2. Change the Icon of the folder by right clicking the folder. Click Properties -> Customise -> Change Icon. Scroll until you find a Blank icon. Click Ok.
3. At this point you are left with Something Like this.
4. The Last step is to remove the folders label. Go to start and search "Character Map" without quotes. Then select the blank character and copy it as shown.
5. Now Simply right click the folder and click Rename. Paste the character by pressing Ctrl + V and viola! You have your own invisible folder.
Note:- If you forget the location, simply click anywhere on your Desktop and drag.
Microsoft Excel is an amazing piece of software, and even regular users might not be getting as much out of it as they can. Improve your Excel efficiency and proficiency with these basic shortcuts and functions that absolutely everyone needs to know.
1. Jump from worksheet to worksheet with Ctrl + PgDn and Ctrl + PgUp
Business Insider/Sara Silverstein
2. Jump to the end of a data range or the next data range with Ctrl + Arrow
Of course you can move from cell to cell with arrow keys. But if you want to get around faster, hold down the Ctrl key and hit the arrow keys to get farther:
Taking the time to learn some Excel tips and tricks will likely help you boost your productivity and streamline your spreadsheets.
We previously shared some Excel insights. Here are five more tips to consider:
1. Use Number Formatting Shortcuts
For circumstances when you need to format a large amount of data, Excel offers time-saving shortcuts for many common formatting functions. Experiment with these handy ones:
Format numbers to include two decimal places: Ctrl+Shift+1
Format as time: Ctrl+Shift+2
Format as date: Ctrl+Shift+3
Format as currency: Ctrl+Shift+4
Format as percentage: Ctrl+Shift+5
Format in scientific/exponential form: Ctrl+Shift+6
Sparklines are a built-in feature of Excel 2010, Excel 2011 for Mac and Excel 2013 that allow you to display small charts inside cells. These can be line charts, bar charts or simple win/loss charts. To create a Sparkline chart, select the range of numbers you’d like to include, click the “Insert” menu, then choose one of the chart options. Select a location range, which must be located along a single row or column in the same worksheet as your data range. Sparklines can help you easily display trends in your data in a compact format.
3. Manipulate Data with Pivot Tables
When you have a large, detailed data set, pivot tables allow you to easily manipulate your data. These tables are interactive and can help you analyze data, detect patterns and make comparisons. Creating a pivot table is as easy as using the built-in PivotTable and PivotChart Wizard, located in the “Data” drop-down menu. The wizard helps you choose the data to include in your PivotChart and format that information in a meaningful manner.
4. Move Between Formulas and Results
To efficiently switch between the cell data and formula, use the Ctrl+tilde (~) keystroke. This allows you to rapidly check formulas when working in a large spreadsheet.
5. Hide Zero Values
Hiding zero values can be helpful within large data sets by allowing you to see data more clearly. To hide zero values, you simply need to change the options in your Excel setup. Navigate to this function by clicking the “File” drop-down menu and choose “Options.” Then choose “Advanced” from the left-hand menu and uncheck the box for “Show a zero in cells that have zero value.” (Mac users: Go to the “Excel” drop-down menu and choose “Preferences,” then uncheck “Show zero values.”)
These are just a few of the helpful Excel features that can decrease the time you spend on spreadsheets and increase the amount of work you get done. What Excel tips and tricks do you use to boost productivity? Let us know in the comments section.
Macros are the timesaving magic trick for Office applications because they automate repetitive tasks that gobble time. This week's feature, which spotlights Excel, is one of several articles featuring macros in Microsoft. Stay tuned, in weeks to come, for more on macros in other Office programs.
1. Use Relative cell references
Always use Relative cell references/addresses (the default is Absolute references) unless your macro is for one specific application in one spreadsheet. If you plan to re-use the macro for any other spreadsheet or need to make adjustments, such as inserting extra rows to accommodate additional records, you must click the Relative Reference button immediately after you click Record Macro (and before you record any keystrokes). See my Excel macro tips article for detailed instructions.
2. Use specific VBA code with directional keys
Always use directional keys to navigate through spreadsheets. In Excel, these keys include Home, End, Page Up, Page Down, and the four arrow keys: Up, Down, Right, and Left. When combined with Shift, Alt, and Ctrl, you have a lot of options for quickly moving the cursor all over the spreadsheet in macros and while working.
Directional keys (like shortcuts) must be entered exactly as defined here, or the macros will fail. For example, the dash key and the plus key are not interchangeable. When the instructions specify a dash (e.g., End-Down), it means press the End key first, release, then press the Down Arrow key. When the instructions specify a plus sign (Ctrl+Home), it means press the Ctrl key and hold down, then press the Home key, and then release both keys.
The macro code is displayed in the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) Editor and accessed through the Code group under the Developer tab. Select Macros > Edit orMacros > Step Into. VBA code, which Excel writes for you, looks like this:
JD SARTAIN
A sample of the macro's Visual Basic code, which Excel writes for you, in the VBA editor
If you plan to write a lot of macros, it's a good idea to (at least) view your macros in the VBA Editor to see how Visual Basic writes the commands you record. You don't have to be a programmer to make simple adjustments.
3. Create flexible macros
Use the directional keys to record flexible macros. Data always begins in cell A1 (Home position), and macros should begin with Ctrl+Home to ensure that the macro performs accurately.
In this example, TJ is required to track the dollars won and lost by the winners of each game played in the annual Monopoly tournament—six games per day for seven days, or 42 games/winners. She only needs to create one spreadsheet with macros (which are saved in the PERSONAL.XLSB! file) for one winner, then copy that sheet 41 times (in the same workbook). Change the number of payments and collections for each winner, and the task is complete.
a. Right-click the worksheet tab of the current spreadsheet.
b. From the drop-down list, select Move or Copy Sheet.
c. From the dialog box Move Selected Sheets To Book, select (move to end) from the spreadsheet list, check the Create a Copy box, then click OK.
d. Repeat process until you have 41 copies of the first, original spreadsheet.
After you record the macro, copy the spreadsheet 41 times
4. Enter Fixed Values/Data in Advance
The above example calculates the total rent dollars paid per property, then calculates the total rent dollars collected per property. Next, it calculates the difference, then provides a Profit/Loss total. This example shows how to maneuver the cursor to select ranges, cells, enter formulas, etc.
a. Only two columns/fields have unique/changing data. Column A = property name, column B = rent amount. Both are fixed values. The remaining columns are either formulas or new data. Enter the info for columns A and B in advance.
b. The first-game winner is KC. Enter the number of payments she made for each property in column C, then the number of collections she received in column E. Now record the macro to calculate the numbers.
5. Navigate with directional keys
a. Record macro: Ctrl+Home, Right 3 (press Right Arrow three times). Formula: =SUM(B1*C1). However, we need to modify it first because the formula columns—D: Total Rent Paid and F: Total Rent Collected—both use the Rent Amounts in column B. Because it's easier to copy formulas than re-enter formulas, use the Absolute/Relative Reference function key F4 to hardcode the B (absolute) in this formula so it never changes when it's copied.
Formula: Enter in cell D1: =SUM(B1 [then press F4 three times] *C1) Enter (key). Formula now looks like this: =SUM($B1*C1). Press Enter, Up.
Why Up arrow? Because the cursor moves down once (from D1 to D2) after you press Enter, and you need to copy the formula from D1.
JD SARTAIN
Use F4 to make part of the formula absolute and calculate the grand total
b. Copy formula: Cursor location is D1. Type Ctrl+C (copy), Left, End-Down; Right, Shift+End-Up-Down, Enter. Wow! That's confusing. It means press the Shift key and hold throughout the entire string; that is, hold down the Shift key, then press and release the End key, press and release the Up Arrow, press and release the Down Arrow, then release the Shift key. The Shift key holds and extends the highlight, which selects the range, then the Enter key concludes and formulas are copied. The range is still highlighted, so press End-Up (to reposition the cursor in cell D1).
c. Copy again: (cursor in D1), press Shift+End-Down, Ctrl+C, Right 2, Enter, End-Up. Formulas copied and the cursor is repositioned in cell F1.
d. Calculate difference: Right, enter formula: =SUM(F1-D1) [F1 minus D1]. Press Enter. Again, type Ctrl+C, Left, End-Down; Right, Shift+End-Up-Down, Enter, Down.
Note: Formulas are hardcoded in this sample for ease and brevity. If the spreadsheet were completely dynamic, you would not hardcode the formulas either but, instead, "point" to the range as shown below.
e. Cursor position is now in the first blank cell beneath column G's calculated formulas. Add this column for KC's grand total using the "point" technique, which is best for macros. Enter =SUM( [equal sum left parenthesis], Up, End, Up, Shift+End-Down, Enter. Grand total calculated, and the macro is finished.
