Excel Help

I've been using Microsoft Office 2003 for... some time. I'm pretty accustomed to it though I'm still constantly learning. I recently downloaded an xlsx spreadsheet that I had to convert into an xls and upon doing so I noticed some features that aren't available (to my knowledge) in 2003 such as the ability to make dynamic checkmark boxes on the spreadsheet. I was pretty impressed, though that's not the point.

I was wondering anyone here has any experience with later versions of Office and if they are worth the trouble. More specifically, I want to know what sort of features Excel and Word have improved upon, as those are the two programs I use most. It often seems to me that Microsoft programs have one really good version and the rest are crap, which is why I've stuck to 2003. But if there's anything really noteworthy that will make my life easier with either of those programs--and nothing of importance removed--then I may considering upgrading.

Also, I'm running on XP so if there would be a conflict with 2007 or later it would be nice to know that too.

The main differences with Word is the interface. They've re-organized and reworked the categories and its a little cleaner. It took me a few days to adjust but it's definitely better than Office 2003. It's also prettier. I don't use Excel, so I can't testify to that. I can confirm they work on XP machines.

I am picky about the features on my word processing/spreadsheet programs and in my experience each version is much cleaner looking and much more user-friendly than the previous. Word 2010 is much less likely to do weird things to you while you try to make a numbered list, and the ribbon now properly acts as a useful toolbar without being as confusing than it was in 2007. At the same time...if you're not super concerned about formatting and don't mind working with what you have, you don't really need to upgrade.

Later versions tend to be more user-friendly. Though I'd recommend OpenOffice if you don't want to shell out money, or just want to check out what we mean by "better user interface".

Later versions tend to be more user-friendly. Though I'd recommend OpenOffice if you don't want to shell out money, or just want to check out what we mean by "better user interface".

I'm not really looking to change to an entirely new platform. I just want a better version of what I've already got.

I started using 2010 and never looked back! Once you get used to the ribbon, it's really a helluva lot better than 2003.

I don't think they're that different, but someone who has experience with both might be able to be more thorough.

I started using 2010 and never looked back! Once you get used to the ribbon, it's really a helluva lot better than 2003.

Ribbon?

Ribbon?

The usual File Edit View is replaced with a more user-friendly "Ribbon" interface. Not sure how to describe it, really, so here's a picture:



Stuff is more categorized and.. yeah.

The ribbon makes using styles and templates so, so, SO much easier. Now that I've gotten used to the ribbon interface, I really don't want to go back.

The ribbon makes using styles and templates so, so, SO much easier. Now that I've gotten used to the ribbon interface, I really don't want to go back.

I haven't gotten used to it, and hate it.

I've never been able to move past 2003. Tried getting used to it. Forced to use it at university. It's so bad...I don't understand. It's a pity you can't get the upgraded features minus the terrible user interface.

Installing 2010 right now. Created quite a headache because I had to install service pack 3 and then I lost my windows theme so I had to figure out what was wrong there (I did). Long story short, I'm excited to see how this looks. And if it sucks I'm going to kill you all except FelixTM™

Holy pomegranate it's ugly.

Is there any way to change the UI to something less gaudy?

edit: I can't deny that this does LOOK better, at the very least, aside from the UI. Also, the original xlsx file that spurred this all on has features that I didn't even see because they weren't xls compatible. So cool!

Okay, so now I'm looking for help regarding checklists and tallies. I'd like to learn to make something like this...

http://www.mediafire.com/?2a23xatgo61d4l6

But so far I'm really having no luck with functionality and have absolutely no idea how this person would have created the tally and the progression bar. The person also password protected it so I can't investigate so I'm hoping someone here would know at least some tricks.

Okay, so now I'm looking for help regarding checklists and tallies. I'd like to learn to make something like this...

http://www.mediafire.com/?2a23xatgo61d4l6

But so far I'm really having no luck with functionality and have absolutely no idea how this person would have created the tally and the progression bar. The person also password protected it so I can't investigate so I'm hoping someone here would know at least some tricks.

From a rough look through the sheet, the checkbox is implemented by assigning a boolean (true/false) value to each item. I don't know if there is some user-friendly way to update that "I GOT THIS ITEM" other than manually altering the cell (into =true()).
Even though, from the way it is used later on, it could very well have been a line of text saying "TRUE".

For the progress summation, he did the function CountIf, which counts the number of cells that meet a certain criteria.
In this sheet, the criteria was that the boolean cell has to display a text that reads "TRUE".

I'm not sure if this is what you're asking for since it's probably too simple. Perhaps you can't see the code because of this password protection or something?

Yeah, I managed to get all of the true/false stuff on my own, but I'm hoping there's a way to mass assign check boxes to cells. Having to individually format each is a real pain

So I'll have my checkbox in, let's say, B2

Then it's formatted so True (if checked) False (if clear) appears in C2. Then in D2 I have =IF(C2,1,0)

The, assuming I have checkboxes from B2 to B10, I would have them formatted equally to C10 and D10

Then in B11 I put =SUM(D210)&" /8" which shows an active tally of however many boxes are checked off.

Right now my issue is that each checkbox needs to be indivually correlated to a C cell. I can use the corner-drag formatting for the D cells but that doesn't work for the C cells or they all attach to a single check box. Any way around this?

(so if I put checkboxes in B2:B10, then formatted B2 to C2, if I dragged C2 to C10, checking B2 would make C2:10 true while all of the other boxes would remain unchecked/unassigned)

I found this script with a macro that automatically does part of it if I assign it to a key

Code:

Sub AddCheckBoxes()
    On Error Resume Next
    Dim c As Range, myRange As Range
    Set myRange = Selection
    For Each c In myRange.Cells
        ActiveSheet.CheckBoxes.Add(c.Left, c.Top, c.Width, c.Height).Select
            With Selection
                .LinkedCell = c.Address
                .Characters.Text = ""
                .Name = c.Address
            End With
            c.Select
            With Selection
                .FormatConditions.Delete
                .FormatConditions.Add Type:=xlExpression, _
                    Formula1:="=" & c.Address & "=TRUE"
                .FormatConditions(1).Font.ColorIndex = 6 'change for other color when ticked
                .FormatConditions(1).Interior.ColorIndex = 6 'change for other color when ticked
                .Font.ColorIndex = 2 'cell background color = White
            End With
        Next
        myRange.Select
End Sub

Using this, I get stuck with the true/false linked to the same cell. I'd like for it to be in a parallel cell to the right. Anyone good with Visual Basic that could change that for me?

Are you using 2003? I'm on 2007 and I don't have any problems with that script.

I'm on 2010 and the problem isn't with the script itself, it's with it not doing what I want.

As you saw, it puts the check box in the same cell as the true/false statement. I do not want that, I want them linked to a parallel cell. Right now I'm just moving them as a group to another set of cells but that's extremely time consuming.



As you can see, I start by putting them in column F because "true/false" appears behind the check box after being clicked once (I removed the colour/changed it to white because I didn't want to deal with it), but I want the check boxes in their own column (as you can see in Lymle's D). I have to manually move them all (try doing it by the hundred and you'll see why this is an issue)

I'd like for the check box to appear in the selected column and the linked cell (true/false) to be the cell next to it.

I intend to hide row E/F because they're unnecessary and ugly, also.