Excel merge arrays into a single array with VBA
Until late 2022 an annoying omission from Excel and VBA was a simple way to combine or merge arrays into a single array. Here’s how to do it with VBA for older Excel releases. Excel 365 for Windows and Mac now have HStack() and VStack() which will combine dynamic arrays or ranges. The VBA method […]
Six workarounds when your keyboard breaks
Your deadline is in four hours, you’ve got pages to write and BAM! a letter key breaks on your keyboard …. What do you do? There are at least six different workarounds available in Word, Windows and Mac. A broken key happened to Colin Chambers, a University of Buffalo student when a drink spilled on […]
Lambda – strange name for a really good extra in Excel
Excel users are rightly interested in Lambda() a very powerful addition to Excel. Lambda lets you create user-defined functions without VBA. No need for .xlsm files with all the security concerns they entail. A long formula can be written once then referenced anywhere in the workbook by a short name of your choosing. User-Defined Functions – […]
Watch your sort and other Excel traps for the unwary
Sorting numbers in Excel looks easy but there’s traps if you’re not careful. Let’s look at an example of sorting gone wrong, how it’s easy to do but also fix. Finally how modern Excel has several features to warn you not to fall into a common mistake. This table popped up on Twitter (original source […]
Ctrl+F6 mystery revealed in Excel
The Ctrl+F6 shortcut in Excel doesn’t behave the same way as Word or PowerPoint. It changed a few years ago to behave differently from what most Office users expect. Ctrl + F6 will switch (cycle through) the open windows in Word or PowerPoint. It’s a quick way to move between different documents/slides. Since Windows doesn’t […]
Handwrite into docs on Office apps for iPad
Handwrite direct into Office apps for iPad, converting your writing into text right away, courtesy of the iOS Scribble feature. What you’ll need, how to setup and the new thing to look for on the Draw tab of the Word, Excel and PowerPoint apps. Microsoft has integrated the Scribble feature into some Office for iPad […]
Make transparent images in Office for Windows
Microsoft 365 and Office 2021 for Windows can make images transparent in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Text or other graphics can show through the picture. Pictures can be made transparent to reveal what’s behind in lower layers of the document, slide or worksheet. For any image go to Picture | Format | Adjust | […]
Get the Game of Thrones look in Word and PowerPoint
Here’s how to get the Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon look in Word documents and PowerPoint slides. Plenty of people have borrowed the Game of Thrones or GoT look, including a certain US President. All these uses are contrary to various trademarks by HBO. Despite legal complaints there are many ‘tip of […]
Can’t access Microsoft 365 Stock Images …
A Monday morning glitch by Microsoft has accidently disabled access to most Microsoft 365 Stock images and more. At 5:30pm UTC (12:30pm NYC): Microsoft 365 Stock Content is now available on our test machines in the UK and USA. Give your Insert | Pictures | Stock Images a try with fingers crossed! The expired digital […]
Fix Excel when Stock and Geography data types go missing
When the Stock and Geography data types disappear from the Data ribbon in Excel here’s how to fix and restore Linked Data Types. The Data ribbon is missing the entire ‘Data Types’ section. We’ve had several reports from Office-Watch.com readers who start Excel 365 and find that their Stock and Geography linked data worksheets won’t […]
Orthodox Cross ☦ in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
Type the Orthodox Cross ☦ into Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint or Outlook. Both in Office for Windows and Office for Mac. Orthodox Cross or Russian Othodox Cross ☦ symbol is widely seen in Russia and in particular the Russian Orthodox Church. There’s also a Christian or Latin Cross ✝ symbol available. How Orthodox Cross ☦ […]
Marriage Symbol ⚭ in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
Type the Marriage Symbol ⚭ into Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint or Outlook. Both in Office for Windows and Office for Mac. Marriage Symbol ⚭ symbol is two interlocked circles with obvious symbolism. It can be used for any situation you like, perhaps when two items or groups merge or an alternative bullet symbol. How Marriage […]
Four ways to put Microsoft Office on your iPad
You have an Apple iPad but do you know all the different ways that Microsoft Office can run on an iPad. There are four different options, some free and others you have to pay for. Why bother? Surely you just install the Office mobile apps and that’s it? Sadly no, and there are advantages to […]
Three ways to make an auto-update unique list in Excel
Making unique (not duplicated) list in Excel is possible in three ways that update automatically. One is headspinningly hard. One has some minor quibbles. The best option is a lot easier and relatively new in Excel. We’re talking here about making a list of unique (non-duplicate) values which update automatically if the source list changes. […]
Extra symbols with Segoe Fluent Icon font for Word & Office
Segoe Fluent Icon is a handy extra symbols font with some icons that aren’t easily available anywhere else. It’s free for Windows and Mac. Here’s how to use it in Word and Office. Segoe Fluent Icons is intended for use by developers making their Windows apps but there’s no reason why you can’t use them […]
Easy way to convert sentences into Excel formula
There’s a way to convert a sentence into an Excel Formula using modern AI. You’d expect this to come from Microsoft but instead it’s the work on one smart man who has made the Excel Formula Bot. David Bressler has created a way to turn human sentences into an Excel Formula at https://excelformulabot.com/ It’s interesting […]
