Powerutils... contd...

Hope many of you would have downloaded powerutils from the website www.powerutilsnet.com. Continuing the previous article some important functions that are provided by powerutils:

Powerutils >> Number
Shift “-“ from end to front: This is useful function when some data is downloaded from ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning). In case of an ERP like SAP the negative sign is displayed at end, due to this the data that is downloaded cannot be used in any formula. This function helps us shift the “-“ sign from front to end.
Maximum and Minimum: The maximum or minimum value in a range of cells can be easily identified using “Select cells with highest/lowest value in selected range”.
Write numbers in words: Conversion of any number in words is an important function for cheque printing, invoice printing, etc. Convert from number to text is useful function to carry such activities.

Powerutils >> Sheet
Create an Index Sheet: Many of us work on excel files that have too many sheets to control. In such a case it is always good to have an index sheet which has link to all the sheets. Doing this manually by hyperlink will consume a lot of time.
Other functions: Many other functions like sorting of sheets, delete empty sheets, insert the name of file/sheet, copy sheets, delete page breaks, etc. are available.

Powerutils >> Range
Format number style in crores/lakhs: This is one of the few requirements that comes up in all my seminar on excel. Standard excel can format numbers in million/billion format, but many of us need the same in crores/lakhs format. This is a simple click in powerutils.
Round off: Applying round functions to each cell is time consuming and error prone method. Hence using powerutils for rounding off all the cell in a range is easier option.
Concatenate: Use of standard concatenate function to join cells is also a bit time consuming process and can be done by a simple click of button in powerutils.
Delete all comments: There is no standard excel function to delete all the comments in a particular range. The only option available would be to go in each cell and delete comments. This can be done easily in powerutils.

Other useful functions
Insert “N” rows/columns after every row/column: This is a common requirement many times and can be done without consuming a lot of time from powerutils >> Column and Rows.
Rename current file and delete old file: The normal process to accomplish this is to close the current file, go to the folder where this file is stored and rename the same. However this can also be done by Powerutils >> File >> Rename. This does not require us to close the existing file.
Sum cells based on colour/font: Though it seems a bit weird but this is an excellent function. Assume you have some data that has different background colour and you need to do a sum/count function based on the background colour. Try powerutils >> Mathematical functions.
Copy paste special values: A normal process to carry this function is Ctrl+C and then do a paste special value. Both this activity can be combined in one step by powerutils >> Miscellaneous

As many of you read this article it would be a hot summer in Mumbai, hence it would be important for all to complete the routine activities as fast as possible and leave for home. Hope powerutils helps you in saving your time in routine activites. I have restricted my discussion to some important functions that are useful in day to day activities, but would recommend all of you to explore other functions as they may be equally useful.