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Recent SoftTalk articles.

March 23, 2010

Counting Odd and Even Cells

Have you ever wanted to count the number of odd or even cells in a column of numbers in Excel? Let's assume you have a range of whole numbers in column B from cell B2:B98.  Some of these numbers can be odd and some can be even.  You will want to create a formula that will count the number of odd and even values in the range.

Well, there are two different ways this can be accomplished; using an array fomula or using a function.

1.  Enter the array fomula

=SUM(MOD(B2:J2,2)<>0)*1) using Ctrl+Shift+Enter to get the desired count of odd numbers in the range.  Change the formula to 

=SUM(MOD(B2:J2,2)=0)*1) to get the even numbers.

 

2.  Using the formula

=SUMPRODUCT(--(MOD(B2:J2)=1,--(B2:J2<>"")) to obtain the odd values and =SUMPRODUCT(--(MOD(B2:J2)=0,--(B2:J2<>"")) to get the even values.

 

One advantage of using the SUMPRODUCT approach is that it ignores any blank cells in the range while the array formulas will alwyas count blank cells as it they contain an even value.

March 16, 2010

When you right-click a file name or a thumbnail in Microsoft Windows XP, you see a shortcut menu for that file. One of the items on the menu is Send To, which enables you to quickly e-mail a file, copy it to your desktop, or copy it to a floppy disk.

Sometimes what you really want to do is to save a copy of the file to a specific folder on your computer. If you have a folder where you frequently place files, you can add that folder’s name to the list of locations on the Send To menu. This can save you the time of opening another Windows Explorer window and copying the file from one folder to another.

 

For example, you could create a My Pictures folder and then use the Send To menu to copy your best pictures to that folder.

To add a folder to the Send To menu

1. Click Start. Make note of your user name ("Administrator" in the example below) which is displayed at the top of the Start menu. Then, click My Computer.

2.In the My Computer window, click the Tools menu, and then click Folder Options.

3.Click the View tab. Under Hidden files and folders, click Show hidden files and folders, and then click OK.

4.In the My Computer window, double-click Local Disk (C:), double-click Documents and Settings, double-click your user name, and then double-click SendTo.

5.Click the File menu, click New, and then click Shortcut.

6.The Create Shortcut Wizard appears. Click the Browse button.

7.In the Browse For Folder dialog box, click the folder you want to add to your Send To menu, and then click OK.

8.Click Next.

9.Click Finish.


 

Now when you right-click a file and click Send To, the destination you selected will be an option on the Send To menu. You can create shortcuts to local or network programs, files, folders, computers, or Internet addresses.

 

 

March 9, 2010

Create a Rescue CD

If your computer ever crashes, or is invaded by a malicious virus, you'll be happy that you had the foresight to create a System Restore CD.  Windows 7 makes it easy to create one.

Simply open the start menu and type "system repair disc" in the search field.

You may never need one but if you ever do, you'll be glad you took a few minutes to be prepared.