How to use SUMIF in Excel

SUMIF formula is great for summarizing data in a large dataset. A better method to summarize the data is a pivot table. But if only a quick summary is required, SUMIF might be an easier method. Here is the dataset In a previous tutorial you can see how to do a pivot table of this 1464 row dataset and sum up all the sales by category and products. The SUMIF method Another way to obtain the same result as in the pivot table is to use a SUMIF function. For example, the SUMIF could summarize the sales for Broccoli...read more

How to find duplicates in Excel

Finding duplicates in Excel is a very common task when dealing with large sets of data. Excel has some very easy methods to remove or highlight duplicates. You can also use some functions to help you identify duplicates in your data. Case Study. Let's assume we have a list of the best movies in the decade of 2000s and we want to get a list of the Studios that produced them. The original list looks like this. As you can see, there are many duplicates in the list of studios. Just Warner Bros. Pictures alone had many movies in...read more

What is Excel VBA? A Beginner’s Guide to Macros and Automation

Excel VBA refers to Visual Basic for Applications, a programming language that helps automate tasks in Microsoft Excel. VBA is a powerful tool for creating macros and customizing Excel functionalities. Not only does it work in Excel, but it’s also compatible with other Office applications like Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint. What is VBA used for? Excel VBA is commonly used to automate repetitive tasks through macros. These macros can simplify tasks like data analysis, generating reports, or modifying large sets of data. If you’re new to VBA, don’t worry—you don’t need to be a programmer to get started, as...read more

How to create an Excel macro without coding – Excel macro tutorial

Excel macros sound scary but they don't have to be. You don't have to be a programmer to start with Excel macros. If you are not a programmer or don't even intend to be, this short and simple Excel macro tutorial is for you. You'll learn: how to get Excel to write some code for you how to review the written code how to launch a macro with a keyboard shortcut or a button how to launch a macro automatically when you need it (when the data changes) What are Excel macros Macros are programs that you can use...read more

How to start a macro with a button

In this tutorial you will learn how to create an Excel Macro Button. This is a follow up from creating a a macro tutorial. If you want to learn how to record a macro and have Excel write the code for you, click here. In the previous Case Study, we created a macro that sorts a list of names alphabetically. In order to start this macro, you can add a Macro Button. A button is just a shape. To start creating a button, start by creating a shape. Go to Insert - Shapes and choose a shape. As an...read more

How to start a macro when a worksheet changes

In this tutorial you will learn how to start a macro when a worksheet changes. This is a follow up tutorial from the creating a macro tutorial. In that tutorial, the goal was to have a macro that would sort records automatically when a new line was added. In order to run this macro automatically when the worksheet changes, you need to add the macro code in the "worksheet change" function. Excel has many automated functions that run based on events like before saving the workbook, when the workbook changes, etc. More details about these functions here in the...read more
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What is an Excel Workbook

If you're new to Microsoft Excel, you might hear the term "workbook" often. So, what exactly is an Excel workbook? Let’s break it down! Excel Workbook vs. Excel Worksheet At its core, an Excel workbook is like a binder, and each worksheet inside is like a page in that binder. You can think of a workbook as a collection of worksheets, all housed within one single file. Key Features: Workbook: The entire Excel file (.xlsx) that contains one or more worksheets. Worksheet: Also known as a “sheet,” this is a grid of cells where you can enter data, perform...read more

COUNT functions in Excel

There are a number of COUNT functions in Excel that you can use to count your records. Here are the most used ones: COUNT - count the number of cells in a range that contain numbers COUNTA - counts the number of cells in a range that are not empty COUNTBLANK - counts the number of cells in a range that are empty COUNTIF - counts the number of cells in a range that meet a condition COUNTIFS - counts the number of cells in a range that meet a set of conditions Let's get into the details COUNT...read more
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What is a worksheet

A worksheet is a tab inside a workbook in Excel. Think of it like a page in a notebook. Just as a notebook has many pages, an Excel workbook can have many worksheets, each used to store data and perform calculations. By default, a new workbook starts with one blank worksheet named "Sheet1" Adding More Worksheets To add more worksheets: Click the + icon next to the existing sheet tab (usually labeled "Sheet1"). Every time you click it, a new worksheet is created. Tip: You can have as many worksheets as you need within the same workbook. Each one...read more

How to use multiple conditions in the Excel IF function

If you want to use multiple conditions in an IF function in Excel, you have to use the AND or the OR function to evaluate all the conditions (two or more conditions). All conditions evaluated have to be TRUE to make the output of the AND function TRUE. Only one condition have to be TRUE to make the output of the OR function TRUE Example: =IF(AND(condition1,condition2,condition3), ValueIfTrue,ValueIfFalse) =IF(OR(condition1,condition2,condition3), ValueIfTrue,ValueIfFalse) AND and OR functions AND and OR are the logical function used in all programming languages. Here is how these functions work. The AND function AND (TRUE, TRUE) = TRUE...read more