Reliable Data Validation

Data validation can provide a user with guidance as to what values are appropriate for use in certain cells, but it cannot protect against inappropriate entries in all circumstances. This tip examines how to make sure that data validation occurs when a user enters values into multiple cells at once.

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(Thanks to Ryszard Raciborski, Brian Dorey, Michael Avidan (MVP), and Andrija Vrcan for contributing to this tip.)

Criteria-Based Counting in a Filtered Column

The filtering capabilities of Excel are excellent, providing you with great control over which records in a worksheet are displayed. If you want to perform criteria-based calculations on the records that are displayed, however, you can easily find yourself stymied. This tip focuses on how to do the counting you need based on only filtered data.

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(Thanks to Dave Bonin for contributing to this tip.)

PivotTables Make You Feel Faint?

Do you get weak in the knees when asked to deal with huge amounts of data? Forget feeling faint ever again when you are asked to deal with PivotTables. Learn much more than the basics with PivotTables for the Faint of Heart, now available in three great versions.

Can't Use Hyperlinks

Before some features in Excel can function properly, you must have the correct permissions set for the user of the computer. This tip explores where to look to correct some of these problems.

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Changing the Comment Indicator Color

Add a comment to a worksheet, and you'll notice that Excel places a small, red triangle at the upper-right corner of the cell containing the comment. What if you want to change that triangle's color to something else? It's not that easy to do in Excel.

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This section is for those having problems making Excel behave. If Excel is giving you fits, feel free to submit your own Help Wanted question.

If you have a solution for the problems below, click the link after the problem to send us your answer. (All responses become the sole property of Sharon Parq Associates, Inc., and can be used in any way deemed appropriate.) If your response is used in a future issue, you will be credited for your contribution to the answer.

Highlighting Cells with Text Over a Certain Length

I have a worksheet that contains a large number of text values. Is it possible to use a conditional format to highlight cells that contain text that is longer than 25 characters? Due to company restrictions, I need to do this without using a macro.
—Bonnie Harris (provide an answer for this Help Wanted question)