track across the page, particularly when the worksheet is printed. This can be easily accomplished by using the not very well known Modulus function. Here’s how to do it:

• Highlight the range of cells you want to format
• Choose Format/Conditional Formatting to display the Conditional Formatting dialog box
• Select Formula Is from the first drop-down list box, and enter =MOD(Row(),2)=0 in the second box. In this expression, the Row() function will return the row number, and then the MOD() function will return the remainder when this Row Number is divided by the second argument of the function, in this case, 2. Setting that equal to zero will cause this function to be ... Read More »

Is there a way in Word & Excel to set the print icon on the toolbar to prompt the print range, so one can pick current page when needed? Otherwise, I have to go to File then Print to make that selection.

When you click the Print button (tool) on the standard toolbar in Word or Excel, it sends the open document (or workbook) directly to the printer. If you are asking whether you can customize the button so that it opens the Print dialog(window) so that you can pick what you want to print, the answer is yes! What you need to do is to add a new Print button to the toolbar.

From your menu (in Word or Excel) select View | Toolbars | Customize. In the Customize window, click the Commands tab. Now choose File from the Categories list. Scroll through the commands on the right side of the window, and you will eventually see two print buttons. One of the buttons is the one already on the standard too ... Read More »

You want to do math in Excel, and your only choice is to write formulas, right?  Wrong!  Get familiar with Excel’s Paste Function dialog box, and learn how to perform a variety of basic math functions without a single formula.

Let’s say you have a worksheet that lists all your products and their current prices.  You’ve just been told to increase all the prices by 5%.  You could create some basic formulas to do the math, then convert the formulas to values, and then copy and paste these new values over the old ones.  Or, you could use this more efficient method:

• Enter 1.05 into any blank cell.  This is the “multiplier” that will increase the prices by 5%.
• Select the cell you used, and Copy it.
• Select the range of values to be changed, an ... Read More »

A common need in Crystal Reports is to combine or “concatenate” text strings so that the extra empty space between the data elements is eliminated, such as when first and last names need to be put back together with a single space between them, or when City, State and Zip Code need to be correctly combined in an address listing.

This has been traditionally accomplished by writing a formula in which the concatenation is done, and then displaying this formula field.  It is easier than that, usually, to use the power of a CR Text Object to do the work.  Here’s how to do it:

1. Insert a Text Object (the “AB” tool from the Insert toolbar) into the report where you want the text to appear.
2. You can then either type literal text or add fields into this Text Object.  Let’s presume the goal is to combine City, State and Zip.
   Read More »

We Worker Daily has a great article on making the most of Microsoft Outlook.  Tips include viewing multiple weeks on the calendar, how to add a reminder on a message, how to find related messages and how to quickly add a email address to contacts. 

http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/01/making-the-most-of-ms-outlook/

A password is the first line of defense against intruders to your computer systems. Here are some tips to insure that you have a password that makes it more difficult for hackers to break into your system. Read More »

Google Maps now allows you to easily change the route that it generates by clicking and dragging. Read More »

Web site TechTarget compiled the cheat sheet of all cheat sheets . It's chocked full of references to other cheat sheets with topics ranging from Microsoft Office, internet slang, and programming to search engines, operating systems, browser shortcuts, and blogging. Read More »