Quickly Typing Dates into Cells

Typing a large amount of data into cells can be tiring, especially if it includes a series of dates. Type the day (serial number only) into cell A1 and add the following formula to insert the month and year into cell B1:

=DATE (YEAR(TODAY()), MONTH(TODAY()), A1)

Type a full number in the cell and change it to a date by using the following formula:

=DATEVALUE(LEFT(A1,2)&"/"&MID(A1,3,2)&"/" &RIGHT(A1,2))

For example, type 122203, the result is 12/22/03.

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Counting number of unique entries in a specified range

By using SUMPRODUCT along with COUNT to count only the number of unique entries in a specified range. The range can be all in one column or row, or may span multiple (adjoining) columns/rows.

The formula would be written as: =SUMPRODUCT((1/COUNTIF(A1:C5,A1:C5&""))) where A1:C5 is replaced with the range you want to apply the count to.

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Retrieving an Item from a List that Meets Multiple Criteria

Problem:
Range A2:C7 contains a list of items and their corresponding colors and prices. We want to find the name of the first Blue item that costs less than $200.

Solution:
Use the INDEX and MATCH functions as shown in the following Array formula:
{=INDEX(A2:A7,MATCH(1,(B2:B7=D2)*(C2:C7 < D3)))}

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Color numbers based on the value result in Microsoft Excel

There are two ways to color numbers according to criteria:

* Custom formatting for a number with criteria
* Conditional formatting

Using custom formats for numbers with criteria
Your options for coloring a number are not limited to displaying negative numbers red. You can color positive and/or negative numbers in any color you wish (do not get excited - the number of colors is limited to eight, and most are difficult to read). Do this by adding the name of the color to the number format in brackets.

Example: [BLUE] #,##0 ;[RED](#,##0)

A positive number is displayed in blue; a negative number is displayed in red; and 0 is displayed in blue (since there is no third section, 0 receives the format of the positive number by default).

Add a condition to the formatting, and have each section be displayed in a different color: [BLUE] [>5000]#,##0 ;[RED](#,##0); #,##0

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Indicators for the maximal and minimal values
Problem:
Creating a formula that will indicate the maximum and minimum values in List1 by returning ""Max Value"" or ""Min Value"" in the cell next to them.

Solution:
Enter the following IF statement, using the MAX and MIN functions, in column B: =IF(A2=MAX($A$2:$A$8),""Max Value"",IF(A2=MIN($A$2:$A$8),""Min Value"",""""))