Recent Discussions
Excel Challenge - Pivoting poorly structured data
This is from an ExcelBI challenge. I thought it may be worth while posting my solution here as a demonstration of modern Excel methods. Challenge Like many of such challenges, the natural solution approach is to use BYROW but that creates the usual 'array of arrays' error. Solution: Gradually I am moving to a point at which I have no formulas showing in the workbook other than calls to Lambda functions. In this case, the worksheet formuloa is = PIVOTBYCATEGORYλ(OrderTbl) The function works row by row apportioning the amounts against the listed categories PIVOTBYCATEGORYλ // Groups and pivots table by category = LAMBDA(table, LET( normalised, BYROWλ(table, APPORTIONλ), // Identify fields from normalised table dimension, TAKE(DROP(normalised,,1),,2), category, TAKE(normalised,,1), partCost, TAKE(normalised,,-1), // Pivot by category return, PIVOTBY(dimension, category, partCost, SUM,,0,,0), return ) ); The function APPORTIONλ divides the amount between categories so each record within the source data returns a number of rows APPORTIONλ // Splits by category and assigns costs = LAMBDA(record, LET( category, TOCOL(REGEXEXTRACT(INDEX(record,4),"\w+",1)), amount, INDEX(record,3) / COUNTA(category), year, YEAR(INDEX(record,1)), region, IF(LEN(INDEX(record, 2)), INDEX(record, 2), "Unknown"), broadcast, B∕CASTλ(HSTACK(region, year, amount), category), return, HSTACK(category, broadcast), return ) ); /* FUNCTION NAME: B∕CASTλ DESCRIPTION: Broadcasts the terms of a vector over the shape of a second array */ B∕CASTλ = LAMBDA(vector, array, IF({1}, vector, array)); The key to making the formula work is the function BYROWλ that I wrote to generalise the inbuilt but over-restrictive BYROW function. The PIVOTBY function returned the required crosstab from the normalised data array
Change in return of AVERAGE function - Mac Excel
I was puzzled that a spreadsheet I use daily generated an error today that had not existed in earlier versions. Attempts to confirm the validity of the spreadsheet functions by running prior versions that had previously run error free resulted in the same error. Eventually, it seems that the operation of the AVERAGE function has been changed in an Excel program update that was installed yesterday. Previously, if an AVERAGE function addressed a range of empty cells, it would return a zero value. Now it is returning the error #DIV/0! This is strange because the AVERAGE function will now return zero if the addressed range contains zeros rather than just being empty. Not sure if Microsoft intended this change or if the change might also apply to other functions. In muy case, I'm able to change my spreadsheet to provide for this but it would have been nice to have some warning.
Current Date and time per cell
I have a table with one column listing rows with a dynamic text box (open; closed) in the next column I would like to display the date and time when the status changes. The purpose is to show when a task was completed, I have used the now() function but it keeps refreshing, I need it stay the date The snip of the sheet below shows how is is currently working, so can any one help with some code for column J please. thank you Lee
Random Contractor Selection List
Hi, I would like to set up an automated random contractor list for tender purpose - is this possible? For example, I have Contractor 1 - Contractor 10, I would like to choose 2 contractors for each tender/quotation request randomly. Currently, it is done manually which is time consuming and could not ensure impartiality in selection - if I can setup the contractor rota to generate random selection, it would be wonderful. Please can anyone advise and help with the correct way to setup my excel sheet? Many thanksSome Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK Cmdlets Lose Body Parameters
A change made for some Directory Graph APIs has flowed through to the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK and affected how the associated cmdlets work, including the beta cmdlet to restore a deleted user account and while replacing the user principal name. Fortunately, the workaround is easy, but it is upsetting when something that worked suddenly doesn’t, even if it is a beta cmdlet. https://office365itpros.com/2026/01/16/restore-deleted-user-account-sdk/
Shared OneDrive for Charity Management Team
We are a small charity running a Village Hall in the UK. A few of the trustees form a Business Team that run the hall day to day. All of these have Office 365 personal or family subscriptions to use word outlook etc on their own laptops. The charity itself has Office 365 Business Basic Grant subscription. This give us Exchange email, OneDrive, Teams and SharePoint plus a few other bits. We currently store all our charity documentation on a free 15Gb OneDrive dating back to SkyDrive when first adopted. Each member of the team has their own charity Microsoft account and email e.g. email address removed for privacy reasons or email address removed for privacy reasons etc, etc. I want to migrate this data onto an Office 365 Business OneDrive that is shared with this Business Team Here's the rub. As most users have a personal subscription and data saved on their own OneDrive keeping the two separate is problematic. Because Microsoft credentials are so tightly integrated between the OS and Office if they try and sign in to the existing OneDrive it takes them to their own private OneDrive. To work around this they have to use an Incognito browser session in order to log in. I am aware you can create a shared OneDrive for teams as described https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/office/create-a-new-shared-library-from-onedrive-for-work-or-school-345c8599-05d8-4bf8-9355-2b5cfabe04d0 which should allow them to access this OneDrive by using their own credentials as above (email address removed for privacy reasons etc) but if they log in to this shared OneDrive once, and on the prompt that comes up at log in select "Stay logged in", can they keep visiting the site without logging in again and will they then have to use an incognito browser session to access their own personal OneDrive? Sorry this is so complicated but its been a nightmare trying to keep this working Many thanks JohnThose 'annoying' page breaks
I use Word, as well as other programs, to put the final polish on my manuscripts. I am considering changing publishers, and one of the candidates wants me to use page breaks only on chapter ends. Is there any way that I can tell Word 365 (Win 11 Pro) to let me put the breaks in where I want them? This would also mean finding a way to suppress the automatic page breaks. Is this even possible, and if so, how do you do it? Regards JoMultiple Inventory entries on the same item
Okay so I'm wondering if there is a way for excel to automatically advance to the next column when entering inventory data so if I need to make another entry on the same item I don't have to advance to the next cell myself. This would be helpful in streamlining inventory and making it foolproof when adding inventory to a specific item (without having to worry about deleting previously entered data). I'm hoping there is a way to do this so I can take a tablet when completing my inventory and avoid the old clipboard and paper.Variable "Connecting to Datasource" Load times
Hello, I am running into a strange issue that I am not sure how to solve. I am using Power Query to link to external Excel data files/Sheets and then I process the data within Power Query and also have some Macros that run after the data is refreshed. I am seeing a drastic difference in the amount of time it takes separate users to open/refresh this file (the users have the same internet connection, use the same link to the file on a Shared Drive on our servers, same Excel settings, and have the same hardware). Some users can load and run all Macros in < 15 seconds, while the others take > 10 minutes. I have exhausted all possible causes/reasons that I can think of and am looking for some guidance. Any and all suggestions are appreciated! Thanks, Skywalker_
The return of the performance leak - this time with subreports
Anyone remember the v2405 bug that caused loading and closing forms to become slower over time? We found something similar in the current release (tested with semi-annual 2508 (19127.20484)), just with sub reports instead of forms. Here are the repro instructions: Repro instructions Table 1. Create a "numbers" table with a PK field "nr" (Long Integer). 2. Fill it with the numbers from 1 to 100: Dim i For i = 1 To 100 CurrentDb.Execute "INSERT INTO numbers (nr) VALUES (" & i & ")" Next i Sub report 3. Create a new empty report in design view, using the "numbers" table as the record source. 4. In the detail section, add two text boxes "Text1" and "Text2" next to each other, both with the "nr" field as their control source. 5. Reduce the size of the detail section to one "row", containing just the two text boxes. Remove the page header/footer. 6. Add an Format event handler to the detail section with the following content: Me.Text2.Visible = False 7. Save the report as "sub". Main report 8. Create another report "main", which contains nothing but the "sub" report as a subreport in its detail section. Set the record source of "main" to "SELECT * FROM numbers WHERE nr <= 10" Reproduce problem 9. Create the following method in a module: Sub report_loop() Dim i As Long Dim start_time As Single Dim report_name As String Dim path As String report_name = "main" For i = 1 To 40 path = Environ("Temp") & "\testreport.pdf" start_time = Timer DoCmd.OpenReport report_name, acViewPreview DoCmd.OutputTo acOutputReport, report_name, acFormatPDF, path DoCmd.Close acReport, report_name Debug.Print Timer - start_time Next End Sub 10. Run report_loop. Observe that each report export gets slower and slower. Analysis Compare the first and last number in the immediate window: on my machine it's 0.4s for the first report and 2.3s for the last. Note that if you run report_loop again, it will start slow! In other words, each report export causes MS Access to "leak performance" that is only regained after restarting Access. We were able to reproduce this issue with Microsoft 365 semi-annual channel, Version 2508 (19127.20484). I'll do more tests tomorrow and try different older versions to find out when this bug was introduced. Workarounds If you move the visibility code from the Format event to the Print event, the problem still occurs, but slower (0.4s -> 0.72s instead of 0.4s -> 2.3s). The workaround that worked for us was to use =IIf(...) in the control source instead of modifying the visibility. Obviously, that only works for text boxes, not for lines or other controls.
Summary sheet, copy entire row if a cell criteria is met
https://arengio-my.sharepoint.com/:x:/g/personal/melanie_stokes_areng_io/IQC2OhPfZnKEQL6qfPj11gqfAQSh8Em3Zp95fkYbLBTZc3g?e=oNU1pEHi Can you please help me, I have a schedule for jobcards, each tab is a book that is given to someone, if that specific jobcard is invoices, then in column T where it says "Incomplete", I want that entire row to be copied to the "Outstanding Jobcards"tab. As a new book is handed out, a new tab is create and the tab is named according to the book sequence. This is updated daily as jobcards are being invoiced.Purview eDiscovery Simplifies Content Searches in February 2026
As part of the modernization of the Purview eDiscovery solution, Microsoft will simplify the content searches UX in February 2026 to remove features that are inappropriate for the way that content searches are intended to be used. The change is logical and reasonable because you should use a full eDiscovery case to access all the eDiscovery functionality. https://office365itpros.com/2026/01/15/content-searches-change/
Loss carry forward for limited years
Hello Excel Community, Excel Version: O365 (Enterprise) I’m running into a mental block trying to model loss carryforward with limited years using a spill formula. Below is a simplified example of what I’m trying to build a formula for. Rules: • A loss from any year can be carried forward for N years, after which it expires and can no longer be used. • In any year with a positive tax liability, if there is any remaining loss from the past N years, you deduct using a FIFO approach (oldest losses used first). • Any unclaimed balance from year N+1 expires, even if it hasn’t been fully used. I’ve found plenty of examples showing loss carryforward without expiration, but I’m struggling to build something that handles both FIFO and expiration in a dynamic array formula. I feel like this must be a solved problem and I’m just missing something obvious. Any help would be greatly appreciated! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft Edge Webview icon
I'm I in the right community? My Widgets Icon on my toolbar doesn't open even with the Widgets turned on in the settings. Could you help me? I am the administrator. I have the Edition Windows 11 Home Version, 23H2, with a Windows Feature Experience Pack. I have Windows 11 software and has been updated recently. Everything under Task Manager, details, mswebview.exe is running, however, the window doesn't appear on the home screen. Could this be an easy fix? TIA JosephSaved CSV opens with dates even when saved as text
Hi, New to the page, have a problem with a CSV file that has hyphenated numbers which turns into dates when opened after being saved as text. How do I make sure that the changes made in the columns stay as text so it doesn't revert back to date or custom format? I know this topic is talked about in this forum and I can change it to text when I open it but the issue is I have to upload it into accounting software and think that it is defaulting when I save the file. Have tried importing the data into a CSV file and that doesn't seem to work and also got some code from an AI platform to put into the Visual Basic program to try and stop it but didn't seem to work. Any help would be much appreciated. Brian 4-1000 Income 4-1025 Income Apr-00 IncomeHow do you respond to...
Hello my Excellers, I wish you all a happy new year full of great things. I have a question and I am not sure if this is a purely an Excel question or something else but maybe I start here and see how it goes: As you all may have noticed the AI craze is blooming like crazy. If you want to sell lettuce slap AI on its label and step back. I use Bing to search for VBA examples. For example I typed "excel vba code to find cells with formulas" and I get AI to find or "compose" a decent example that with minimal editing will work perfectly. But then at the end of the code and its explanation I sometimes find these kind of questions: "If you want to list the addresses of formula cells instead of highlighting them, I can give you a version that outputs them in the Immediate Window or a new sheet. Do you want me to provide that listing version as well?" How do you say YES I want that code that would list the addresses in a sheet? I see buttons like "Undo" rounded Left Arrow, or "Redo" rounded Right arrow, and a "Copy, "Export", and then "Tweak Content", "Rewrite" button, A "Testing Tools" dropdown with options like "Generate test data" and "Integrate test cases", and another dropdown called "More Actions" with options like "Perform code review", "Explain the code", "Add error handling", and "Make code compliable" and the last dropdown "Work Report" with its own options. But I do not see anything that would allow me to say YES I want that code that would list the addresses in a sheet? Thanks for any insight... GiGi
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