Save hours of your life with these 10 Excel productivity tips:

1. Custom Lists

If you are repeatedly entering the same list of values, try this instead. Create a custom list that Excel auto-fills for you. Go to File > Options > Advanced > Edit Custom Lists > Enter List > Import > OK. Enter any list item and drag down the fill handle!

2. AutoFormat

If you waste too much time trying to figure out how to format your data table, meet AutoFormat. AutoFormat creates a selection of data formats that can be applied directly to your data. Just select AutoFormat and choose your favorite style!

3. 3D References

If you select a cell across multiple worksheets to be summed one at a time, I have a shortcut for you: 3D references. A 3D reference references a cell across all worksheets included in the reference; now, each cell on each worksheet referenced will be summed.

4. Flash Fill

Manipulating data in Excel can be a tedious task but not with Flash Fill. Flash Fill automatically fills data based on detected patterns. Enter the data, hit Flash Fill on the Insert tab or CTRL E, and Excel will automatically fill the pattern down the column!

3 Excel hacks that will blow your mind. Who knew all three?! #excel

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4 text functions you need to know:

1. TEXTSPLIT

Need to break up data in a text string into multiple rows or columns? Use the TEXTSPLIT function to split up text at a specified delimiter. For example, this function can split full names into first, middle, and last name columns by defining the col_delimiter.

2. TEXTJOIN

Now that we’ve learned how to split text, let’s learn how to combine it. The TEXTJOIN function combines values into one with a delimiter in between each value. For example, we can combine first, middle, and last name back together with a space in between each name.

3. TEXTBEFORE

Now let’s say we need to extract text from the beginning of a text string. The TEXTBEFORE function extracts text before a specified delimiter. For example, if we just want the names from this list. We can extract the names by defining the dash as the delimiter.

4. TEXTAFTER

Similarly, we can extract text from the end of a text string using the TEXTAFTER function. TEXTAFTER extracts text after a specified delimiter. If we want to extract the date and omit the names, we can define the dash as the delimiter using the TEXTAFTER function.

Three methods for splitting text in Excel: 🤓

1. Flash Fill:

Flash Fill is the quickest and easiest way to split text, in my opinion. To use Flash Fill to split text, enter how you want the text to be split, and then just hit CTRL E to automatically fill the pattern down the column!

2. TEXTSPLIT

The TEXTSPLIT function is a new function used to split text at a specified delimiter. To use the TEXTSPLIT function, enter the text you want to split as the text argument and the delimiter that you want to split the text at as the col_delimiter argument.

3. Text to Columns

Text to Columns is an OG data tool used to split text into columns. To use Text to Columns, select the text you want to split > data tab > text to columns > select the delimiter(s) to split the text at > select where to insert the new data > finish.

Which method is your go-to for splitting text? Mine is Flash Fill, obviously. 😏

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3 things all Excel users should know: 🤯

1. AutoFit

Automatically fit all column widths to the size of the data by hitting ALT H O I.

2. AutoFill

Automatically fill data down columns by hitting CTRL E.

3. AutoSum

Automatically sum all data at once by hitting ALT =.

Work smarter, not harder, with these Excel tips. 😏

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7 Excel Quick Analysis (QA) that analyze your data, so you don't have to:

1. Running Total

Calculating data metrics like running total can be tricky, but not with QA. Select the data you want to calculate > QA > Totals tab > Running Total. As you can see, Excel auto-calculated the running total and even inserted all the formulas for us!

2. % Total

Now that we know how to calculate the running total with QA, let’s learn how to calculate % of the total. Select the data you want to calculate > QA > Totals tab > % Total. Once again, Excel auto-calculated % of the total for each value and inserted all the formulas!

3. Sparklines

Visualizing data trends isn’t required… but it should be. QA can quickly visualize trends for you by adding sparklines. Select the data you want to visualize > QA > Sparklines tab > Line. Now just fill the sparklines down using the fill handle.

4. Creating Charts

Lets say you want to create a compelling data chart but don’t know where to begin… QA is here to help! Select data you want to graph > QA > Charts tab > browse the charts QA made. Now you can select any chart you like and insert it right into your worksheet.

6 Excel features that will blow your mind:

1. Data Types (DT)

Spare yourself the google search and let Excel search for you using DT. DT pull real-time data into Excel. To convert text strings into linked DT, just select the data category under the data tab. Now, simply select the attributes you want to pull into Excel.

2. Flash Fill (FF)

Say goodbye to writing complex functions to manipulate data, and hello to FF. FF automatically fills data down a column based on detected patterns. Just enter how you want the data to appear, hit CTRL E, and Excel will auto-fill the pattern down the column!

3. Power Query (PQ)

Teleport data into Excel using PQ. PQ is a powerful tool that imports data from various sources (the web, PDFs, CSVs, etc.) into Excel. Instead of copying data from the web, just go to the Data tab > From Web > enter URL > Select the data table and hit load.

4. AutoSum (AS)

Summing data in Excel can be tedious, but not with AS! AS automatically detects data in adjacent cells and sums it using the SUM function. To use AS, select an empty cell adjacent to the data that needs to be summed and simply press ALT =.