
PowerPoint Fantastic Features: Custom Animations & Using Layers and Triggers
Without a doubt, one of the most powerful features in PowerPoint is the ability to animate objects; there are several basic options available, which are very good. However, you can supercharge your animations and really dazzle your audience by creating custom animations and by using layers and triggers.
You can create custom animation effects using one of the following methods:
- Applying multiple animation effects to one object
- Applying motion path animation (including Custom path)

Super Settings (or rather Outstanding Options) in Excel
If you are like most people, you may not have spent much time in the Options area of Excel. That is unfortunate because you can choose some settings that can really customize your version of the program to your own personal preferences and work situation.
This blog will share some examples of the things you can do with options and settings. Hopefully these “golden nuggets” will encourage you to explore other options and settings that you might find helpful to you.Read More

Awesome Add-ins for Excel
An add-in is a term used for a software utility added to a primary program. In other words, add-ins are mini applications that extend what you can do with Microsoft Office programs. When you enable an add-in, it adds custom commands and new features to programs that help increase your productivity.Read More

Fantastic Functions in Excel
With hundreds of functions available in Excel in multiple categories, it is nearly impossible for any one person to know how to use all of the functions.
This blog article will discuss a few of the lesser-known functions such as FORECAST, GETPIVOTDATA, TRANSPOSE, LARGE/SMALL (not the same as MAXIMUM/MINIMUM), and INDEX with MATCH.
As you may already know Excel functions are grouped into several categories including financial, logical, text, date/time, lookup and reference, math, statistical, engineering, cube, and of course, several others including the basic AutoSum functions.Read More

Getting Certified in Microsoft Office: Special Insights
Are you interested in earning a higher salary, Do you like being on the fast track to a possible new promotion? Are you attracted to the idea of earning recognition for your hard-earned knowledge and skills? Then a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification may be just right for you! It certainly would add something extra on your resume and set you apart from your coworkers or other job seekers.
This article will share some helpful insights into the certification process including describing the different levels of achievement available, the best methods to study and practice for the exams, practical tips from a recent completer (me!), and much more.Read More

How to use Flash Fill in Microsoft Excel
You are probably familiar with Excel’s very powerful Autofill feature (if not, learn more about Autofill here and then read on). However, did you know there is a similar feature that is equally useful called Flash Fill?
Say you have information in Excel not formatted the way you need it to be and going through the entire list manually to correct it seems daunting. In this case, Flash Fill can do the work for you.
What is Flash Fill?
You use the Flash Fill feature to automatically fill-in values in one column from information referenced from another, adjacent column (extract, combine/concatenate, insert characters, reverse data, change case, format, etc.).Read More