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Visualize state to state migration data and you could win an iPad or Galaxy Tab [Datavis Contest 2014]

Time for another dashboard contest. Sit straight, set aside your appointments and get number-crunching.

Analyze state to state migration data between 2012 & 2010 and present your results in a dashboard (or charts) and you could walk away with glory, fame & and an iPad.

If all of this sounds tempting, read on.

The contest

Download dataset for the contest [mirror]
Analyze the data and create a dashboard or set of charts (see rules below)
Submit your workbook by 20th of April (Sunday), 2014.
If readers at chandoo.org and our panel of judges love your work, you get one of the cool prizes.

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April 9, 2014

Hui’s Calendar Tool (as Borrowed from Chandoo)

Today we take a look at an exercise in how to develop a simple Calendar selection tool for your worksheets without using complex VBA Calendar Controls.

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April 7, 2014

CP004: Can I Pie Chart in Public? Discussion about Pie charts, their merits and drawbacks, when to use & when to avoid them

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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In the 4th session of Chandoo.org podcast, lets talk about Pie charts.

Pie charts evoke strong opinions among analysts & managers. Some people love them and can’t have enough of them in reports. Others despise them and go to any lengths to avoid them. And that is why we are going to talk about them in this session.

You will learn,

Special, secret transmission from guest stars
What is a pie chart?
Why they work? 2 reasons
Why they don’t work ? 4 reasons
Cousins & siblings of Pie charts
- Donut charts
- Gauge charts (speedometer)
- 3D pies
- Area charts
- Bubble charts
4 Situations when making a pie chart is ok
Alternatives to Pie charts
Mistakes you should avoid
About the resources
Conclusions

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April 3, 2014

VBA Serenity

Greetings and salutations, my fellow VBA-fearin’ congregation. Evangelizin’ Jeff here, spreading the good word about everlastin’ VBA serenity. You may remember me from mah preeeevious

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March 31, 2014

Tables, PivotTables, and Macros: music to your ears

Howdy folks. Jeff Weir here again. You may remember me from posts such as What would James Bond have in his Personal Macro Workbook and

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March 28, 2014

CP003: Business Intelligence for Masses – Interview with Mike Alexander

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

In the third session of Chandoo.org podcast, we are going to get BI curious. 😉

Not that kind you silly, We are talking about Business Intelligence, Big Data, Power Pivot & other Power BI family members. In this session, I am happy to feature Mike Alexander – Microsoft MVP, Author, Blogger & a good friend. Mike talks about how Excel is shaping the BI (Business Intelligence) revolution with advent of Power BI functionality.

You will learn,

Introduction, what Mike is up to these days?
What is BI, what does it mean to an average Excel analyst?
What BI capabilities Excel has – brief intro to each of them
- Power Pivot & what it does
- Power Query & why it is important
- Power View & how it works (and where it sucks)
- Power Maps
How to learn about these new technologies
- Recommended Books
- Websites
- Courses
- Live classes
Special gift for our listeners

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March 27, 2014

Calculating Maximum Change [solutions & discussion]

Last Friday, we had a fun little Excel challenge – Calculate Maximum Change. More than 170 people commented and shared their solutions to this problem.

And the best part?

The best part is the variety of solutions & thinking displayed by our community. So if you are one of those 170, puff your chest & pat yourself on the back. Go ahead, I will wait.

Today, lets take a look at some of these awesome formulas and understand how they work. Read on and watch the video you below to gain few awesomeness pounds.

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March 26, 2014