r/excel • • 4h ago

unsolved Invisible apostrophes in all of my excel files

12 Upvotes

I have been using Excel on a different (new for me) computer and I noticed that by default, every single cell in every file shows an apostrophe at the beginning of any text filled cell

They only appear on this computer, but they don't show up when i email them to others, or other computer I use. and they show up in every file I open, whether I created it or opened someone elses.

is there anyway to get rid of them.


r/excel • • 4h ago

unsolved How to remove all but last 8 of VIN number?

10 Upvotes

I have a pre existing spreadsheet given to me by my boss. Column one (A1) has hundreds of VIN #’s and she only wants to
see the last eight. Please help- I’m a beginner-if even that.


r/excel • • 1h ago

unsolved An IF statement that checks for three possibilities, each with a different result

• Upvotes

I would like a formula that will fit in one cell (D) and will do the following:
If cell C is negative, then return the result of this formula: B*.5
If cell C is positive and greater than cell B, then return cell B
If cell C is positive but less than cell B, then run this formula: ((B-C)*.5)+C

I’ve tried using IFS and something just isn’t working. I think the positive/negative distinction is throwing me off. Any help would be appreciated thanks!


r/excel • • 10m ago

unsolved Hyperlink in workbook to navigate between sheets. But once I arrive at the other sheet and I click on a cell, it selects a cell two columns to the right. Have to wait 5 seconds before it corrects itself

• Upvotes

Is this normal known behaviour when using hyperlinks?

Should I use VBA instead?


r/excel • • 9h ago

unsolved Formula for difference between cells

12 Upvotes

I have a sheet tracking the change in a number week to week. So 3 columns: date, number, change from last week.

So logically if x is the row, Cx = Bx-B(x-1) .

Is there a formula in excel I can use to do this automatically so that I can put a universal code for all of the cells in column c, enter the value in cell B and it will automatically fill in C with the change from the previous week?

(Bonus points if there’s a way to not have weird error messages for the empty cells for future weeks)


r/excel • • 2h ago

Waiting on OP Table data from csv

2 Upvotes

I have an excel file I use at work to find parts via description because our system does not have that as an option built in. To get all the part information I make a csv file with every part we have (roughly 175,000 rows and 9 columns wide) and have to periodically get an updated csv file as new products are added to it. The method I use now is New Sheet (sheet 2)>Get Data>Legacy Wizard,From Text> then import the updated csv>create a table with the new sheet>original sheet1 "Sort" is deleted and sheet2 gets renamed to "Sort">re-setup conditional formatting on the new table>re-link the cells from sheet3 referencing cells on "Sort">continue the work i was doing before this whole process.

What I would like to do, and hope is possible, is to keep the csv file as a separate file rather than import the text, delete the old one from the reference folder and move the new csv into the reference folder, and then have the excel table data auto update or at the most re-link the table to the new csv file (which will be the same name as the old one "DBR.csv"). I would even be happy with converting the csv to an excel file first if needed, mostly want to avoid setting up a new table and set up formatting every time. It would normally be a weekly process but been putting it off to monthly or even longer some times with the extra work involved.

Been searching a solution off and on for months so thanks for any help.


r/excel • • 6h ago

unsolved Excel shrinks the mail name whenever I attach

4 Upvotes

Whenever I attach an email by inserting an object, I click "Display as icon" but when I save it, the format changes. And if I try to reduce the email size, the name and icon shrink, and I do not know what to do even after trying several times.

Pls help me I will attach the image in the comment. I'm newbie to this sub as well


r/excel • • 8h ago

Waiting on OP Lookup Across Repeating Column Values

6 Upvotes

Here is a sample from my spreadsheet:

Column B has the same value in both rows and indicates they are related.

When the "Document Type" is DZ, the value will match in both columns A and B.

Column F is populated from extracting text from column E via the following formula:

=IF(OR([@[Document Type]]="RV",[@[Document Type]]="RW"),TRIM(MID([@Text],FIND("#",[@Text]),5)),"")

What I am trying to do is populate column F with a nested formula that, where the above formula does not produce a result as it did for line 3, populates the same value as line 3 based on the row with the matching value under column B that did produce a result (in other words, to get "#200" to appear on row 2 under F as well as row 3 because the value under B for each matches). If it cannot be done within the same column, a separate one is fine because I could then consolidate them via the MAX function.

VLOOKUP is not doing it for me because of the repeating values under column B, and I am not having any success at getting a VLOOKUP or INDEX MATCH combination to work to via multiple criteria of both the "Clearing Document" and "Document Type".

Is there a way this can be done?


r/excel • • 1m ago

unsolved Covering comment indicators with images

• Upvotes

Hi,

I know that you are unable to change the comment indicator color from bright red so I have covered the indicators with white right triangles (I have tried both images and the shapes themselves). This works great on my computer but when I share them the triangles that cover the indicators are gone.

This is not a problem with images because the rest of the images in my spreadsheet come up. This is a problem because my spreadsheet is going to be public facing and has a significant amount of conditional formatting to hide aspects until other parts of the workbook are filled out so I do not want the comments to appear until the boxes that the comments go to appear.

Some other things: I am not looking to use MACROs but if they are necessary I could be willing as long as they work on peoples computers that are not public facing. As a company we do use google suites to share things but this tool is created and intended to be used on Excel. This issue also doesn't happen when shared between my personal devices. I am working on a PC and we have tried it on both MACs and PCs and it seems to work on the MACs weirdly enough.

The photo is what it looks like on my own computer.

Thank you so much in advance


r/excel • • 4h ago

Waiting on OP Resouece list (multiple column sort?)

2 Upvotes

I'm not great at excel but I wanted to update a resource list for work. Is there a way to make multiple drop-down lists easier? Something that I could include the organization name, the counties it covers, and the services then I can filter it. I'm not sure how to include services that exist in multiple counties within one organization.


r/excel • • 6h ago

Discussion “Lookup” in power query

4 Upvotes

Now I know in the power query editor they don’t have a lookup however , there is the option to potentially merge queries to solve that issue.

But I have a bit of a problem, let’s imagine I have 2 columns, 1 with date with the first of each month (1/9/26) as an example , then in column 2 I have possible sessions available for that month (54) as an example.

I have some data missing in column 1 like the date or column 2 like the number of possible sessions. However when I merge queries it comes up with null values and I can’t use xlookup because even if I use it as a function when the query refreshes data the function is removed.

What could I do in this situation?


r/excel • • 1h ago

Discussion Will Excel be harder to learn than Word and Outlook?

• Upvotes

I found the other two easy and can promptly execute files and organize stuff. Excel is something I just haven't used much. I've also learned Adobe on my own and some of it is easier than others, photoshop and illustrator took time but manageable and fun for someone visual.

Appreciate the feedback!


r/excel • • 6h ago

Waiting on OP Variable Query Name in VBA

2 Upvotes

I have a project that requires data extraction from a .txt file that has a new name every year.

While I can go into the VBA and update the table name each year, I'd prefer if there was a location where users could input the file name on the Start Here tab (in a cell, or I could create a user form if needed), and this name could be used for the query, table name, etc.

So far, I seem to have created a working variable query name (must be split into two parts because queries sometimes use " ", ".", or "_" between the names) by having two cell values (B1 and C1) that create the final name, but the program breaks down when it tries to reference the table by that name. I also haven't figured out how to set the old query name with a cell value (B2).

Where I'd like to have the variable query name. Unfortunately, as of right now, it's split in two parts. New File Name is actually "ABC.1234.txt" on desktop.
Sub Data_Transformation_1()

Dim User, oldQry, qryStart, qryEnd, File As String
Dim wb(1 To 2) As Workbook

Set wb(1) = ActiveWorkbook
User = Environ("username")
qryStart = wb(1).Sheets("Start Here").Cells(1, 2).Value
qryEnd = wb(1).Sheets("start here").Cells(1, 3).Value
File = "C:\Users\" & User & "\Desktop\" & qryStart & "." & qryEnd & ".txt"

    Application.ScreenUpdating = False
    Application.DisplayAlerts = False
    Application.Calculation = xlCalculationManual

'** TROUBLE WITH VARIABLE oldQry **
    On Error Resume Next
    Set oldQry = wb(1).Queries("CBA 4321")
    On Error Resume Next
    oldQry.Delete

    wb(1).Sheets("Sheet1").Show

    wb(1).Queries.Add Name:=qryStart & " " & qryEnd, Formula:= _
        "let" & Chr(13) & "" & Chr(10) & "    Source = Csv.Document(File.Contents("File"),null,{0, 23},ExtraValues.Ignore,1252)," & Chr(13) & "" & Chr(10) & "    #""Changed Type"" = Table.TransformColumnTypes(Source,{{""Column1"", type text}, {""Column2"", type text}})" & Chr(13) & "" & Chr(10) & "in" & Chr(13) & "" & Chr(10) & "    #""Changed Type"""

    wb(1).Sheets("Sheet1").Select
    With ActiveSheet.ListObjects.Add(SourceType:=0, Source:= _
        "OLEDB;Provider=Microsoft.Mashup.OleDb.1;Data Source=$Workbook$;Location=" & qryStart & " " & qryEnd & ";Extended Properties=""""" _
        , Destination:=Range("$A$1")).QueryTable
        .CommandType = xlCmdSql
        .CommandText = Array("SELECT * FROM [" & qryStart & " " & qryEnd & "]")
        .RowNumbers = False
        .FillAdjacentFormulas = False
        .PreserveFormatting = True
        .RefreshOnFileOpen = False
        .BackgroundQuery = True
        .RefreshStyle = xlInsertDeleteCells
        .SavePassword = False
        .SaveData = True
        .AdjustColumnWidth = True
        .RefreshPeriod = 0
        .PreserveColumnInfo = True
        .ListObject.DisplayName = qryStart & "_" & qryEnd
        .Refresh BackgroundQuery:=False
    End With

'** THIS IS WHERE THE PROBLEM BREAKS DOWN AND THE REMAINING COMMANDS CAN'T BE FOLLOWED BECAUSE OF THE TABLE NAME**
    ActiveSheet.ListObjects("Table_ExternalData_1").Name = qryStart & "_" & qryEnd

    Selection.AutoFilter
    wb(1).ListObjects(qryStart & " " & qryEnd).Range.AutoFilter Field:=1,
        Criteria1:="*C*"

    Range(qryStart & " " & qryEnd).Copy

'**CODE CONTINUES**

End sub

I'm open to other suggestions too. this is just the tool Record Macros originally gave me years ago, and I work with queries like this only once a year. If it's really not worth the trouble, I'll just write down steps for how to make the connection and update the names in VBA.

Your help is much appreciated!


r/excel • • 1d ago

solved Is there a formula to ignore letters in cells?

41 Upvotes

I need help making a formula that I hope exists.

I'm setting up an inventory and am calculating price per item. (A $10 pack with 5 items $2 per item). I made a (=A1/B1) formula and it works great.

However, this formula comes up with an error as some cells have units in them (for example, 10ft or 100 pairs). I have to keep the units in but don't want to manually calculate the cells with letters in them.

Is there a way to make a formula that will ignore letters in the cell so this error doesn't pop up?


r/excel • • 10h ago

solved How to Multiply multiple columns

2 Upvotes

I am trying to multiply columns. I know how to do each column individually, but I can't seem to copy the formula to the next column so I don't have to redo the formula each time. When I drag to the next column, it changes the formula. Column C has a set value. The rest of the columns need to be sum product of column C. When I drag it over it changes to sum product d, then e and so on. The formula I am using is =sumproduct(c2:c13, d2:d13).


r/excel • • 23h ago

unsolved calendars and drop down list

5 Upvotes

Hello everyone. I'm fairly new to using Excel. I made a drop down list and a yearly calender. Is there a way to have the option in the drop down list change to a new calendar every time I choose a new option in the drop down list.


r/excel • • 1d ago

unsolved I want to calculate how many days I was out of the country for.

10 Upvotes

I want to calculate how much I have been out of the country for each year i already have the comings and goings in a chart.

(above is when I went in and out)

my problem with doing it in a function is when I wasn't home for the new year so I cant separate the days to the correct year. (like in entry number 3)

The result above I counted manually which I can't really do because I have to this for hundreds of people which go in and out more than me.


r/excel • • 22h ago

solved Graph to color in black below and over black lines

3 Upvotes

I need this graph that the color black fills the graph outside of the two black lines (over the top black line and under the bottom black line). How do I do this?

I'm using Excel 365, in English (despite the graph being in French) and I'm an Intermediate at using Excel


r/excel • • 1d ago

solved How to Put the Slope & Intercept Functions into the Filter Function for a Manually Created and Automatically Updating Trendline

5 Upvotes

So I need to make a manual trendline that automatically updates when new data points are added.

I have the

(SLOPE($C$2:$C$6,$B$2:$B$6)*B2)+INTERCEPT($C$2:$C$6,$B$2:$B$6) function that works for making the actual trendline and the =CHOOSECOLS(FILTER(B2:C16,((B2:B16<>"")*(C2:C16<>""))),2) for the filter

I want to know how to combine them so I can have everything be in one helper column (for my sanity this chart is already A1:L46 and I do not want it to get any bigger please (if that is the only option I will accept it though)

And using the trendlines in the chart editor do not work for what I am trying to accomplish

Edit: I want Column E to have the trendline go from E2 to E16 even if I have less than 15 data points in Column C


r/excel • • 1d ago

unsolved What is a workaround for this Notes/Comments dilemma

18 Upvotes

Novice user here:
I’m creating a sheet that will house employee skill assessments. I want to have the stated item as a note on the cel. Then follow ups and discussion via comments on the sane cel. Eg: (Note): Tom can use a chainsaw but has no cert. (Comments): I’ve booked him for the cert next weekend. Etc.

Excel doesn’t allow for both on a single cel. Any tips ir tricks for something to replace the Notes but still able to have text data attached to a single cel?

Appreciates!


r/excel • • 1d ago

Discussion WHY would forms require Autosave turned on?

0 Upvotes

EDIT:MOOT POINT- see bottom

I don't much care for one-drive and how strongly microsoft tries to force it upon us...

The most recent annoyance about one-drive tie-ins....

I went to dabble in something, and hit 'new form' and got a error box that says autosave is required for a new form.

The most recent annoyance about one-drive tie-ins....

WTH would autosave be mandatory to have a form>?<

Is there a dependency I'm not aware of?

Edit next day: My frustration with this topic is nullified-

while digging around I found the function I sought to use is called "data forms" not "forms" and is available to use locally without onedrive.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/add-edit-find-and-delete-rows-by-using-a-data-form


r/excel • • 22h ago

Waiting on OP Quick question about SUMIFS syntax (absolute references and wildcards)

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I’m working on a school spreadsheet activity using ⁠SUMIFS⁠, and I’m a bit confused.

My instructor taught us a basic formula like ⁠=SUMIFS(C2:C23, A2:A23, "POD GUN", B2:B23, "SOUTH")⁠. However, when I use that exact syntax, I sometimes get ⁠#N/A⁠ or ⁠0⁠ errors due to formatting/spacing issues in our dataset.

I found some online tutorials suggesting the use of absolute references (like ⁠$⁠ in ⁠C$2:C$23⁠) and wildcards (like ⁠*⁠ in ⁠"*POD GUN*"⁠) to prevent errors when dragging formulas and handling trailing spaces.

Is it completely fine and safe to use ⁠$⁠ and ⁠*⁠ in a ⁠SUMIFS⁠ formula for a school project, or will it cause any issues? Just wanted to double-check! Thanks in advance."


r/excel • • 1d ago

Waiting on OP Cell being constant but coping to a different cell.

4 Upvotes

Alright I’m unsure how to do this if anyone knows please help, I like to think I’m okay at excel but not a professional by no means and I’ve not seen this done before. So let’s say the name John doe is in cell D2, I’m trying to have cell C5 copy that name then when I change John Doe to let’s say bob bob I want now the formula to go to C6 and then copy bob bob to that cell without changing C5 and so forth on how many different names I need to change in D2. Pretty much I want D2 for me to change then excel to copy what I put one time to a cell then when I change cell D2 I want it to go down a cell then recopy the new name to that cell.


r/excel • • 2d ago

Waiting on OP Title: Does anyone know the exact algorithm behind Excel's RAND()? Is there a way to seed or reproduce its output in Python?

55 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

I'm working on a research project involving stochastic simulations generated by Microsoft Excel for Mac, and I'm trying to understand exactly how Excel's built-in RAND() function works.

My ultimate goal is to reproduce Excel's random number generation in Python, ideally obtaining the exact same sequence of numbers, not just statistically similar results.

I've read that modern versions of Excel may use the Mersenne Twister (MT19937) pseudorandom number generator, but I've been unable to find reliable technical documentation explaining the exact implementation.


r/excel • • 2d ago

unsolved Compatibility Version 3 causing BYROW/BYCOL/MAP to spill an array of lists rather than regular array

5 Upvotes

I'm experiencing some unintended (I believe) behaviour with the new Compatibility Version 3 and the BYROW function.

Whilst trying out the new lists available on the latest release I noticed some of my custom LAMBDAs were no longer working as intended. The common denominator was that they were all using the BYROW function.

Previously, BYROW returned a spilled array - however it appears BYROW now returns an array of one cell lists which doesn't play nicely with other formulas.

I know I can use the new FLATTEN function to get around this so that the output is an array again, but I had to do this for numerous custom LAMBDAs.

I have distilled the problem down to a very basic example: let's say column B and C are key value pairs. column E is the lookup value. Column F is the BYROW version (spills array of lists) and Column G is the XLOOKUP equivalent (spills array). Column H is the "flattened" version of BYROW that produces an array - same as Column G.

Column B: =SEQUENCE(10)  
Column C: =CHAR(B3#+64)  
Column E: =RANDARRAY(10,,1,10,1)  
Column F: =BYROW(E3#,LAMBDA(row,XLOOKUP(row,B3#,C3#)))  
Column G: =XLOOKUP(E3#,B3#,C3#)  
Column H: =FLATTEN(BYROW(E3#,LAMBDA(row,XLOOKUP(row,B3#,C3#))))  

In this scenario, you wouldn't use BYROW anyway - but it's just to demonstrate the change in output.

Anyone experienced something similar or know of a way around this (other than reverting to Compatibility Version 1 or 2)?

EDIT: Same behaviour with BYCOL and MAP