I’ve posted an Excel Wiki – I call them “faux-wikis” because you need to click contact or add a comment to edit or add to it, rather than editing directly as you would in a true wiki. It’s ready for your input!
So far, it’s connected to a page about reversing last name first lists and putting them into one column, and some posts about viewing Excel on dual monitors, solving the problem of all of your data pasting into a single cell, and counting multiple variables.
And here’s a silly little tip:
Check marks are useful little critters, and you can use them for counting, too. Many fonts use Alt (Option on Mac) V for a check, but many fonts – especially in Windows – don’t. That means you have to choose Insert>Symbol, find the check mark and insert it. Repeat every time you want it, or copy and paste. More trouble than it’s worth!
Easy fix: Insert a column for your check marks. If you have the font Marlett, change highlight the column and change it to that font. The letter “a” is a check in Marlett.
Now, to count:
Select a cell to enter your count in. Change it to a normal font or you’ll be very confused! Enter:
=COUNTIF(C1:C3,”a”)
The C1 and C3 should be changed to the top cell of your check mark column and the bottom cell of that column. Like this:
Here’s how you get to that formula if you want to do it from scratch: Under the ∑ symbol on your tool bar, or Insert>Function, choose or search for COUNTIF. Once you’ve selected it, a box will open. Click in the first box then click into your column and drag from the top to the bottom, or select it in your favorite manner. Now click in the second box and type “a.” Hit enter.
After you finish, change the font of all but your formula cell to Marlett; it will look like this:
That’s it!
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Thanks for sharing the tip!
I’m so glad you asked that question – I was beginning to think it was only me. It only happens to me in Windows XP and Office 2003, so I’m through with it, but it’s very frustrating. I’ve come to the end of internet searching for an answer for this and been ignored in forums web-wide. I gather this isn’t a common problem, and was feeling persecuted
I have had those little rectangles show up in Excel printouts as well, and I’ve resolved it by using the format painter (the paint brush) to copy the format of a cell that isn’t showing the rectangle and ‘painting’ that format into the one that does. You might try creating a blank column, formatted in Marlett but not typed in. Copy the format into your typed Marlett column and see if that gets rid of the rectangle.
One workaround when that doesn’t work is to capture the spreadsheet with SnagIt. It won’t have functionality, but at least you can send it.
Also, you can use Marlett font to give you an X which I use as the opposite of a checkmark. This way the whole column can be formatted in Marlett and you can enter CHECKs or Xs.
My problem: When I cut and paste the excel data from excel to Word (or Outlook), there are these rectangular boxes that appear next to each check mark or X. It is very annoying. The only way I’ve figured out how to get rid of them is change their font to white but sometimes I can’t even highlight only the rectangles and it takes too long to do that anyways.
Has anyone else had this problem or know how to fix it?
It can be very useful to grab a section of a spreadsheet and e-mail it to colleagues to let them know the status of whatever has been checked but this problem prevents me from doing that because it looks very awkward.
Yes, you can use it in any version of Excel. Please feel free to ask any questions about the topic, but be advised that any links to weight loss supplement sites, etc. will be automatically removed prior to posting, so this site is not useful for your promotions.
Hi,
Can i use this new excel.
I want to see it’s format.Is it possible.
Generally I have to work in excel sheets. So these tips are very helpful for me. Thanks
Quality post! I’ve bookmark this site to return later. cheers!
The theme is called “Orangy” by skinpress.
Hello I have landed on your blog a few times in the last 3 days searching for similiar related topics. Nice Job!
A Little off topic mayhap, but anyway – which template are you using? I truly love the header style.
I am very thankful to you that you solve the data pasting problem in single cell.Some time I was more frustrated due to this problem.
Magnificent post! I am new to your site, was glancing at info on Google, I will come by again to check out future pieces. Thank you for sharing!
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