This article is written by Myles Arnott from Excel Audit
In the first part on our Modeling Best Practices series, we learned 5 best practices to follow. This article shows how to automatically implement the best practices using macros.
Quick Re-cap on Modeling Best Practices
Make cell content and cell purpose visually identifiable at all times
In the first article I highlighted the fact that the content and purpose of every cell should be easily identifiable to the user at all times.
At a basic level we can identify two basic cell types:
| Type | Background | Font | Protection |
| Assumption or constant | White | Blue | No |
| Output | Grey | Black | Yes |
Best Practice formatting made easy
In order to make the application of Best Practice formatting quicker and easier I have created three simple macros. These macros use Excel’s Go To Special function and then some simple formatting to the active sheet.
Demo of the macros
Please watch this 5 minute demo to understand how the macros work.
[Click here to watch the video]
Overview of best practice macros
Auto_Format: automatically formats cells depending on their type:
- Number constants (i.e. input cells) are white background, blue font & unprotected
- Non number constants (e.g. formulae) are grey background, black text & protected
Constants_Format: formats selected cells as white background, blue text & unprotected
Formula_Format: formats selected cells as grey background, black text & protected
And a couple of extras:
Simple_Audit: A Simple Audit Macro that uses the go to special function to select and highlight specific cell types. This is the macro from the Managing Spreadsheet Risk article.
Clear_format: formats all cells as white background, black text & protected
A word of warning: These macros apply formatting to your spreadsheets. This formatting cannot be undone.
File to download
Since formatting steps vary for Excel 2003 & 2007, we have 2 versions of the files. Please download the appropriate file below:
These files have the macros embedded in them. You will need to move these macros into your personal workbook. Help on this.
Once in your personal workbook you can then add these to your QAT, or Ribbon.
Conclusion
Have a play with the macros on the example workbook and then, once you are happy with how to use them, you can start applying best practice formatting at the click of a button.
Let us know how you are implementing these best practices and your suggestions using comments.
Thanks to Myles
Many thanks to Myles for compiling all the tips & sharing this with us. If you have enjoyed this article, please say thanks to Myles. You can also reach him at Excel Audit or his linkedin profile.
11 Responses to “Fix Incorrect Percentages with this Paste-Special Trick”
I've just taught yesterday to a colleague of mine how to convert amounts in local currency into another by pasting special the ROE.
great thing to know !!!
Chandoo - this is such a great trick and helps save time. If you don't use this shortcut, you have to take can create a formula where =(ref cell /100), copy that all the way down, covert it to a percentage and then copy/paste values to the original column. This does it all much faster. Nice job!
I was just asking peers yesterday if anyone know if an easy way to do this, I've been editing each cell and adding a % manually vs setting the cell to Percentage for months and just finally reached my wits end. What perfect timing! Thanks, great tip!
If it's just appearance you care about, another alternative is to use this custom number format:
0"%"
By adding the percent sign in quotes, it gets treated as text and won't do what you warned about here: "You can not just format the cells to % format either, excel shows 23 as 2300% then."
Dear Jon S. You are the reason I love the internet. 3 year old comments making my life easier.
Thank you.
Here is a quicker protocol.
Enter 10000% into the extra cell, copy this cell, select the range you need to convert to percentages, and use paste special > divide. Since the Paste > All option is selected, it not only divides by 10000% (i.e. 100), it also applies the % format to the cells being pasted on.
@Martin: That is another very good use of Divide / Multiply operations.
@Tony, @Jody: Thank you 🙂
@Jon S: Good one...
@Jon... now why didnt I think of that.. Excellent
Thank You so much. it is really helped me.
Big help...Thanks
Thanks. That really saved me a lot of time!
Is Show Formulas is turned on in the Formula Ribbon, it will stay in decimal form until that is turned off. Drove me batty for an hour until I just figured it out.