Excel Tutorials for beginners, Intermediates and experts.
To quickly fill a range of cells with random numbers from a set of fixed options (i.e. 25,50,75,100), you can use a formula based on the CHOOSE and RANDBETWEEN functions. Formula =CHOOSE(RANDBETWEEN(1,4),num1,num2,num3,num4) Explanation In the example shown, the formula in B4 is: =CHOOSE(RANDBETWEEN(1,4),25,50,75,100) Which returns a random number from the numbers provided. How this formula …
To generate random integers between two numbers, you can use the RANDBETWEEN function. Formula =RANDBETWEEN(lower,upper) Explanation In the example shown, the formula in B5 is: =RANDBETWEEN(1,100) This formula is then copied down from B5 to B11. The result is random numbers between 1-100. Note that the RANDBETWEEN function will generate new numbers whenever a change …
To quickly fill a range of cells with random text values, you can use a formula based on the CHOOSE and RANDBETWEEN functions. Formula =CHOOSE(RANDBETWEEN(1,3),”Value1″,”Value2″,”Value3″) Note that RANDBETWEEN will calculate a new value whenever the worksheet is changed. Once you have values in the range, you may want to replace the formulas with values to …
To get a random value from a table or list in Excel, you can use the INDEX function with help from the RANDBETWEEN and ROWS functions. Formula =INDEX(data,RANDBETWEEN(1,ROWS(data)),1) Note: this formula uses the named range “data” (B5:E104) for readability and convenience. If you don’t want to use a named range, substitute $B$5:$E$104 instead. Explanation In …
To generate random times in at specific intervals you can use the RAND function with the FLOOR function. See example below: Formula =FLOOR(RAND(),”0:15″) Explanation In the example shown, the formula in B6 is: =FLOOR(RAND(),”0:15″) which generates a random time at a 15-minute interval. How this formula works The RAND function generates a decimal number between …
To generated a random number, weighted with a given probability, you can use a helper table together with a formula based on the RAND and MATCH functions. Formula =MATCH(RAND(),cumulative_probability) Explanation In the example shown, the formula in F5 is: =MATCH(RAND(),D$5:D$10) How this formula works This formula relies on the helper table visible in the range …
To generate random dates between two dates, you can use the RANDBETWEEN function, together with the DATE function. See example below: Formula =RANDBETWEEN(date1,date2) Explanation In the example shown, the formula in B5 is: =RANDBETWEEN(DATE(2016,1,1),DATE(2016,12,31)) This formula is then copied down from B5 to B11. The result is random dates between Jan 1, 2016 and Dec …
You can calculate a percent variance by subtracting the original number from the new number, then dividing that result by the original. For example, if the baseline number is 100, and the new number is 110: =(110-100)/100 This formula can be used to calculate things like variance between this year and last year, variance between …
If you need to decrease a number by a certain percentage, you can use a simple formula that multiplies the number times the percent – 1. Formula =number*(1-percent) Explanation In the example, the active cell contains this formula: =C6*(1-D6) In this case, Excel first calculates the result of 1 – the value in D6 (.2) …
If you have a total and a percentage that presents some amount of the total, you can calculate the amount represented by the percentage with a simple formula that multiples the total by the percentage. Formula = total * percent Explanation In the example, the active cell contains this formula: =C6*D6 To calculate the amount, …
To calculate the original number based on current value and known percentage change, you can use a simple formula that divides the current value by the percent plus 1. Formula =current/(percent+1) Explanation In the example, the active cell contains this formula: =C6/(B6+1) In this case, Excel first calculates the result of B6 + 1, then divides C6 by the …
If you have a discounted price and know the discount percentage, you can calculate the original price with a simple formula that divides the discounted price by the result of 1 minus the discount percentage. See example below: Formula =price/(1-discount) Explanation How the formula works In the example, the active cell contains this formula: =C6/(1-D6) …
If you need to calculate the percentage change between two values in Excel, you can use a formula that divides the change itself by the “old” value. A classic example would be to calculate the percentage between sales last month and sales this month. Formula =(new_value-old_value)/old_value Explanation In the example, the active cell contains this …
If you have a discounted price and an original price, and you want to know the discount as a percentage, you can calculate the percentage discount using a formula that divides the discounted price by the original price and then subtracts the result from one. Formula = 1-(discount_price/original_price) Explanation In the example, the active cell …
To calculate percent of a total (i.e. calculate a percent distribution), you can use a formula that simply divides an amount by the total. Formula =amount/total Explanation In the example shown, the formula in D6 is: =C6/$C$11 Note: the result is formatted with Percentage number format to show 25%, 10%, etc. How the formula works In the …
If you need to calculate a profit margin, you can easily do so with a simple formula that uses the sale price and the cost. Formula =(price-cost)/price Explanation In the example shown, the first formula looks like this: =(B4-C4)/B4 Make sure you use parentheses to control the order of operations. Note that the result will …
If you have an amount and the percentage that the amount represents of a total, you can calculate the total with a formula that simply divides the amount by the percentage. Formula = amount / percent Explanation In the example, the active cell contains this formula: =C6/D6 Excel simply divides the value in cell C6 …
If you need to increase a number by a certain percentage, you can use a simple formula that multiplies the number times the percent + 1. Formula =number*(1+percent) Explanation How this formula works In the example, the active cell contains this formula: =C6*(1+D6) In this case, Excel first calculates the result of 1 + the …
If you need to calculate percent of goal, you can do so with a simple formula that divides the actual by the goal amount, with the result formatted using the percentage number format. This same formula can be used to calculate things like percent of target, percent of budget, percent of forecast, and so on. …
To calculate percent of students attending a class, given a total class size and the number of students attending, you can use a simple formula that divides students absent (calculated by subtracting attending from total) by the total. The result must be formatted using the percentage number format. Formula =(total-attended)/total Note: when working manually, percentage results …
To calculate percentage sold, you can use a simple formula that divides sold amount by the total amount. Formula =sold/total Note: when working manually, percentage results are calculated by dividing one number by another, then multiplying by 100 to express as a percentage. However, because Excel can display decimal or fractional values automatically as a percentage by applying …
To calculate the percentage complete for a project with a list of tasks, you can use a simple formula based on the COUNTA function. Formula =COUNTA(range1)/COUNTA(range2) Explanation In the example shown, the formula in F6 is: =COUNTA(C5:C11)/COUNTA(B5:B11) How this formula works At the core, this formula simply divides tasks complete by the total task count: …
To list the index numbers of sheets in an Excel workbook, you can enter the sheet names, then use a formula based on the SHEET and INDIRECT functions. The SHEET function then returns the current index for each sheet as listed. Formula =SHEET(INDIRECT(name&”!A1″)) Explanation In the example shown, the formula in C5 is: =SHEET(INDIRECT(B5&”!A1″)) How …
To list worksheets in an Excel workbook, you can use a 2-step approach: (1) define a named range called “sheetnames” with an old macro command and (2) use an INDEX formula to retrieve sheet names using the named range. Formula =GET.WORKBOOK(1)&T(NOW()) Note: because this formula relies on a macro command, you’ll need to save as a macro-enabled workbook …
If you want to get the workbook path (directory) only, you can do so with a formula that uses the LEFT and the FIND function. The result will look something like this: Drive:\path\to\file\ //Windows Drive:path:to:file: //Mac Formula =LEFT(CELL(“filename”,A1),FIND(“[“,CELL(“filename”,A1))-1) Explanation How the formula works The cell function is used to get the full file name and …
To create a formula with a dynamic sheet name you can use the INDIRECT function. Note: The point of this approach is it lets you to build a formula where the sheet name is a dynamic variable. So, for example, you could change a sheet name (perhaps with a drop down menu) and pull in information …
To build a dynamic worksheet reference – a reference to another workbook that is created with a formula based on variables that may change – you can use a formula based on the INDIRECT function. See example below: Formula =INDIRECT(“‘[“&workbook&”]”&sheet&”‘!”&ref) Explanation In the example shown, the formula in E6 is: =INDIRECT(“‘[“&B6&”]”&C6&”‘!”&D6) How this formula works …
This tutorial shows how to calculate Index and match on multiple columns in Excel using the example below; Formula {=INDEX(range1,MATCH(1,MMULT(–(range2=critera), TRANSPOSE(COLUMN(range2)^0)),0))} Explanation To lookup a value by matching across multiple columns, you can use an array formula based on the MMULT, TRANSPOSE, COLUMN, and INDEX. In the example shown, the formula in H4 is: {=INDEX(groups,MATCH(1,MMULT(–(names=G4), TRANSPOSE(COLUMN(names)^0)),0))} where …
This tutorial shows how to Count cells that do not contain many strings in Excel using the example below; Formula {=SUM(1-(MMULT(–(ISNUMBER(SEARCH(TRANSPOSE (exclude),data))),ROW(exclude)^0)>0))} Explanation To count cells that do not contain many different strings, you can use a rather complex formula based on the MMULT function. In the example shown, the formula in F5 is: {=SUM(1-(MMULT(–(ISNUMBER(SEARCH(TRANSPOSE …
This tutorial shows how to Count cells less than in Excel using the example below; Formula =COUNTIF(range,”<X”) Explanation To count the number of cells that contain values less than a particular number, you can use the COUNTIF function. In the generic form of the formula (above) rng represents a range of cells that contain numbers, …
This tutorial shows how to Count cells that contain errors in Excel using the example below; Formula =SUMPRODUCT(–ISERR(range)) Explanation To count cells that contain errors, you can use the ISERR function, wrapped in the SUMPRODUCT function. In the example shown, E5 cell contains this formula: =SUMPRODUCT(–ISERROR(B5:B9)) How this formula works SUMPRODUCT accepts one or more arrays, multiplies …
This tutorial shows how to Count cells that do not contain errors in Excel using the example below; Formula =SUMPRODUCT(–NOT(ISERR(range))) Explanation To count the number of cells that contain errors, you can use the ISERR and NOT functions, wrapped in the SUMPRODUCT function. In the example, the active cell contains this formula: =SUMPRODUCT(–NOT(ISERR(B4:B8))) How this …
This tutorial shows how to Subtotal by color in Excel using the example below; If you need to subtotal numbers by color, you can easily do so with the SUMIF function. Formula =SUMIF(color_range,criteria,number_range) Explanation In the example shown, the formula in G5 is: =SUMIF($B$4:$B$11,F5,$D$4:$D$11) How this formula works The SUMIF function takes three arguments: range, …
This tutorial shows how to Subtotal by invoice number in Excel using the example below; Formula =IF(COUNTIF(range,criteria)=1,SUMIF(range,criteria,sumrange,””) Explanation To subtotal values by invoice number, you can use a formula based on COUNTIF and SUMIF. In the example shown, the formula in E5 is: =IF(COUNTIF($B$5:B5,B5)=1,SUMIF($B:$B,B5,$D:$D),””) How this formula works This formula uses COUNTIF with an expanding range to …
This tutorial shows how to Subtotal invoices by age in Excel using the example below; Formula =SUMIF(age,criteria,amount) Explanation If you need to subtotal invoice amounts by age, you can easily do so with the SUMIF function. In the example shown, the formula in G5 is: =SUMIF(age,G5,amount) Where age is a named range for the range …
This tutorial shows how to Sum by group in Excel using the example below; Formula =IF(B5=B4,””,SUMIF(B:B,B5,C:C)) Explanation To subtotal data by group or label, directly in a table, you can use a formula based on the SUMIF function. In the example shown, the formula in D5 is: =IF(B5=B4,””,SUMIF(B:B,B5,C:C)) Note: data must be sorted by the …
This tutorial shows how to 3D SUMIF for multiple worksheets in Excel using the example below; Formula =SUMPRODUCT(SUMIF(INDIRECT (“‘”&sheets&”‘!”&”range”),criteria, INDIRECT(“‘”&sheets&”‘!”&”sumrange”))) Explanation To conditionally sum identical ranges that exist in separate worksheets, all in one formula, you can do so with the SUMIF function + INDIRECT, wrapped in SUMPRODUCT. In the example, the formula looks like …
This chapter takes you through 44 IF function Questions and Answers in Excel. EXCEL IF function tests a user-defined condition and returns one result if the condition is TRUE, and another result if the condition is FALSE Here are practical examples of IF function test in Excel: Question 1: In Microsoft Excel, I’m trying to use the IF …
Excel Operators are simply functions used to perform/calculate Mathematical Operations. Although the Excel Operators are not, strictly speaking, Excel Functions, they are frequently used with Excel Functions and as a part of Excel Formulas. Therefore we have provided a brief explanation of Excel Operators in the following page: Excel Operators Excel Mathematical Operators – used to …
Book.xltx and Sheet.xltx are two special templates you can create and add to the XLStart folder. As a result, Excel uses Book.xltx as the basis for new workbooks and Sheet.xltx as the basis for new worksheets. Book.xltx To create Book.xltx, execute the following steps. 1. Create a workbook. For example, change the row height of all rows on the …