Hi Fellow Excel Addict,

I've always been someone who has never been satisfied with doing things a certain way just because "that's the way everyone else does it." I've learned over and over again during the past fifteen years that just about everything can be improved on, no matter how long people have been doing it. And you'll find no better vehicle to prove that point than Microsoft Excel.

The fact that you have subscribed to, and are now reading, my newsletter tips, I believe you feel the same way too. It's great to find like-minded people with a desire to expand their knowledge.

Many of the tips that I share with you will show you things you've never even thought. That's the whole point, isn't it? I want to help you expand your knowledge of Excel and help you use it to your benefit. However, to get the most benefit from these tips, it is important that you practice each of them, even if one doesn't seem to apply to what you do.

If you take a few minutes each week to actually practice doing these tips and shortcuts, little by little, you'll see your productivity begin to soar. I promise.

All I ask in return is for you to help me spread my newsletter by sharing it with your Excel friends and associates. So far my tips are now being read in more than 50 countries around the world. Wow!

I hope you have a great week and enjoy these tips.

To Your Success!
Francis Hayes (The Excel Addict)

You can save yourself a lot of work by properly designing the first worksheet and then simply duplicating it (print settings and all) by holding down the CTRL key while dragging the sheet tab of the original. As you drag, you will notice a small sheet icon with a plus sign (indicating copying) and a small black arrow (indicating where the duplicated sheet will be inserted). Let up on the mouse button and CTRL key and you will have an identical copy of your original sheet.

All you have to do each month is click here to recommend my newsletter and website to a friend. For each person that you refer, your name will go into the t-shirt draw. The more Excel friends you refer, the more chances you have of winning a t-shirt. But please, recommend it only to people you know and who are Microsoft Excel users.

If you use the 'Tell A Friend' link at www.TheExcelAddict.com you could win $10,000 and you will also qualify for my t-shirt draw.

*** Each monthly winner will be notified by email and will have 10 days to reply with a shipping address. If I don't receive a reply within 10 days, another name will be drawn.

T-Shirt Contest Winners
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Do you find yourself sometimes wanting to center your numbers in a column but when you do the decimals are not lined up? Here's a tip that I use anytime I need to perform such a task. The numbers aren't exactly centered but it gives the illusion that they are.

Here's how:

1. Select the cells you want to center.
2. Select Format, Cells and click on the Number tab.
3. In the Category field, select Custom.
4. If the selected cells already have a number format, that format code will appear in the Type field. Otherwise, the word 'General' will appear and you'll either have to select a format from the list of formats or enter one yourself.
5. Once you have the desired number format in the Type field, type two or more 'blank spaces' following the code. NOTE: If the number format is a two-part format $#,##0_);($#,##0), you'll have to add spaces after each section $#,##0_) ;($#,##0) .
6. Click OK to see if the format gives you the desired result. Add extra spaces to adjust.

There are tens of millions of other Microsoft Excel users all over the world. The vast majority of them have a very limited knowledge of Excel's capabilities. My goal is to share this information with everyone I possibly can and help them to benefit from Excel's amazing capabilities.

Please help me spread the word about my newsletter. If you know other Excel users, please tell them about "Spreadsheet Tips From An Excel Addict". I'm sure they'll appreciate it.

Maybe you know someone who supervises or employs many Excel users. That's where your referral could have a big impact.

VERY IMPORTANT: Please refer only people you know personally, who use Microsoft Excel and would benefit from this newsletter.

Here's an even quicker way.

Do you see the Address box on your taskbar? If not, right click an empty area on the taskbar and, from the pop-up menu, choose Toolbars and the Address. Adjust its size by dragging the left edge so it doesn't take up too much space.

Now, whenever you want to search for something on the Internet, type your search term(s) in the Address box and hit Enter. Your browser will automatically open on a search page with your search results.

This is one of those tips that can save you a little time each time you use it but as you add more of these to your computer knowledge, over time, they can really make a difference to your productivity and enjoyment of working with computers. I hope you like this one. It's one I always use.