Zero effort models - Henk Vlootman at Eusprig 20142. What is a range in Excel?
A range is defined by:
• The first empty row below and above a group of data.
• The first empty column right and left of the same group of data.
• The first (upper) row of a range contains headers. This is the description of
the content of the cells within the range of the column below.
• Every cell in a row in the range, exept for the header, has content that has a
relation with the contents in other cells in that row.
Excel determinate ranges automatic if you use:
• Pivot tables.
• Filters.
• Sort.
• Tables.
• Remove duplicates.
• Graphs.
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3. Range tools
There are specific short-cut keys for ranges. They will work as long as the
active cell is placed in any range.
Control & * : select the complet range.
Control & a: will do the same. The differennce with the above mentioned tool,
is that when the active cell is not in a range Control & a will select the
complete sheet, while Control & * will not do anything.
Control & . (while having the range selected): switch the active cell to each
corner of the range, without losing the selected range.
© 2014, Vlootman Consultancy B.V.
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4. Some examples of ranges
• There are good designed ranges…
• and there are bad designed ranges…
So let’s look at some ranges.
© 2014, Vlootman Consultancy B.V.
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5. Recognize your ranges
© 2014, Vlootman Consultancy B.V.
There are two main data type to be present in ranges:
• Data for criteria.
• Data for calculations.
There is a subgroup, which I called KeyColumn data. This data is typed
criteria. It is used to combine ranges, as in a relational database.
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6. Calculations in ranges
© 2014, Vlootman Consultancy B.V.
Calculations in ranges have two types:
• Calculations with the same hierarchic level.
• Calculations with higher hierarchic level.
Calculations with the same hierarchic level:
• Be aware of formula fractures!
Calculations with higher hierarchic level:
• Use compress formulas or - functions (such as SUMIFS).
• Use key tables to structure the compressed data.
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7. Range hopping
© 2014, Vlootman Consultancy B.V.
Use ranges to get from input to
output:
• Use separate ranges for input
and calculations.
• Never accept input in ranges
intended for calculations.
• Place all the calculation ranges
into one sheet and document it
there.
• Make a chain from input range
by linking calculation ranges.
• Excel calculates from the right
hand upper corner to the left
hand under corner of a sheet. If
you want to make your
calculations efficient, keep
track of this rule.
• Your output range should never
be on the same sheet as the
ranges for calculations.
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8. The influence of ranges on efficiency and reliability
© 2014, Vlootman Consultancy B.V.
• Ranges offers an structured way of building Excel models.
• If you are using the Excel tools like Names, you are able to track the route
of the calculations from the highest hierarchic level (output) to the lowest
(input).
• My best Excel models have around 40 % calculations in order to make the
model work and the other 60 % calculations are to control the results of the
model.
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9. Thank you very much !
© 2014, Vlootman Consultancy B.V.
Henk Vlootman
Vlootman Consultancy B.V.
06- 54 97 44 87
info@vlootman.nl
Twitter: Henk4Excel
LinkedIn: nl.linkedin.com/in/vlootman/
My LinkedIn groepen:
ManagingExcel
Power pivot NL
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