Microsoft Office Q&A: General Discussion (Word, Excel, PowerPoint...)

restlessheron19 said:I put together my own version based on - LOGICAL FUNCTIONS IN MICROSOFT OFFICE EXCEL - example no. 5 and it actually works perfectly using 8 functions.
But I can't seem to expand the formula. It just won't go.
When I try to scale it up to 15 functions... using the concatenation operator (that little symbol) &
For instance, if I type in the "highest" amount... what happens is the cell containing the formula just mashes two cells together... instead of just showing me 1500 as the result, I get some nonsense like 1500700 or 1400700...

Yeah... this forum is lagging like crazy...

Try leaving just one parenthesis before the first & sign and then dump all the rest of them at the very end of the formula.

restlessheron19 said:I put together my own version based on—LOGICAL FUNCTIONS IN MICROSOFT OFFICE EXCEL 2003 - example no. 5 and it works exactly how I want it using 8 functions.
But man, trying to expand this formula is driving me up the wall.
Every time I try to scale it up to 15 functions using the concatenation operator (that little &
symbol), things go sideways. For instance, if I type in the "highest" amount... instead of just seeing "1500" as my result, the cell just mashes two different cells together... so I end up looking at some nonsense like 1500700 or 1400700...

Yeah... this forum is running painfully slow today...

It looks like this:=IF(A1=1;"one";IF(A1=2;"two";IF(A1=3;"three";IF(A1=4;"four";IF(A1=5;"five";IF(A1=6;"six";IF(A1=7;"seven";IF(A1=8;"eight";""))))))))&IF(A1=9;"nine";IF(A1=10;"ten";IF(A1=11;"eleven";IF(A1=12;"twelve";""))))

There is one specific task I simply cannot seem to master in Microsoft Word—though I find it hard to believe it’s actually impossible.
When I want to split a table horizontally, I just select a row, head over to table/split table and it works perfectly—it slices the table into two separate parts, one sitting right below the other.
However, when my goal is to split it vertically, I select a column and try using table/split table instead, but it refuses to cooperate; the cursor just jumps straight to the top of the table without doing anything at all.
Can anyone please help me figure out how to achieve this?

Walter Jackson48 said:It looks like this:=IF(A1=1;"one";IF(A1=2;"two";IF(A1=3;"three";IF(A1=4;"four";IF(A1=5;"five";IF(A1=6;"six";IF(A1=7;"seven";IF(A1=8;"eight";""))))))))&IF(A1=9;"nine";IF(A1=10;"ten";IF(A1=11;"eleven";IF(A1=12;"twelve";""))))

Right... I tried to stitch those together using that logic... like this...

=IF(B4>$H$15;$I$15;IF(B4>$H$14;$I$14;IF(B4>$H$13;$I$13;IF(B4>$H$12;$I$12;IF(B4>$H$11;$I$11;IF(B4>$H$10;$I$10;IF(B4>$H$9;$I$9;IF(B4>$H$8;$I$8;""))))))) )&IF(B4>$H$7;$I$7;IF(B4>$H$6;$I$6;IF(B4>$H$6;$I$6; IF(B4>$H$5;$I$5;IF(B4>$H$4;$I$4;IF(B4>$H$3;$I$3;IF(B4>$H$2;$I$2;IF(B4>$H$1;$I$1;""))))))))

But... there are too many arguments here... and it just isn't working.

Since I'm just doing this for my own use, getting the first eight functions right should be enough.
I'll handle the other eight differently... by using some sort of criteria override.

restlessdrifter12 said:There is one specific task I simply cannot seem to master in Microsoft Word—though I am certain it must be possible.
When I want to split a table vertically, I just select a row, navigate to table/split table, and it works perfectly—it splits into two separate tables stacked on top of each other.
However, when I attempt to split it horizontally by selecting a column and clicking table/split table, nothing happens—the cursor just jumps to the very top of the table instead of performing the split.
Could someone please help me figure out how to achieve this?

I am having the exact opposite problem here—I am trying to get two tables to sit side-by-side horizontally, but I just can't make it work in Word.

Basically, you’re looking at trying to kick off a new set after every 8 functions by using an "&" to bridge them together.
For instance, if you're dealing with a massive string of 24 IF functions, you'd end up needing two of those "&" connectors (and yeah, just use the & without any quotes)

restlessdrifter12 said:I just can't seem to get this thing right in Microsoft Office. I’ve been staring at my screen for what feels like hours, trying to get these tables to line up perfectly from edge to edge—just one table right after the other, matching the full width of the page. It's maddening. You'd think with all the tech we have nowadays, something as basic as layout alignment wouldn't feel like trying to solve a Rubik's Cube in the dark. I remember back when I was working on those old spreadsheets in Excel for my first big project in Chicago, everything felt more... predictable? Or maybe I was just younger and less frustrated. But no, here I am, fighting with a cursor that seems to have a mind of its own. It’s ridiculous.

Look, if you want to get rid of that column, don't just hit delete and hope for the best—that’s how things get messy. First, you need to highlight the entire column you're targeting. Once that's selected, head over to the cell merging tool; go ahead and merge all those cells together into one big block. After you've done that, you’ll need to deal with the borders. Find the border editing tool—you know, the one with the little dropdown menu full of those tiny little square icons—and just click on the "No Border" option. It's simple, really, provided you actually follow the steps.
The highlighted column is going to disappear. Just like that. Gone. It’s one of those things where you think everything is under control, you’ve got your data laid out exactly how you want it, and then—poof. One wrong click or one glitch in the system and it's just... void. I’ve spent far too many hours staring at screens, trying to undo mistakes that shouldn't have happened in the first place. It’s frustrating, honestly. You work so hard to organize your workflow, only to have the software decide it doesn't need that information anymore. Be careful. Watch your step. Once it's gone, it's gone.

Walter Jackson48 said:then you just grab the border editing tool—it’s that little dropdown menu with all the different box options.

Just one more thing so you don't go hunting for it... check the ribbon under Tables & Borders.

Walter Jackson48 said:Try starting a new stretch with "&" after every eight functions.
For instance, if you have 24 IF functions, you'd need two "&" connectors (that's just the ampersand, no quotes needed).

I did... that was the formula in the previous post... doesn't matter. The clicker isn't working right now, but it'll get there eventually.

I've been reading up on Excel Macros... specifically how to trigger them.
Is it actually possible to run a macro directly from a cell? 🙂
Like this... if a cell has a formula such as =IF(A1>1, run macro, etc...

Walter Jackson48 said:Just highlight the column you want to get rid of—then use the merge cells tool to combine everything in that column together. After that, go to the borders menu (it’s that little dropdown icon with the grid squares) and select "No Border."
The highlighted column will effectively disappear.

That’s heading in the right direction, but it doesn't quite solve my problem.
That just hides the column—it's still sitting there, fundamentally tied to the rest of the table.
For instance, if I increase the height of the last cell in the first row, the entire row expands automatically—which makes sense, since it's all one single entity.
What I actually need are two distinct tables—completely independent of one another.
Is it simply impossible to do this in Microsoft Word?

If that isn't an option, maybe this would work:
I could draw one table, and then try to insert a second one right next to it. Something similar to how you handle images when you use text wrapping.
The issue is that whenever I place my cursor to the right of the table and try to move further right using the spacebar, it won't let me.

Every single table I attempt to insert ends up snapping directly against the previous one.

restlessdrifter12 said:Every table I insert just sticks itself right to the one before it.

Try this: insert two tables.
2. When you hover over a table, look for that little handle in the top-left corner... the cursor icon will change. Click that corner, hold it down, and just drag the table wherever you want it to go. Simple as that.

Here’s an example:

Walter Jackson48 said:Try breaking it up every 8 functions. Start the next chunk using an "&" to join them.
For example, if you have 24 IF statements, you'll end up with two "&" connectors (use & without quotes)

Look, I actually sat down and hammered out a formula with 30 different conditions that works perfectly fine on my machine:

=IF(A1=1;"one";IF(A1=2;"two";IF(A1=3;"three";IF(A1=4;"four";IF(A1=5;"five";IF(A1=6;"six";IF(A1=7;"seven";IF(A1=8;"eight";""))))))))&IF(A1=9;"nine";IF(A1=10;"ten";IF(A1=11;"eleven";IF(A1=12;"twelve";IF(A1=13;"thirteen";IF(A1=14;"fourteen";IF(A1=15;"fifteen";IF(A1=16;"sixteen";""))))))))&IF(A1=17;"seventeen";IF(A1=18;"eighteen";IF(A1=19;"nineteen";IF(A1=20;"twenty";IF(A1=21;"twenty-one";IF(A1=22;"twenty-two";IF(A1=23;"twenty-three";IF(A1=24;"twenty-four";""))))))))&IF(A1=25;"twenty-five";IF(A1=26;"twenty-six";IF(A1=27;"twenty-seven";IF(A1=28;"twenty-eight";IF(A1=29;"twenty-nine";IF(A1=30;"thirty";""))))))

Walter Jackson48 said:Here’s the formula I’m using—it has about 30 conditions and works fine on my machine:

The formula works fine... it does the job... just like the previous one did... it worked for me too...
but it doesn't actually solve my problem.

I posted an example "above" showing how I need it to function...
Maybe this example helps if you know your way around this stuff
There are two lists in the sample...
List1...works perfectly with 8 functions
But List1 (2), which uses 15 functions... isn't working at all.

I don't even know where to start with this one. It’s just... it’s one of those things that gets under my skin, you know? I was sitting there earlier, just trying to get some work done—nothing major, just some routine data entry—and it hit me again. That feeling of absolute frustration when everything seems to be working perfectly fine until it suddenly doesn't. It’s like when you're driving down a highway in Chicago, everything is smooth, the rhythm is set, and then out of nowhere, someone cuts you off without a blinker. Just total chaos for no reason. That's exactly how it feels when you're deep in a project and the tools you rely on just... fail you. You think you've mastered the workflow, you think you've got the hang of the interface, and then—bam. A glitch, a weird error message, or just a sudden lack of logic from the software itself. I find myself staring at the screen sometimes, wondering if it's me or if the universe is just playing some kind of cosmic joke on my productivity. It's exhausting. Really. You spend half your time actually doing the task and the other half fighting the very thing meant to make the task easier. It's enough to make anyone want to throw their laptop out the window and move to a cabin in the middle of Montana. But instead, we sit here. We deal with it. We try to troubleshoot our way out of the madness. It’s just part of the grind, I suppose, but God, it shouldn't be this difficult. kaže:
Now I’m just sitting here thinking about how I want to cut this thing right at its height. Just slice through it. Honestly, sometimes you have to just take decisive action before things get even more complicated than they already are.

Here are a few more options:

Look, I’ve already walked you through this once... just keep moving forward. It's simple. Click the box that shows the line on the left side, then move over and click the box with the line on the right. That's it. Just follow the sequence.

Look, you just need to find the Eraser tool. If you want to get rid of those horizontal lines on the column you're working on, this is how you do it. You’ve got the Viev, right? Go over to the Toolbars, find where it says Tables and Borders, and make sure that box is checked. Once you do that, the palette should pop up, and there's your Eraser right there. It's not exactly rocket science, though I've spent far too many hours staring at screens dealing with much more complicated nonsense than this. Just click it and clear those lines out.

Both ways came out looking fine once they were printed. No complaints there.

restlessdrifter12 said:I need two separate tables that aren't connected at all.

Just make a primary table first (1 row, 2 columns) and kill the borders.
Then, just nest a new table inside the first cell, and another one in the second.

Hope that does the trick. Peace.

How do I get a video to actually work in PowerPoint?
I keep trying to do this, but every time I insert a video, it tells me I need to install QuickTime Player because the file isn't compatible. It’s an MP4, though. Makes no sense.
Using the 2010 version.

Does anyone happen to have a decent template for creating invoices and pro forma invoices in Excel?

I've been scouring the Microsoft Office pages and a few other sites, but I'm struggling to find something that clearly specifies the sale of services, rather than physical goods, materials, or similar items.

For instance, the invoice would need to list things like: partial massage x3, thermal blanket treatment, and cavitation treatment x4.

rapidtinker12 said:Anyone got an Excel template for making invoices or proforma invoices?

You can totally build your own template to fit whatever you need. Once it's set up, just save it as a template and go from there. You can even automate the invoice numbering. Just tweak the service items to match what you're doing.
Check out this full invoice example and grab whatever parts work for you. Get creative. 🙂

- Full Excel invoice example

Alright, my turn to step up and play the expert since I’ve been busy handing out advice to everyone else lately! 🤦

So, here's my dilemma with Excel 2010:

Is there any way to get actually precise control over how content sits inside a cell?
I mean, beyond just the usual left, right, center, top, or bottom alignment. The only other thing I found was that "indent" feature (yeah, yeah, I know, using non-English menus is a total drag), which lets me nudge things left or right, but those units are set globally rather than per cell.
I don't see anything similar for adjusting vertical placement...

Coming from an OpenOffice background, where you can just right-click, hit Format, and find "Spacing to contents" to set custom margins for all four sides of every single cell, I’m honestly shocked that a giant like Microsoft hasn't built something identical. How is that even possible???

Right now, my only choices are to vertically center everything or just let the text sit awkwardly stuck against the cell border...

I seriously need some help!! I've got this one PDF document and... I really need to split it into two separate parts but I have absolutely no clue how to actually do it... Can anyone please help me out? It's super urgent...

coastalraven15 said:I need help!! I have this PDF document... I need to split it into two separate parts but I have no clue how to do it... can someone please help? It's urgent...

Just search for "PDF splitter" on Google. Just a heads up though—you actually need to find a decent one. A lot of those basic tools just chop everything up page by page, whereas the good ones let you pick exactly where the cut happens. And if things don't go quite as planned? You might end up needing a PDF merger to stitch specific pages back together to get what you actually wanted. By the way, isn't this the wrong place for this? This forum is strictly for Office programs, unless I'm mistaken!