Meadinkent.co.uk provides the following well documented help and tutorials for Microsoft Excel and Access. This site will help you to learn and use many features of Excel and shows you how to code visual basic functions for Access, keeping you productive with these two office applications. A detailed Excel help index is also available.


Excel Help and Tutorials

Here are many helpful Excel tutorials containing information on many features and functions of Excel, including functions and calculations, IF conditions and selecting, formatting cells and values, dates and times, sharing data with other programs, reference, navigation, graphs, and short cuts.

Functions and Calculations

• Sum, Average and Count - the most basic functions
• Financial functions such as compound interest and loan repayments
• A detailed example of calculating loan repayments
• Investment appraisal using NPV and IRR
• Weighted averages and assessing risk
• Frequency an array function to count ranges of values

IF, conditions and selecting

• DSum, DAverage - database functions
• VLookup, Match to find a particular value within a range of data
• If, And, Or, Rank, Errors - logical functions and preventing errors
• A macro and an Advanced Filter to select records
• Selecting values from drop down lists and boxes
• Conditional SUM formulae and a costing model using SumProduct
• Using Arrays to apply selective rules to functions

Formatting Cells and Values

• Text, Abs and formatting cells with numbers or dates
• Conditional formatting of cells (2 pages)
• A VBA function to return cell colors
• Summing the values of cells which are a particular color
• Protecting cells and worksheets
• Displaying number values as words
• Extracting text from strings and phrases
• Configuring the appearance of Excel at startup
• A VBA function to display cell contents

Dates and Times

• Date and Time functions and calculations
• Calculating hours worked and shift enhancements
• An office holiday leave planner (SumProduct + Conditional Formatting)
• Calculating the difference between two Dates

Sharing data with other programs

• A simple macro to create web pages from Excel
• A more complicated macro to make formatted web pages from Excel
• Creating XML data files from Excel and Access using VBA
• Linking tables and charts in a Word document to an Excel spreadsheet
• Using PowerPoint to display information from Excel (2 pages)
• Basic examples of displaying XML / XSL files in a web browser
• An example of a cascading style sheet for web page design
• Using a macro to export text files from tables and forms

Reference, Input and Navigation

• Graphs which grow dynamically to include new data
• Hyperlink navigation and buttons on worksheets
• Two forms to input data and add it to a list using VBA macros
• Using Indirect to enter cell references as text within formulas
• Using Offset and Choose to select particular cells or values

Auditing and other stuff

• Audit tools for checking a spreadsheet
• Testing and mapping spreadsheets to check for design errors
• Adding a macro to a toolbar and keyboard shortcuts
• Improving your graphs using pictures and better axis labels
• Tips for accountants on using Excel

Access Visual Basic Modules

The following are examples of various visual basic functions and procedures that can be used in Access databases. Some of these are linked to particular event properties on forms and reports. Most can be copied and pasted into modules and then called as needed. Be sure to always thoroughly test all of the code in your databases.

• Reports manager
• Using the Open Dialog box
• Creating web pages
• Various bits of code
• Status bar messages
• Complex criteria in queries
• Report template
• Various items in report properties
• Email distribution
• Program variables
• Generate XML files

Here are a total of 32 tips and tricks for Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word. These will help you better utilize the features of these Microsoft Office applications.

• Microsoft Excel
• Fill in a Series of Dates or Numbers
• Rid Yourself of Fine Lines
• Open Specific Spreadsheets at Start-Up
• Fractions or Decimals?
• Enter More than one line of Data in a Cell
• Protect Cells From Data Entry
• Give your Worksheet a Backgroun
• Don't Lose Sight of Your Headings
• Change the Cursor's Default Direction

• Microsoft Outlook
• Archive Your Data
• Manage Junk E-Mail
• Distribution Lists
• E-mailing Notes
• Display Contacts by Nickname
• Customize Your Startup
• Improve your Message Mobility
• New Contacts from Incoming E-mail
• Ensure E-mail Delivery
  
  
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Annotating Slides
• Maintain Proportions While Resizing Elements
• Import Outlines From Word
• Animate your Slide Show
• Create Semi-transparent Objects
• Use Curved Text
• Check Your Formatting
• Use Portions of Images
• Making Notes in Slide Sorter View

• Microsoft Word
• 'Webbed ' Tables
• Watermark Your Documents
• Convert Tables to Plain Old Text
• Center Text Vertically
• Get Rid of Curly Quotes
• Collate Documents
• Bring Straying Lines Back Into Fold
• Create Email Signatures
• Take the Synonym Shortcut

Here is a nicely written and illustrated  User Guide for Outlook 2000. It covers many of this email and scheduling application's features and functions. Many of these topics are also applicable to Outlook 2003.

Microsoft Outlook 2000 User Guide


How do I...

	Composing Messages
	...compose a new message?
	...insert an attachment?
	...set the importance of a message?
	...flag a message?
	...sign messages with an AutoSignature?
	...use voting buttons?
	...track who has read my message?
	...send a fax?
	Reading Messages
	...read a message?
	...save an attachment?
	...save an attachment?
	...print a message?
	...delete a message?
	Working with Items and Folders
	...move an item to another folder?
	...select multiple items?
	...create a folder?
	...delete an item or folder?
	...purge items from the Deleted Items  folder?
	...recover deleted items?

Introducing...

	Outlook
	...the Outlook Bar
	...the Folder List
	...items
	...the Information Viewer
	Outlook Folders
	...your Mailbox
	...Outlook Today
	...the Calendar folder
	...the Contacts folder
	...the Deleted Items folder
	...the Drafts folder
	...the Inbox folder
	...the Journal folder
	...the Notes folder
	...the Outbox folder
	...the Sent Items folder
	...the Task folder
	Using Personal Folders
	...create Personal Folders?
	Using Contacts and the Personal Address Book
	...add a new contact?
	...create a Personal Distribution List?
	Using the Rules Wizard and Out of Office Assistant
	...use the Rules Wizard?
	...use the Out of Office Assistant?
	Using the Calendar
	...schedule an appointment, meeting or event?
	...cancel an appointment, meeting or event?
	...set my working hours?
	Sharing Folders
	...share folders in my Mailbox?
	Getting Help
	...get more help on Outlook?

John Lacher, MBA has more than 10 years of experience as a developer of Microsoft Office based computer applications. His Excel Examples and Tips offer a wealth of free knowledge on how to effectively use many of Excel's intermediate and advanced features. For each example he provides an instruction page and an Excel spreadsheet containing the feature being demonstrated. Topics covered include forecasting, pivot tables, business related formulas, advanced formulas, charts and graphs, VBA coding, and dates and times. If you are having trouble downloading the spreadsheets or files, here are some downloading tips.

Microsoft Excel Examples and Tips

• Excel Help Page

  Excel Search

  ROI and ROE Performance Measure

  files/lacher43.xls

  Files2000/lacher43.exe

  Forecasting Techniques

  files/lacher44.xls

  Files2000/lacher44.exe

  Comparative Ratio Analysis

  files/lacher45.xls

  Files2000/lacher45.exe

  GANTT Chart for Scheduling Resources

  gantt chart using times

  gantt chart using times

  Data Input and Analysis

  files/lacher06.xls

  Files2000/lacher06.exe

  Number of Days, Months and Years Between Two Dates

  Calculation number of days, months and years from start date to end date

  Files2000/lacher09.exe

  Pivot Table Multiple Consolidation Example

  files/lacher05.xls

  Files2000/lacher05.exe

  Custom Dialog and List Box

  lookup using list box

  lookup using list box

  images/ehlpw.gif

  images/jflw.gif

  Custom Visio Application Design and Development

• Business Solutions Tutorial

  PivotTable to Calculate Budget Variances

  Budget vs Actual Using Pivot Table

  Files2000/lacher13.exe

  PivotTables With Accounting Data

  Pivot Table Methods for Accounting Data

  Files2000/lacher27.exe

  IRR, XIRR, NPV, XNPV Functions

  examples of xiir xnpv irr and npv

  Files2000/lacher22.exe

  Maximum Sustainable Growth

  Calculate Maximum Sustainable Growth

  Files2000/lacher26.exe

  Highlight Exception Values

  exception color for date

  Files2000/lacher23.exe

  Using Built-In Workday Calculation Functions

  files/lacher39.xls

  Files2000/lacher39.exe

• Menu Options Tutorial

  Inserting Automatic Page Breaks

• Using Formulas Tutorial

  Use SUMIF instead of D... functions

• Advanced Formulas Tutorial

  Using a List Box to Change Data Displayed in a Workbook

  Using a List Box to Change Data Displayed on a Worksheet

  Files2000/lacher01.exe

  Four Methods of Adding Totals to a List

  files/lacher37.xls

  Files2000/lacher37.exe

• Pivot Tables Tutorial

  Using a Pivot Table as Source for Chart

  Using a Pivot Table as Source for Chart

  Files2000/lacher04.exe

  Apply Styles to PivotTables

  Styles on Pivot Table

  Files2000/lacher30.exe

  PivotTable Tutorial

  files/lacher33.xls

  Files2000/lacher33.exe

  Creating an Automatic Copy of a PivotTable

  Copy of Pivot Table Data Changed via Pivot Table Wizard

  Files2000/lacher36.exe

• Chart and Graph Tutorial

  Using Custom Chart Markers in XY Chart

  examples/dot.gif

  Animated Line Chart

  animate chart

  Files2000/lacher12.exe

  Chart Controlled With Button

  Chart tools - insert trendline

  Files2000/lacher14.exe

  Link Chart to Worksheet Range

  pivot table,chart,chartwizard database example

  Files2000/lacher15.exe

  Click on Chart to Select a New Source Range

  select source range for chart

  Files2000/lacher16.exe

  Add Percent Labels to a Bar Chart

  stacked bar with percentage

  stacked bar with percentage

  Chart Controlled With List Box

  files/lacher31.xls

  Files2000/lacher31.exe

  Copying an Embedded Chart to a Chart Sheet

  Plotting Zero and Missing (Empty) Values

  Plotting a Time Series of Data

  files/lacher40.xls

  Files2000/lacher40.exe

• VBA Fundamentals Tutorial

  Highlighting and Exporting Cell notes

  Learn How to Add Running Totals to a Worksheet

  Learn How to Add Running Totals to a Worksheet

  Learn How to Add Running Totals to a Worksheet

  List Box Lookup

  list box lookup based on edit field

  Files2000/lacher08.exe

  Change Cell Formatting

  Shading cells - example of modifying recorded macro

  Files2000/lacher10.exe

  Dialog Box to Filter Data

  filter using criteria range on hidden sheet

  Files2000/lacher11.exe

  Custom Dialog Example

  Custom dialog example

  Custom dialog example

  Select Custom Header

  Custom Header Selection

  Files2000/lacher20.exe

  Data Validation

  dialog box with error process

  Files2000/lacher21.exe

  Force Uppercase Entry

  Macro to force uppercase entry - using ONENTRY

  Files2000/lacher25.exe

  Pop Up List box

  files/lacher28.xls

  Files2000/lacher28.exe

  Dialing Phone Numbers the Windows 95 Dialer and Windows3.11 Cardfile

  files/lacher35.xls

  Files2000/lacher35.exe

  Input Validation

  Week number code ww in VBA

  Files2000/lacher41.exe

  Displaying Sequence of Colors

  files/lacher42.xls

  Files2000/lacher42.exe

• Advanced VBA Tutorial

  Exporting Excel Data in Special Formats

  Importing Text Files into Open Workbook

  Importing Text Files into Open Workbook

  Files2000/lacher02.exe

  Comparison of Three Sort Methods

  three different sort methods

  Files2000/lacher17.exe

• Date and Time Tutorial

  User Defined Function for Week Number

  Week number code ww in VBA

  Files2000/lacher32.exe

  Entering Time Without the Colon

  Week number code ww in VBA

  Files2000/lacher34.exe

• Feet and Inches Tutorial

  Conversion of Feet and Inches to Decimal Values

  feet to inches with formula built in to VBA

  Files2000/lacher18.exe

Here are 11 freely available ebooks on Microsoft Office 2003. Access is the database application for the Microsoft Office application suite. These MS Office ebooks provide many details and instructions on how to use the features and functions of the applications in this office suite, including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, and FrontPage.


Microsoft Office 2003 in 10 Simple Steps or Less (zip) 
(16mb)

Teach Yourself Office 2003 in 24 Hours 
(chm, 7mb)

Microsoft Office 2003 Super Bible
(pdf, 34mb)

Special Edition Using Microsoft Office 2003
(chm, 22mb)

How to Do Everything with Microsoft Office 2003
(pdf, 11499 kb)

Office 2003 Timesaving Techniques for Dummies
(pdf, 18152 kb)

Office 2003 Application Development All-in-One Desk Reference
(pdf, 10400 kb)

Using Microsoft Office 2003 Student Teacher Edition
(chm, 25024 kb)

Degunking Microsoft Office
(pdf, 73740 kb)

Illustrated Office 2003
(pdf, 338673 kb)

Office 2003 XML
(chm, 6360 kb)