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SOFTWARE NEWS: Excel: This season's must-have accessory. By John Stokdyk

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7th Sep 2006
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"This fall's coolest accessory is not a trophy handbag, a designer shoe or a pair of skinny jeans," wrote Canadian fashionista Tralee Pearce in the Globe & Mail.

Unlikely as it may seem, the trend-setter she's talking about is Microsoft Excel, used by legions of Excel users to database their lives, chart their wardrobes, dinner-party menus and DVD collections.

Recognising the central role that spreadsheets play in the typical accountant's life, ExcelZone has previously explored the outer limits of Excel use to uncover:

  • The Excel-addict technician who creates her CV on a spreadsheet
  • XL Footy Manager, an online game based around a spreadsheet model (which itself can be downloaded from the XL-Logic fun & games page).
  • Spreadsheet-based music quizzes
  • Rock lyrics "inspired" by spreadsheets.

    But our findings pale in comparison to what Pearce revealed. Intrepid reporter that she is, she asked for help via Merlin Mann's 43folders.com blog, which is dedicated to "life hacks" and other time-saving tips.

    More than 100 responses emerged including the following gems:

  • Chris Hayes uses Excel "for just about anything", particularly a decision-making process for picking the best from a large set of options. "I've used this thing to decide on everything from which computer to buy to what apartments I should look into renting." He's even set up a chart of girls that he should pursue for dates...
  • Amy uses spreadsheets as an entertainment planning aid, circulating a worksheet of recently released movies to her friends with colour codings to prioritise the ones each person wants to see on their nights out together. She does the same for her personal TV schedule, coding which shows to take and which to watch in real time.
  • Zak's entertainment database catalogues his DVD collection according to the number of times he watches a DVD, and linked to recent eBay market values to highlight which DVDs he should dispose.
  • Wedding planners, catering plans (including one for Thanksgiving dinner) and automated shopping lists.
  • Softball tactics and score sheets, plus several complex gambling aids.
  • Excel "drawings" by Danielle Aubert, and quilting patterns mapped by Lu.

    "Database nerd" Tim K dampened proceedings somewhat with a warning about working with data in Excel. "Namely, use the first row for column headers, not a page title. Don't make us database nerds work to hard to find the data when your spreadsheet reaches the point where it needs to be a database. Use a text box from the drawing tools if you need a title up there at top."

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    Where do you rate on the Excel-addiction scale? Obsessive/nerdy; intensive, but controlled user; or take-it-or-leave it? If you've got any Excel-based life hacks or ingenious personal worksheets, share your ideas with the online community by using the Post a Comment button below.

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    By skaruhanga
    28th Sep 2006 00:45

    Sudoku No 47
    What happened to the sudoku?. We had got used to the real challenging Sudoku but you seem to have abandoned it. Please resume

    Thanks (0)