Do you like the cool features of Google docs spreadsheets but too comfortable with MS Excel’s UI? Well, the supercool OffiSync add-in is for you. It is developed for Oudi Antebi an former marketing manager at Microsoft.
How OffiSync Google Docs add-in for MS Office works?
Once you finish the installation of the addin you will see a new ribbon in the corresponding applications (word, excel and powerpoint)
When you want to open a google doc, just hit the open button, select the document you want to open and bingo, it is available for editing right inside excel.
You can even try options like collaboration, sharing from excel.
The limitations of OffiSync:
Google has some very cool functions like GoogleFinance(), ImportHtml(), ImportXml() etc. using which you can build a stock portfolio tracker, Webpage monitors, RSS to Excel converter. But these functions don’t seem to work properly when you open the document in Excel using OffiSync.
Also, when you have the addin installed, Excel takes more time to open as it needs to connect to google everytime you run office.
What do you think about the OffiSync add-in ?
[Hat tip: Digital Inspiration]
9 Responses to “Show forecast values in a different color with this simple trick [charting]”
While this works in a pinch, it clearly "lightens" the colors of the entire chart. Depending on where you use this, it will be blatantly obvious that you don't know what you are doing and present a poor looking graph.
Why not separate the data into different segments when charting and have as many colors as you have data points? You might have to create a new legend and/or repeat the chart in "invisible ink", but it would be cleaner and more consistent when new or updated data becomes available.
While I think I agree that doing it "properly" via a second series is preferable, I don't necessarily agree that making the entirety of the "future" (data, gridlines, and even the axis) semi-transparent is "poor looking". I think it could be seen as adding more emphasis to the "future-ness" of the forecast data.
In short, it's another tool for the toolbox, even if it's never needed.
Simply and clever 🙂
Quick & effective, cool. thanks.
I always use the dummy series.
Nice little trick, thanks very much!
Two sets of data better. Control is much better.
You can use the same chart next month to see what is actual and what is forecast.
To use this trick, I think grid lines has to be removed, that will make the graphic much more sharp.
to be honest, i dont understand why there is needed to do this way... in this case horizontal lines will be pale as well. then why a just can't change the color of the line partly???
Great tutorial. Thanks for the tutorial!