- Follow this blog:
- RSS
- Email Alert
Microsoft Office
Mark Kaelin
TechRepublic Staff
Mark Kaelin
-
Launch Word with the most recently used document
Show users how to open the most recently used file when launching Word. Or, provide them with a shortcut that does the same thing.
Posted by Susan Harkins | February 7, 2012, 8:09 AM PST | Latest comment by radar_z
-
Harness the power of Word's AutoCorrect feature
Show users how to work more productively and accurately using Word's AutoCorrect feature.
Posted by Susan Harkins | February 6, 2012, 11:00 AM PST
-
Run a list of rolling credits at the end of your PowerPoint presentation
Acknowledge important credentials using PowerPoint's credits effect at the end of your presentation.
Posted by Susan Harkins | February 2, 2012, 11:57 AM PST | Latest comment by athineos59
-
Office solution: How to select a specific cell when returning to a sheet
This week, learn the solution to the challenge: What's the easiest way to select a specific cell when you return to a specific sheet?
Posted by Susan Harkins | February 2, 2012, 11:43 AM PST
-
Office challenge: How can I change Outlook's default contact folder?
In this week's challenge, Outlook users ask for the near impossible when it comes to contact management; can you meet their demand?
Posted by Susan Harkins | February 1, 2012, 11:24 AM PST
-
Add space between table cells in Word to add visual interest
Learn two easy ways to add visual interest to your Word tables by adding space between cells.
Posted by Susan Harkins | January 31, 2012, 8:39 AM PST
-
Disable send and receive mail options in Outlook
Users don't have to both send and receive email via Outlook; they can choose to do one or the other.
Posted by Susan Harkins | January 30, 2012, 7:59 AM PST
-
Quickly highlight matching values in Excel with keyboard shortcut
When you just need to see matching values and you don't want to filter or sort, try this Excel keyboard trick.
Posted by Susan Harkins | January 27, 2012, 6:42 AM PST | Latest comment by DBlayney
-
Office solution: How to continue numbering from one table column to another
This week, learn the solution to the challenge: Can you continue numbering by column? Hint: It's not intuitive.
Posted by Susan Harkins | January 26, 2012, 2:02 PM PST | Latest comment by sheila@...
-
Office challenge: What's the easiest way to select a specific cell when you return to a specific sheet?
In this week's challenge, help a user preserve the cursor location in a sheet whenever he/she returns to it.
Posted by Susan Harkins | January 25, 2012, 12:28 PM PST | Latest comment by foreigner
-
A quick tip for entering names into an expression
Show users this quick tip for entering range names into formulas and functions. It's easy to use and reduces errors from typos.
Posted by Susan Harkins | January 25, 2012, 12:27 PM PST | Latest comment by sanjmeh
-
What to do when Excel's Custom Views option is disabled
Custom views are handy if users need to view data in different ways, but sometimes it isn't available. Learn why and what to do when this feature is disabled.
Posted by Susan Harkins | January 24, 2012, 8:27 AM PST
-
Office solution: Two ways to eliminate Excel grid lines from a PowerPoint slide
This week, learn the solution to the earlier challenge, how would you eliminate Excel grid lines from a PowerPoint slide?
Posted by Susan Harkins | January 19, 2012, 10:52 AM PST
-
Three things you must do when you inherit an Excel workbook
When you inherit a workbook, don't put it into play without checking it out first with these three vital steps.
Posted by Susan Harkins | January 19, 2012, 10:49 AM PST | Latest comment by CharlieSpencer_Palmetto
-
Use Access validation rules to ensure accurate data entry
Your Access database is only as sound as the data it stores. Data types can only do so much. The next step is to constrain input values using validation rules.
Posted by Susan Harkins | January 18, 2012, 8:02 AM PST
-
Office challenge: Can you continue numbering by column?
This week, test your Word skills by out-smarting Word's Numbering option to force numbering by column before by row.
Posted by Susan Harkins | January 18, 2012, 7:54 AM PST | Latest comment by smileyface522
-
How to delete duplicate values and duplicate records in Excel 2007 and 2010
Using Excel 2007 and 2010, you can use the same built-in feature to to delete duplicates in columns as well as duplicate rows.
Posted by Susan Harkins | January 17, 2012, 8:51 AM PST
-
Office solution: How to quickly add numbers in Word without a table
This week, learn the solution to last week's Office challenge: What's the quickest way to sum a series of numbers in Word?
Posted by Susan Harkins | January 12, 2012, 10:43 AM PST | Latest comment by wob@...
-
Save replies in folders other than the Sent folder to increase productivity
Finding messages in the Sent folder isn't for the meek; save replies with the messages instead. You'll never hunt for another reply.
Posted by Susan Harkins | January 12, 2012, 7:47 AM PST | Latest comment by kindozo
-
Office challenge: What's the quickest way to sum a series of numbers in Word?
In this week's challenge, test your Office skills by explaining how to sum numbers in Word without using table formulas.
Posted by Susan Harkins | January 11, 2012, 8:06 AM PST | Latest comment by dexterg3
-
Two ways to add checkbox controls to a Word document
Use a customized bulleted list or a content control to insert checkboxes into a Word document, depending on how you are going to use it.
Posted by Susan Harkins | February 22, 2012, 8:16 AM PST | Latest comment by ian@...
-
How to add a drop-down list to an Excel cell
Drop-down lists can greatly facilitate data entry. Here's a look at how to use Excel's data validation feature to create handy lists within your worksheets.
Posted by Susan Harkins | June 12, 2008, 12:00 AM PDT | Latest comment by dhivya.vasu01@...
-
Transpose Excel data from rows to columns, or vice versa
When you need to flip-flop data in an Excel worksheet, don't waste time doing it manually. Excel offers a handy Transpose option that will quickly take care of the task.
Posted by Jeff Davis | June 23, 2009, 12:00 AM PDT | Latest comment by excelinexcel
-
Use SUMIFS() to sum by multiple conditions in Excel
Excel's SUMIF() lets you sum values, conditionally. It's new sibling, SUMIFS() lets you sum values by multiple conditions.
Posted by Susan Harkins | November 14, 2011, 11:25 AM PST | Latest comment by peter.r7
-
How to use Excel 2010's new conditional formatting with references
Excel 2010's new referencing option makes conditional formatting more powerful than ever before!
Posted by Susan Harkins | August 30, 2010, 8:40 AM PDT | Latest comment by jeboy.06
-
Add horizontal lines to a Word document
Susan Harkins shows you two easy ways to insert a horizontal line into a Word document.
Posted by Susan Harkins | September 29, 2010, 12:00 AM PDT | Latest comment by Shrike49
-
A quick and dirty way to compare columns of Excel data
Using this little-known feature in Excel, you can quickly compare one column of data to another.
Posted by Susan Harkins | April 6, 2012, 11:41 AM PDT | Latest comment by HAL 9000
-
Four ways to insert an em dash in a Word document
When you need an em dash, you can let Word enter it for you the easy way. If that approach doesn't suit your needs, try one of three manual methods.
Posted by Susan Harkins | March 1, 2010, 12:00 AM PST | Latest comment by Marshwiggle
-
Use COUNTIFS() to evaluate multiple count and criteria ranges
Excel's COUNTIFS() function is flexible enough to handle different ranges and data types.
Posted by Susan Harkins | May 21, 2012, 10:37 AM PDT | Latest comment by jbenton@...
-
How to Alphabetize Lists In Word
I learned something new the other day—Word can alphabetize a list. I’m sure many users already know this, but it’s brand new to me. Years ago, I could do this with WordPerfect, but I’ve...
Posted by Susan Harkins | May 29, 2007, 12:13 PM PDT
-
The secret to unhiding column A in an Excel worksheet
After you hide column A, it might seem like it's gone forever. Fortunately, there are two simple tricks for unhiding it.
Posted by Susan Harkins | March 16, 2009, 12:00 AM PDT | Latest comment by fallon.stuart@...
-
Quickly fill blank cells in Excel
Blank cells can spell trouble. Here's an easy way to fill in those blanks and protect the validity of your data.
Posted by Susan Harkins | April 26, 2010, 10:50 AM PDT | Latest comment by Midhunmj
-
Use Word's Vertical Alignment settings to center a page
Centering text vertically isn't difficult; you just have to know where to look!
Posted by Susan Harkins | July 28, 2010, 6:30 PM PDT
-
Build a simple timesheet in Excel
Excel makes it easy to set up a system for tracking time. Follow these steps to create your own or download our sample timesheet template and customize it to fit your needs.
Posted by Susan Harkins | January 26, 2010, 9:43 AM PST | Latest comment by raj_as
-
Create an Excel data entry form that includes check boxes
You can keep a lot of information on an Excel data entry form, but you can make it easier for your users -- and yourself -- to create tables by adding check boxes. Here's how to set up check boxes...
Posted by Mary Ann Richardson | July 31, 2007, 12:00 AM PDT | Latest comment by Corbybhoy
-
Use a formula to trigger Excel's Conditional Formatting feature
If you need a visual clue to hype a worksheet, use Excel's Conditional Formatting feature to help values stand out.
Posted by Susan Harkins | January 5, 2009, 1:07 PM PST | Latest comment by JNirvaha
-
Use a custom format in Excel to display easier to read millions
Use a custom format in Microsoft Excel to reduce the number of digits in a large number without losing its scale.
Posted by Susan Harkins | March 14, 2012, 11:16 AM PDT | Latest comment by jeng02@...
-
A quick way to delete blank rows in Excel
Deleting blank rows in an Excel data range is easy with this technique, but watch out for unintended consequences.
Posted by Susan Harkins | January 5, 2012, 11:48 AM PST | Latest comment by jbenton@...
-
Delete a stubborn page break in Word
Sometimes, Word won't let you delete a page break. The fix is usually simple -- although the cause might surprise you.
Posted by Susan Harkins | January 8, 2010, 7:13 AM PST | Latest comment by kramer22
-
Two ways to build dynamic charts in Excel
Users will appreciate a chart that updates right before their eyes. In Excel 2007 and 2010 it's as easy as creating a table. In earlier versions, you'll need the formula method.
Posted by Susan Harkins | April 19, 2012, 11:48 AM PDT | Latest comment by chip_long@...
