Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel – A Comprehensive Guide

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This is a Guest Post by Hui, an Excel Ninja and One of the Moderators of our Forums. Please note that this post is unusually large by Chandoo.org standards.

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If anybody asks me what is the best function in excel I am drawn between Sumproduct and Data Tables, Both make handling large amounts of data a breeze, the only thing missing is the Spandex Pants and Red Cape!

How often have you thought of or been asked “I’d like to know what our profit would be for a number of values of an input variable” or “Can I have a graph of Profit vs Cost vs …”

This post is going to detail the use of the Data Table function within Excel, which can help you answer those questions and then so so much more.

 

INTRODUCTION

How often have you thought “I’d like to know what our profit would be for a +/- 10, 20 and 30 % variance in the costs” ?

This post is going to detail the use of the Data Table function within Excel, which can help you answer that question.

The Data Table function is a function that allows a table of what if questions to be posed and answered simply, and is useful in simple what if questions, sensitivity analysis, variance analysis and even Monte Carlo (Stochastic) analysis of real life model within Excel.

The Data Table function should not be confused with the Insert Table function.

DATA TABLE BASICS

The Data Table function is hidden away in different locations within different versions of Excel but apart from the menu location the functionality is the same throughout.

Where is the Data Table Function

Excel 2007/10

In Excel 2007 & 2010 go to the Data Tab, What If Analysis panel and select Data Table

Data Tables - Excel 2007 [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

Excel 97-03

In Excel up to 2003 go to the Data Menu and select Table…

Data Tables - Excel 2003 [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

Both Excel 97-03 and 2007/10 then bring up the same Data Table dialog box.

Input Dialog - Data Tables [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

… and this simple dialog box is all empowering ?

Yes !

Blue Sky Mine Co

For demonstration of the Data Table function I am going to use a simple profit model of a Gold Mine, “The Blue Sky Mine Co”. This is a fictitious mine but provides a simple model which we can use the data Table function to analyse.

It consists of 6 input variables and a simple cost and revenue model to produce a profit.

1 way Data Tables - Example - 1 [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

In our Blue Sky Gold Mine Co model, we can see that if we mine and treat 1,000,000 t of gold ore containing 1.68 g/t gold, we will make A$ 5.452M profit. But what if the inputs change ?

1 WAY DATA TABLES

Lets make a 1 Way Table with our Blue Sky Gold Mine Co example.

This is shown in the attached Excel Workbook on the “1 Way” Tab or 1 Way Example

1 way Data Tables - Example - 1 [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

In our Blue Sky Gold Mine profit calculation example, we can see that if we mine and treat 1,000,000 t of gold ore containing 1.68 g/t gold, we will make A$ 5.452M profit. But what if the grade is more or less than that value of 1.68 g/t ? After all it is only a geological estimate.

This is what the Data Table function is made for.

Next to the model add a couple of columns as shown in blue

Note: Throughout this post you will see the use of 1E6 in formulas which is simpler to write than 1,000,000.

1 way Data Tables - Example - 2 [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

The first column is a list of values that will be applied to each iteration of the Column Input Cell

The Top Cell of the second Column contains a formula which will retrieve the answer you want to watch, in this case Profit. It will be displayed as M$.

Now select the entire Blue Area and Select Data Table

This is the Data Table input screen.

Input Dialog - Data Tables [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

The tricky/confusing part here is that in our example we are changing the input value to our Gold Mine Profit model using a Column of Numbers, so enter $C$6 in the Column Input Cell, Leave the Row Input Cell blank.

1 way Data Tables - Example - 3 [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

Click Ok

You can now see a Table of Profit Values for each Grade Value.

1 way Data Tables - Example - 4 [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

The variance in the Profit can easily be graphed against the Gold Grade and we can now see that if the Gold Grade is below about 1.55 g/t Au we will not make a profit and conversely if it is above 2.0 g/t Au we will make a large profit.

1 way data tables - outputs in a chart [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

Before we move onto 2 Way Data Tables it is worth exploring small variations on One Way Tables.

What if my Data is in Rows?

Had our input data been arranged horizontally in Rows, we could have used a Row Input Cell to process the data.

1 way data tables in a row [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

What if I want to vary the inputs by a certain Percentage ?

Another Scenario is often where you want to vary an input by a Fixed Percentage.

This is easily done using Data Tables

Setup the input cells with the percentage variations you want to examine, noting that the values don’t have to be evenly spread.

Setup a Temporary Input Cell, This will hold the Percentage Variance briefly whilst calculations are happening. Set a default value of 0 (zero)

Change your Main Input Cell, Gold Grade in our case, to Multiply the fixed answer by 1+ the temp Input Cell.

Run the Data Table with a Column Input Cell, which will refer to the Temp Input Cell.

1 way data tables - inputs in %s [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

2 WAY DATA TABLES

So the Boss comes in and asks, what Happens if the Gold Grade changes as well as the A$/U$ Exchange Rate?

You guessed it, Two Way tables to the rescue.

This is shown in the attached Excel Workbook on the “2 Way” Tab or 2 Way Example

Two way data Tables work the same as One Way Data Tables except that you can vary 2 parameters at once.

With Two Way Data Tables you need to setup a Column of data for one Input and a Row of data for the second Input. The answer is returned at the intersection of the Row and Column.

Here we have setup a Column of Gold Grades ranging from 1.5 to 2.1 g/t Au and a Row of Exchange rates =varying from 0.70 to 1.00 A$/U$

2 way data tables - Example 1 [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

Note at the intersection of the Row and Column there is a Reference to the variable you want to monitor in this case profit.

2 way data tables - Example 2 [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

You can now see the variance in Profit for variations in Gold Grade and Exchange Rate.

What about varying by Percentages?

Once again we can re-arrange the input variables to examine percentage changes in the inputs via a Temporary Input Cell.

2 way data tables - Example 3 [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

MONITORING MULTIPLE VARIABLES

So you have a complex model and want to monitor a number of input and output variables at once. No problems, Data Tables to the rescue.

In this example we are varying one input variable but monitoring 3 Output variables, 2 input variables and then doing a calculation all as part of the Data Table.

This is shown in the attached Excel Workbook on the “Monitor Multi variables” Tab or Monitor Multi Variables Example

2 way data tables - Example 4 [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

The first 3 columns, Total Cost, Revenue and Profit are output variables even though Total Cost doesn’t change, we can still monitor it to make sure our model is working correctly

The next 2 columns, Gold Grade and Gold Price are input variables even though only Gold Grade is being varied.

The last column Cost per Oz is not calculated as part of the model (ok sometimes we forget don’t we), but it can be calculated on the fly as part of the Data Table.

The result is:

2 way data tables - Example 5 [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

MULTIWAY DATA TABLES

But I hear you thinking, “If Data Tables are so good why can I only Change 2 variables at Once? I want to change more! “.

No Problems

Data Tables in fact allow you to Change any Number of input variables at once and monitor any number of input and output variables. It does however require a slight of hand.

This is shown in the attached Excel Workbook on the “Multi Way Tables” Tab or Multiway Table Example

First things first,

Setup a table of what scenarios you want to examine:

Multi-way Data tables - Example [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

Setup the Data Table area to monitor Inputs, Outputs and Calculated Fields

Multi-way Data tables - Example 2 [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

Note that the Input Data Column will be used to select the Scenario No.

Also note that we have setup F2 to retrieve the Scenarios Name.

And in H6 we will put the Scenario name into the Data Table, who said Data Tables were only for Numbers!

Next Link the Model to the scenario

Multi0way Data Tables - Setting up Scenarios [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

And run the Data Table

Multi-way Data tables - Example 3 [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

Note how the Description Column is populated with the Scenario’s Name (Text values)

So now when your boss asks you what effect the price of … has on the budget, you know where to turn.

MONTE CARLO SIMULATIONS IN EXCEL

Monte Carlo simulation (or analysis) as its name suggests puts an element of gambling into the scenarios, or more correctly allows you to measure the effect of variability on input parameters.

This is done by running scenarios against your model hundreds or thousands of times and changing the inputs each time and then measuring the effects at the end of the runs.

And Data Tables can do that? Absolutely!

First some statistics.

Everything in life has variability, from the size of Zebra’s Strips, The height of people and the Arrival times of trains, the time that people read this post, the time that it takes people to read this post.

Most things are variable around a central or mean (average) value. The spread of variability is commonly known as the distribution.

Distributions can have many names and shapes, but common ones are

  • Normal: Bell shaped around a mean
  • Uniform: All values have an even chance of selection
  • Exponential: Low or High values have a much higher probability that the other values

In life most distributions are Normal in nature indicating that the distribution is Bell shaped around a mean with a known method of describing the variability around this.

Excel has 2 functions that produce Random numbers, Rand() and Randbetween(). These 2 functions both have a Uniform Distribution, that is any value between the minimum and maximum values will have the same probability of being chosen.

We can convert a uniform distribution to a Normal distribution by some simple maths (simple to do, not simple to explain).

=norminv(rand(),mean,standard_dev)

Example =NORMINV(rand(),100,10)

Will generate a distribution of random numbers centred on 100 with a spread having a bell shaped curve with a standard deviation of 10. This means that the function will produce a number with a 99.7% probability of being between 70 and 130 and on average will have a mean of 100.

Monte Carlo simulations

So how can I use this and Data Tables to do Monte Carlo simulations.

Before we go any further the author wants to explicitly state that he is not suggesting that the use of Normal Distributions for the variables modeled below is appropriate, except for the purpose of demonstration of the principles behind Monte Carlo Modelling.

As with all models you need to have a good understanding of the distribution of inputs before you start playing with simulations or of which Monte Carlo is but one type. ie: Rubbish In Rubbish Out.

We can model an input vaiable, in this case Exchange rate with a distribution instead of a fixed value and then run the model a number of times and see what impact the variation has on the output.

This is shown in the attached Excel Workbook on the “Monte Carlo (Simple)” Tab or Monte Carlo (Simple) Example

The formula =NORMINV(RAND(),0.92,0.02), will generate a Random Exchange Rate with a distribution based on a mean on 0.92 A$/U$ and a spread of approximately 6 cents each way ie: there will be a 99.7% probability of the exchange rate being between 0.86 and 0.98 A$/U$.

 

Copying the formula down from H6 to H1005 will allow our data table to generate 1000 iterations of the model each with a randomly generated Exchange Rate.

In the model above, you can see that for a Base case exchange rate of 0.92 the profit is $M 5.452, however after running 1000 simulations the profit is actually $M 5.7134. More important is that you can now run statistics on the model to tell what is the probability of the profit being greater than 0.00 based on variance in the exchange rate etc.

Note 1: You will note that in the above data table that the Input Column (darker blue) has the formula for calculating a random input grade from a distribution.  =NORMINV(RAND(),0.92,0.02)

This is a Volatile Formula , ie: It recalculates every time the worksheet changes.

What this means for the worksheet is that when the Data Table goes to Calculate Row 2 of the Data Table it will recalculate the Input value for Row 1.

On Calculation of Row 2, It doesn’t change the Table Values for Row 1, just the Input Column value.

So after 1,000 calculations of the Data Table, the Input Column values will have no relationship to the data from the original Calculations stored in the Data Table body area.

To make up for this we also add an Input variable to the Data Table.

Doing this allows the Data Table to capture and store both the Input variable and corresponding Output variable in the Data Table’s Body.

Note 2: Always run at least 1000 iterations of Monte Carlo models. This is to ensure that you have a statistical chance of getting sufficient outliers (extreme values) to make the variance analysis meaningful. This is important because as the number of iterations increases the variance of the average output decreases.

Press F9 a few times and watch the average H6:H1005 change.

Try changing the Data table from 1,000 rows to 10, 20 or 100,0000 rows. As the number of iterations increases the variance in the average of the output decreases.

Advanced Monte Carlo Simulations

We can now put our knowledge of Data Tables and Monte Carlo Simulation to the test by varying 4 input variables at the same time.

This is shown in the attached Excel Workbook on the “Monte Carlo (Advanced)” Tab or Monte Carlo (Adv) Example

In the example below we have inserted distributions for 4 input variables.

Ore Tonnes Mean 1,000,000 tonnes Standard Deviation of 100,000 tonnes
Gold Grade Mean 1.68 g/t Au Standard Deviation of 0.1 g/t Au
Gold Price Mean 1,200 U$/Oz Standard Deviation of 100 U$/Oz
Exchange rate Mean 0.92 A$/U$ Standard Deviation of 0.02 A$/U$

Monte-carlo Simulations in Excel - 3 [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

And setup a data Table for the 4 Input Variables and main output variable, Profit.

Monte-carlo Simulations in Excel - 4 [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

Note: When this model is run through the Data Table, note that the Row or Column input cells can be set to anywhere. The Model is not using the value of the Input Cell (Row or Column) and isn’t even using the Run No (Column F) for the model, the data table is simply being used to run lots of iterations of the model, with the variability coming from the Random Numbers in the 4 input cells.

ITERATED FUNCTIONS INCLUDING FRACTALS

At a meeting in early 2005, the company I was working for was looking at an integrated Scheduling & Budgeting system.

The salesman gave a great demo except that the system would take approx. 30 mins to calculate our budget as opposed to a half a second in Excel.

Complaining I mentioned that our current, Excel based, system could do the job in seconds.

And he returned stating that “the system was doing a lot of things Excel couldn’t do”.

I responded “but Excel can do anything”

and he immediately shot back that “Excel can’t do a Mandelbrot”

To which I responded “Yes it can”

And he responded “Not without VB Code”

Without too much thinking I responded that I would accept the Challenge.

The attached file, which is described below is my response.

Excel Mandelbrot

Mandelbrot Fractals in Excel - 1 [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

The attached file is an implementation of the classic Mandelbrot implemented in Excel without the use of VBA code.

A Mandelbrot is a graphical display of the simple equation Zn+1 = Zn2 + c, where Z is a complex number (x +iy).

Which is described at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandelbrot_set

This can be solved in the real X-Y domain using:

Xnew = Xold2 – Yold2 + X_Orig and

Ynew = 2 * Yold * Xold+ Y_Orig

Study of iterated functions reveals that these functions will either converge on an answer or diverge once a boundary has been breached

In the case of the Mandelbrot, this function diverges after the function Z2 > 4

So to construct a Mandelbrot a program needs simply to

  1. Loop from Xmin to Xmax in small steps and
  2. Loop from Ymin to Ymax in small steps and
  3. For every X, Y Point in the above 2 loops, solve the above equations until the answer is > 4
  4. Color the screen according to how many iterations it took to diverge or not

Simple…

Except that Excel doesn’t have any looping functions unless you use VBA Code

The calculation of the solution for any X, Y starting point is simple enough using a series of Rows and Columns where each Cells is the starting iteration of the solution for each various X, Y co-ordinate.

This is shown in the Calculations page in the Xnew, Ynew, Xold, Yold, Rsq and Count columns.

The iterations are simply done in the Xnew and Ynew columns

For each iteration we check that the Z2 value hasn’t diverged (not > 4) (Xnew2 + Ynew2)

And keep track of how many iterations it took to diverge, the Count Column

The above 5 lines I refer to below as the Calculator.

Mandelbrot Fractals in Excel - 2 [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

The trick to working out how to do this for a X-Y Grid was the use of the Table Function to send the starting positions to the Calculator and return the Count for that location.

This is the large Yellow Area.

Mandelbrot Fractals in Excel - 3 [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

The Large yellow area (Data Table Area) is flanked on the Top and Left by the X and Y co-ordinates for a grid encompassing the area which we want to plot.

The Table Function extracts the Top and Left values and puts them in the X Orig and Y Orig positions of the calculator.

The Calculator returns the Count of the Divergence of the Calculator to the H2 position (Top Left corner of the Grid) and that value is stored at the Grid Location.

Mandelbrot Fractals in Excel - 4 [Data Tables & Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel]

The Data Table repeats this for each position in the X-Y Grid.

An Excel Surface Chart can then Chart the Large Yellow area in effect creating a Traditional Mandelbrot plot by joining up adjacent areas of equal value (Contouring).

The Chart can also be displayed as a 3D-Surface rather than a Contour Chart for a dramatic effect.

Zooming In can be added by adding code that allows the user to say Right click in the Large Yellow area and the code will then take the Co-ordinates and Zoom in by a fixed factor

Zooming Out can be added by adding code that allows the user to say Double click in the Large Yellow area and the code will then take the Co-ordinates and Zoom out by a fixed factor

 

DOWNLOAD EXAMPLE WORKBOOKS

Download the complete example workbooks described above and practice data tables on your own.

Note: A few people have said the above files either Hang or Freeze there PC’s. This is probably because they have a number of large Data Tables within them.

I have uploaded each Tab as a separate Excel 2007 file, see below:

1. 1 Way.xlsx
2. 2 Way.xlsx
3. Monitor Multi Variables.xlsx
4. Multiway Table.xlsx
5. Monte Carlo Simple (updated)
6. Monte Carlo (Adv).xlsx

In the Example Files some of the Data Tables have been removed and there are instructions on how to re-instate them included in the file.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Speed

If you start adding a number of Data Tables to Complex Models you will rapidly cause even the fastest machines to grind to a halt.

VBA

The best way around the above speed issue is to setup a number of Data Tables for whatever analysis you wish to undertake. Then as you run each analysis copy the Data Table Data Area, The area between the Rows and Columns and paste it as values over itself. Then move onto the next data table and run it.

This allows the Data Tables to be quickly recalculated if required.

This process can be automated via 3 lines of VBA code for each Data Table.

‘Calculate Data Table in F5:H18, using Column Input cell C9
Range(“F5:H18”).Table ColumnInput:=Range(“C9”)

‘Copy Data Area as Values
Range(“G6:H18”).Copy
Range(“G6:H18”).PasteSpecial Paste:=xlPasteValues

‘Repeat Above for each Data Table

‘Deselect Current Range
Application.CutCopyMode = False

Cell Contents

If you look at a cell in a Data Table you will see something like:

  • {=TABLE(,E5)}: for a Column Input Cell
  • {=TABLE(E4,)}: for a Row Input Cell
  • {=TABLE(E4,E5)}: for a Row and Column Input Cell

Although these appear like Array Formula, they cannot be manually set.

So setting up a data table and typing =TABLE(,E5) Ctrl-Shift-Enter, only produces an error message.

Further Reading & References

Added by Chandoo

This post is by far one of the most comprehensive posts on Chandoo.org. And each of the 3100+ words in it show the passion and knowledge that Hui has. Thank you so much Hui for sharing this wealth of knowledge with our members.I have learned a lot of interesting and useful things from this article.

If you have enjoyed this article, please say thanks to Hui.

 

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28 Responses to “CP024: Customize Excel to boost your productivity”

  1. Robert says:

    I think that the most useful customisation that I utilise frequently is some code I found that allows multiple items to be selected from a data validation list. For example one workbook we use lists the business drivers for a project. Another uses this technique to select the staff involved in a particular project. See http://blog.contextures.com/archives/2009/09/18/select-multiple-items-from-excel-data-validation-list/

  2. Sean Hyland says:

    Another terrific podcast Chandoo! Glad to hear that you, your family, friends and community are recovering well from HurHur.
    You did a great job of covering so many of the customization techniques that I use but one that I really like is the addition of those top portion of the quick access tool bar with items that I use often but are not standard to any of the tool bar options.

    Thank again Chandoo for the terrific website! It definitely is helping to make me awesome in Excel.

  3. Angelo says:

    I customise excel toolbars by inserting an icon and dragging it to the appropriate area.

  4. Bruno says:

    I prefer not to customize (too much).. I use Excel on a work pc, on two pc's at home, and sometimes on other PC's (even on different languages). I've found that if I keep the most "standard" look, I manage to get around on any pc, whatever the language pack.

    The only thing I do is "pinning" the most used files on the Windows taskbar. And even then I sometimes forget what I placed where, and look it up manually anyway...

  5. Jim Peterkin says:

    Hi, Chandoo. Thanks for the complete review of customizations. I use most of the items you mention, such as Options to set the default font to “old” Arial rather than Cambria. I’ve also adapted the QAT, adding a button to Repeat last action as well as ones to close the current workbook and the Excel application. Lastly, I developed a personal Add-in that contains macros and changes the ribbon (via Microsoft’s Custom UI editor) to rearrange buttons for functions I always use and adds a new ribbon tab with buttons for my personal macros. For example, one of my most frequently used macros deletes all rows below and columns to the right of a selected cell and resets the Excel used range value for the worksheet (helpful for when I press Ctrl-End).

  6. Nick says:

    Thank you again for another great podcast! I always learn something from your podcast/Blog/site. I can't believe I never bothered to look at setting the number of sheets excel creates when you open a New workbook. That will save me time everyday!

    I usually create a Personal Macro set to use, as well as creating some custom ribbon and toolbar sets to make my most needed functions handy (I even include some personal macros in these toolbars.) I also spend some time creating some themes to match the Company reporting colors so that my work can easily be incorporated into company communications.

    Thanks for helping me be awesome at Excel everyday!

  7. Mike says:

    Hi Chandoo - excellent podcast. At the moment I only use the quick access tool bar to add not standard icons. But now I have several techniques that I am going to try. Thanks

  8. target says:

    excellent podcast!! not enough users maximise their productivity by making Excel more comfortable to work with!!

    I use many of the techniques already mentioned (personal macro book, customised QAT/ribbon, etc) but but, instead of adding lot's of buttons I find it's better learn and use the relevant keyboard shortcuts instead of adding buttons for all those functions you use all the time (avoid button overload!!).

    Far better to add buttons for functions you don't use often and that are difficult to find/use in their regular guise

    I also use a default 'dashboard' workbook that has hyperlinks to a handful of files I use regularly.

    also maybe worth mentioning creating default workbook/worksheet 'styles' - to do this create a workbook with the formats you want (fonts, page setup, # of sheets, etc) and save it to your excel start folder with the name BOOK (use SHEET for the sheet template). From then on all new books/sheets will have the same basic formatting

  9. Oxidised says:

    Thanks for the podcast Chandoo, glad you are recovering from the typhoon experience.
    Here at work we created 2 template files, a "simple" one and a "large" one. We often have to put together engineering calculations and having these templates makes it so much faster. The simple one has a cover page (used for tracking revisions) and then a sheet set out in our standard format. The large one has the same cover page, then a contents page that has macro buttons to jump to any of the 10 tabs set up in it. And yes, we often use 5-10 tabs when doing our calculations! This makes the navigation much easier and means we can get on with calcs and not have to spend time formatting.

    Thanks and enjoy, Oxi

  10. Filder says:

    Hi Chandoo – I liked this episode. So far I only use quick access bar to add icons for Macros, special paste etc.. Looking forward to explore some of the techniques shared by you. Thanks

  11. Jo says:

    Thanks for the podcast. There's a couple of things I'll have to try.

    I've set up a default workbook that's saved to my excel start directory that contains:
    * corporate colours and fonts
    * a cover sheet
    * modified and expanded cell styles
    * default table and pivot table styles
    * custom page setup settings

    Another thing I've tried is creating chart templates which saves a bit of time.

  12. Desk Lamp says:

    My Quick Access toolbar is jampacked with macros:

    - Save all open spreadsheets
    - Backup the active workbook to another folder. Useful if I'm making big changes to the spreadsheet that i might want to revert later.
    - Copy & Paste special values. Why click two buttons when you can click one?
    - Set my preferred number formatting
    - Format graphs in company colours
    - Apply red/green conditional formatting for growths data. 0% growth is white, 20% growth is green, -20% growth is red
    - Format and apply settings to pivot tables as I like them. E.g. Tabular format, no retained items, no style, etc
    - Sort items in a pivot filter. Standard Excel capability only lets you sort items if they are in rows or columns not in a filter
    - Delete all custom styles. It amazing how many junk styles spreadsheets can accrue, especially when copying in data from other spreadsheets
    - Resize and reposition all comments. I swear comments have a mind of their own, constantly moving to bizarre places.
    - Print in a Userform all external links and whether the links are active. Including those in name manager and in pivot tables that don't show up in the 'Edit links' window.
    - Print in a Userform all HIDDEN name manger names. As a company we need to be careful about what is exposed when we publish spreadsheets.

    These (and more I've not mentioned) save me countless hours during a normal working week!

  13. Thanks for a great podcast. Really useful tips on customisation. The tip on only one sheet instead of three - using that now myself.

    Personally I use customisation for two main purposes. Quick access to functions I use regularly – to state the obvious – but also some functions I use so infrequently I may not be able to quickly find them when I need them. Forms, for example.

    And if I ever need to use a function or command that I have recently learned or used in a new or different way, I add that to the Quick Access Ribbon.

  14. Shah says:

    Hi Chandoo,

    On top all those customization you've mentioned, I also use the Custom UI Editor for Microsoft Office to create my own Ribbon menu buttons in Excel 2007 and hide the default ones. With the help of macros of course, this makes Excel looks and behave like an App.

    Try that to impress your boss !

  15. Ken says:

    Chandoo,

    Until recently, I had only created custom VBA to solve specific problems related to work. I usually placed a shortcut in a new ribbon. Now I am going to use some of the tips that you mentioned to customize one ribbon for all of the common items that I use (like filter, sort, number format, etc.)

    Thank you.

  16. samtheman says:

    Hi Chandoo,

    I really like your podcast. I will appreciate if you continue to do podcast in the future.
    Regarding my customize of excel, I usually keep lot of commands in Quick Access Toolbars (QAT), esp, insert/delete sheet row, insert/delete sheet column,copy, cut, format copying, paste, paste special, paste value, Font color, Fill color, camera tool and open recent file etc. Also I click on click on Developer tab so that it is visible on my tabs.
    When I was studying MBA, I used to do add-ins of Analysis Toolpak but I have not used that Toolpak since I completed MBA.

    Thanking you,

    Sam

  17. Uriel says:

    Hi Chandoo,

    I really like your page and it's the first time I listen your podcast and it's great!!. I use a lot the Quick Access Toolbar and also use personal macros for rutine task and for look-and-feel in corporate colors, but after listen you I will try to costumize the ribbon and also I will work with themes and styles.

    Thanks to inspire us!!.

    Regards from Mexico.
    Uriel

  18. Ahmed says:

    Thank you Chandoo, very useful.
    I have done 3 things to customize my excel,
    Created a new tab and put in it all my frequently used commands.
    Recorded all my repeated activities as macros and I am running this everyday.
    Added the commands I use very very frequently (including the recorded macros) to the QAT.
    Thank you again

  19. Dave says:

    Hi Chandoo,

    Great podcast. I usually do the following to customize my Excel:
    1) I use custom themes and chart & slicer templates
    2) Custom macros in QAT and Ribbon for repetitive tasks
    3) Keep generic VBA routines in a module for use when needed for specific workbooks, I can just copy it into the target workbook.
    Thanks,
    Dave

  20. Jennifer David says:

    Hi Chandoo,
    I have been using the quick access toolbar and it is great for having frequently used features all in one place. As well as macros and those less commonly known features, such as select visable cells when working with hidden rows/columns. The list of all commands available to add to the toolbar is mind numbing.
    I did not know about adding your own tab to the ribbon. I have already begun contructing my own.
    Thank you for the wonderful information.

  21. Jay says:

    Chandoo,
    I mainly use the personal macros. There are a few charts that I update frequently, this requires that I keep the old data and change the range of the chart. Changing the range causes Excel to pick all new colors for my chart. So, one macro reverses this issue.

    Thanks for sharing your awesomeness.

  22. Jorge Supelano says:

    My customization:

    I have three add-ins: Macabacus light for shortcuts (free), XL Campus to work with lots of tabs and the Tableau reshaper add-in (free), to reshape tables in database form.

    I have created and copied macros for:
    Clean formats
    Search and select constants
    Format as constant (I used to do financial modeling)
    Trace dependents simultaneously
    Center across selection (not used anymore since it's in one of the Add-ins)
    Search and select blanks cells
    Select cell A1 in every sheet (before closing the file)
    Protect and unprotect sheets and workbook

    Almost all macros have shortcuts and a dedicated tab in the ribbon.

    As for Excel options themselves:
    Automatic calculations
    Error tracking disabled
    Cursor stays in same cell when Enter is pressed

    And I used to have a Financial modeling template as a predefined sheet where different formats and styles were pre-established

  23. Ravinder Pal Chopra says:

    Dear chandoo

    Thanks for the excellent podcast. I regularly visit your website and have listened to all your podcast which are very informative. I customise my toolbar by using a quick access and inserting icons in toolbar.

  24. Erich says:

    i used all of you suggestions, but have refrained from pinning files to the Recent Workbook List. It bothered me that this pinned files also took over the keybord shortcuts for the last opened files. If I press ALT-F+1, i want to open the last used file, not the file i pinned first.

    I missed a very powerful Excel customization option in your podcast, which i use every day and saves me hours: custom keyboard shortcuts. There are two of them:

    1. Assign a Key combination to a macro (e.g. "Ctrl-Shift-V" for my VBA-procedure "PasteSpecial_Values")
    -> Open the Macro-dialog (Alt-F8) and go to Options, set the key...

    2. Assign a Key combination even to F-Keys (e.g. "F5" for "my_favorite_Macro")
    -> Open VBA-Editor (Alt-F11), go to any Module in your Personal.xlsb and add this code:

    Sub auto_open()
    Application.OnKey "{F5}", "my_favorite_Macro"
    End Sub

    There is no quicker way to call your macro!

  25. Wouter Naert says:

    Hi Chandoo, very excellent podcast.

    I use the quick access toolbar to link my VBA macro's and at the moment I'm experimenting on adding a personal ribbon tab with personal ribbon buttons. I use a Custom UI Editor to do this, it let me link macro's to the buttons used in the personal ribbontab.

    This way for a project dashboard I can add the buttons necessary there and they are attached to the file. So other people opening the file have the same ribbon tab. Looking professional and to quote 'awesome' ;-).

  26. Jackie says:

    Thanks for your prodcast.

    I customize my excel in the ribbon. This allows to feature the items I need

  27. Chris Triplett says:

    Hi Chandoo,

    Would you please link me to your Excel Customization Handbook? I am sure that this will help me in a huge way!

  28. Zee says:

    Hi Chandoo!
    I would love an Excel Customization Handbook! Here is my tip:

    To recreate the CTRL-HOME functionality on Excel for Mac copy and paste the following code into your personal macro workbook. I assigned my code to the hotkey Option-Cmd-G and now it's like I have a "Home" button on my Mac!
    ----------
    Sub GoHome()
    '
    ' GoHome Macro
    ' Simulates Ctrl-Home on a PC
    '
    ' Keyboard Shortcut: Option+Cmd+g

    If ActiveSheet.Type = xlWorksheet Then
    With ActiveWindow
    .ScrollRow = 1
    .ScrollColumn = 1
    .ActivePane.VisibleRange.Cells(1).Select
    End With
    End If

    End Sub

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