Here is a charming little problem to kick start your day.
Lets say you run a cute little bakery around the corner. Since you want your prices to look charming, you have a policy to round them down or up based on below rule.
If the price ends with 0, 1 or 2 cents, round it down to 9 cents.
If the price ends with 3, 4 or 5 cents, round it up to 5 cents.
If the price ends with 6, 7, 8 or 9 cents, round it up to 9 cents.
For example,
So how do you round to nearest charmed price? You could do it manually. But you would rather bake a few more of those Tiny Cup Cakes than waste time rounding the prices. So you want an automatic way to round prices. This is where Excel helps.
Formula for rounding to charmed price
There are many ways to write a formula for this.
The first and most obvious method is to use IF formula
Assuming regular price is in cell C4, The formula for charmed price would look like this:
=ROUNDDOWN(C4,1) + IF(MOD(C4,0.1)<=0.02,-0.01, IF(MOD(C4,0.1)<=0.05,0.05,0.09))
Go ahead and take a hard look at it.
The first that strikes us when you read it would be,
‘Gee, Thats one long formula. I need a coffee.’
How it works:
- First we round down the price (in C4) to 10 cents with ROUNDDOWN(C4,1)
- Then we add or subtract few cents to get the charmed price with IF formula.
- IF the cents are less than or equal to 0.02, we subtract 1 cent
- IF the cents are between 3 & 5, we add 5 cents.
- Else, we add 9 cents.
So for example, if the actual price is $2.37, the formula gives $2.39 thru below process.
- Price rounded down to 10 cents will give $2.30
- MOD(2.37,0.1) gives 0.07
- This is falls in to the else portion of 2nd IF formula
- IF(MOD(2.37,0.1)<=0.02,-0.01, IF(MOD(2.37,0.1)<=0.05,0.05,0.09))
- So we add 9 cents to the rounded down price.
- Hence the charmed price is $2.39
[Related: Introduction to IF formula]
An improvement – CHOOSE formula
If the IF formula is too long & difficult to write, we can choose CHOOSE formula.
It goes like this:
=C4 + CHOOSE(MOD(INT(C4*100),10)+1,-0.01,-0.02,-0.03,0.02,0.01,0,0.03,0.02,0.01,0)
This formula takes the price in C4 & adds or subtracts necessary cents to it to get the charmed price.
Examining it with $2.37 gives,
=2.37 + CHOOSE(MOD(INT(C4*100),10)+1,-0.01,-0.02,-0.03,0.02,0.01,0,0.03,0.02,0.01,0)
=2.37 + CHOOSE(8, -0.01,-0.02,-0.03,0.02,0.01,0,0.03,0.02,0.01,0)=2.37 + 0.02
=2.39
[Related: Introduction to CHOOSE formula]
VLOOKUP & A mapping table
We can simplify our CHOOSE formula with a mapping table.
Lets say, somewhere in the workbook, we have set up a mapping table like this:
Then, we can use VLOOKUP formula to calculate charmed price:
=C4+VLOOKUP(MOD(INT(C4*100),10), mapping.table, 2 ,FALSE)
This formula is similar to CHOOSE formula.
How it works?
Assuming actual price is $2.37,
=2.37 + VLOOKUP(MOD(INT(C4*100),10), mapping.table, 2 ,FALSE)
=2.37 + 0.02 = 2.39
[Related: Introduction to VLOOKUP formula]
VLOOKUP & A smaller mapping table
Using a combination of rounded down price & approximate lookup feature of VLOOKUP, we can come up with a smaller formula.
This requires a new mapping table like this:
Our formula now looks like this:
=ROUNDDOWN(C4,1) + VLOOKUP(MOD(INT(C4*100),10),new.mapping,2)
How it works?
=ROUNDDOWN(2.37,1) + VLOOKUP(MOD(INT(2.37*100),10),new.mapping,2)
=2.3 + VLOOKUP(MOD(237,10),new.mapping,2)
=2.3 + VLOOKUP(7,new.mapping,2)
=2.3 + 0.09
=2.39
Download Example Workbook
Click here to download charmed price example workbook. Examine it to understand various formulas discussed in this article.
Challenge for you – write another formula for charmed prices
Here is a challenge for you. Assuming the price is in C4, can you come up with another way to calculate charmed price? Please share your formulas in the comments section.
Go ahead and charm us.
Want to charm your boss? Learn these as well
Excel spreadsheets are like transmogrification cloaks. If you put on the right ones, you will instantly become incredibly charming. So learn how to weave powerful spreadsheets and charm everyone around you. Start with these:
- 18.2 tips to rounding numbers in Excel
- Calculating new prices after % hike
- IF formula challenge for you
39 Responses to “11 very useful excel keyboard shortcuts you may not know”
You asked about a favorite keyboard shortcut: I often right click the navigation arrows at the bottom of an Excel workbook to get a list of the worksheets. I can click the one I want without having to scroll left or right.
I regularly use the networkdays(x,y,z) function to show the number of working days between two given dates. To exclude public holidays I reference a list of dates ("z" in the above reference) which I periodically update to reflect upcoming non-working days. To keep the sheet looking tidy for other users, I like to hide this column when I'm done, and then unhide it when I update the sheet.
With 40 separate workbooks to edit, these shortcuts make it a breeze...
? Hide selected column: CTRL+0 [zero]
? Unhide hidden column(s) within selection: CTRL+SHIFT+) [closed parenthesis]
If an "Autofit Selection" keyboard shortcut (not just a key sequence) existed, I'd be as happy as a clam!
you can use Alt+o+c+a to autofit selection
Is there a way to auto arrange the column width as you enter the data. Without a macro
You may use alternative key of hide the selected cell by ---print + H key
Unhide---prnt+U keys
You may use alternative key of hide the selected cell by ---print + H key
Unhide---prnt+U keys
[...] 11 very useful excel keyboard shortcuts you may not know [...]
[...] 11 very useful excel keyboard shortcuts [...]
[...] an Excel Conditional Formatting Rock Star 11 very useful excel keyboard shortcuts 73 Free Designer Quality Excel Chart Templates Tracking mutual fund / Stock portfolios using Excel [...]
Hello Chandoo, thanks for sharing this information. With some of the shortcuts I seem to have difficulties as they do not seem to work on the German keyboard.
Can you maybe verify that those combos are only working with the keyboard setup you are using? What would be a good source to lookup combinations for other layouts?
Regards, 1xoid1
@1xoid1 ... Thanks for visiting PHD and taking timeout to ask your question. Unfortunately all my German can be summarized to one phrase: "guten tag".
I wont be able to help you, but I can request other readers to respond. So if you know German or use German keyboard and can answer 1xoid1's question, then you get a free donut.
Guten Tag 🙂
To Sam Krysiak.
Shortcut to Autofit Selection (assuming you mean autofit columns). If you right click toolbar, click customise. From Commands tab/Categories select Built-in Menus.
In Categories window scroll down and select Columns and drag drop it onto toolbar. Then click the new toolbar Columns button and drag drop Autofit button onto your toolbar (note Autofit for Columns will no longer appear in your menus, only on toolbar).
Remove Columns button from toolbar (if you want to keep clutter down) drag and drop it off of your toolbar.
Close Customise box.
Now to Autofit columns just press "Alt" then "A".
Comment 8 correction - 2nd paragraph should read
"In Commands window...
@1xoid1:
Read the following text as follows: The key ,[;] is the one right to the M on the German keyboard. Here are the differences you have to know when using a German keyboard:
2. Press strg .[:] for inserting the current date (and strg shift .[:] for inserting current time)
3. Press strg ,[;] to copy values from cell above
8. Press strg shift –[_] to apply an outline border
10. Press strg-shift S to activate the font drop down (Schriftgroesse)
11. Press strg-shift G to activate the font size (Groesse)
Number 10 and 11 do not work with Excel 2007 anymore, but strg-shift-P shows the font tab of the cell format dialogue in Excel 2007.
All other shortcuts should work on a German keyboard exactly as Chandoo described them.
More information needed? Download a complete list with all shortcuts for Microsoft Excel in German (for free):
http://www.freeware-download.com/downloaddetails/5655.html
@Chandoo: please do not send a donut, unless you are able to attach one to an email. Otherwise the donut might be able to walk by itself, when it arrives here in Germany...
I forgot to mention:
For all readers using an English keyboard: Chip Pearson offers a comprehensive list of Excel shortcuts on the English keyboard:
http://www.cpearson.com/excel/ShortCuts.aspx
[...] your own keyboard shortcuts in Excel 2007, knowing a few keyboard shortcuts in excel is a huge help. Lyte Byte describes a nifty way to create your own key board shortcuts in [...]
[...] Select a bunch of cells and click on the Sigma symbol on the standard tool bar. Alternatively you can use Alt+= keyboard shortcut. [...]
I do some data entries column A,column B ,Column C , A and B have 10 to 12 digit codes , C has the names ; Kindly suggest me a format or formula for excel to avoid duplication of entries in all the the three columns.
Regards,
Prashant
@Prashant... You can use conditional formatting to highlight duplicate entries in the three columns. That way whenever you type a dupe value in a cell the formatting would highlight the values so that you can avoid the error.
check this post for more on using this way to handling duplicates: http://chandoo.org/wp/2008/03/13/want-to-be-an-excel-conditional-formatting-rock-star-read-this/
If you are looking for a way to remove duplicates from an existing range, you can try one of the various techniques we have described here. Try these tips:
http://chandoo.org/wp/2008/11/06/unique-duplicate-missing-items-excel-help/
http://chandoo.org/wp/2008/08/01/15-fun-things-with-excel/
[...] good alternative (although manual) is to use keyboard shortcuts CTRL + ; or CTRL + : to insert current date and time in the active cell. Since this places the [...]
Your site doesn't correctly work in safari browser
Hi GesyimmeliA: Can you tell me which version of Safari on which OS has this problem. I use Macbook at home and loaded the site quite often in Safari and never seen any layout or content issues. Are you facing any script issues while posting comments or somethings like that ?
Hey Chandoo. Great site. Learning lots.
My favorite Excel shortcut has got to be Alt+Down when over an autofilter drop down. Learning that changed my life. That was one of the last things I needed to use a mouse for. Changed my life.
[...] are a big advocate of keyboard shortcuts. I think learning a handful of keyboard shortcuts can improve your productivity tremendously, [...]
My favourit keyboard shortcut is control and 1 (use the 1 above the letters on the keyboard, not the number pad) for format cells.
Favourite shortcut: alt + shift + right/left arrow for grouping/ungrouping!
[...] Select a bunch of cells and click on the Sigma symbol on the standard tool bar. Alternatively you can use Alt+= keyboard shortcut. [...]
[...] clicking on these: excel keyboard shortcuts, excel mouse tips & tricks, excel productivity tips part 1 & part [...]
Martin Williamson thanks for the autofit tip! You rock.
In order to generate charts/bar graph with a single key:
1. Select the data
2. Press F11
3. Magic.... 🙂
F3 = Paste a Name or the entire list of Names
Crtl + F3 = Name Manager
Crtl + : = Inserts current time.
F12 = Save As
Mistake!
Crtl + Shift + : = Inserts current time.
SIR U R THE BEST PERSON WHO SHARES A WONDERFULL AND IMPORTANT TIPS IN EXCEL. THANKS AND KEEP ROCKING.
How do i hide / unhide a work sheet using the keyboard.
Great!
Other useful excel shortcuts
http://webtutorialplus.blogspot.com/2012/01/excel-quick-tip-useful-encoding-hotkeys.html
input in one cell 1a23bc output in two cell one of 123 and other one is abc how to possible, please help me.
Hey cool shortcuts but excel have more shortcuts then you listet.
i find a big database of supportet shortcuts for Excel 2007 here
http://www.veodin.com/excel-2007-shortcuts/
[...] INTEREST Date with my sheet – 10 tips on using date / time in excel http://chandoo.org/wp/2008/07/29/excel-keyboard-shortcuts/ [...]
Great article with some very useful follow-up comments and tips.
One simple question … how do you vertically align the drop-down filter button in a cell with a larger than normal height?
It’s easy enough to do so with a cell’s contents but the drop-down filter button stubbornly remains at the bottom and I need it at the top!
I’ve looked everywhere and haven’t located an explanation to what I am sure is considered an Excel basic.
Cheers