Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Excel Hidden Names and External Links that Won't Break

Was getting error messages when opening an excel file (not macro enabled) warning of links to external files and links to what appeared to be sharepoint sites.

Excel wouldn't let me delete the external link via Data>Connections>Edit Links.  The link simply would not delete.

There didn't appear to be any bad references under Name Manager.

Ultimately it turned out to be:

1)  Data Validation which was referencing a list on an external file (the cause of the external link that I couldn't delete).

2)  Hundreds of hidden Names that weren't visible in Name Manager (I suspect the cause of what appeared to be links to sharepoint sites).

Resolving Item 1) Data Validation was cumbersome.  You had to go to each worksheet and had to find any Data Validation.  I did this using HOME>Editing>Find&Select>Go To Special>Find Special>Data Validation (All).  Once I found the range, I went to DATA>Data Tools>Data Validation>Data Validation.... and changed the settings to Allow>Any Value.  I still couldn't delete the external link so I moved on to seeing if there were other areas that could be linking to this external file.

Resolving Item 2) hidden Names.

I finally found a Macro at the following link which then made a TOOONNNNNNNSSSS (I think hundreds) of bad named references visible in the Name Manager  http://professor-excel.com/named-ranges-excel-hidden-names/

Sub unhideAllNames()
'Unhide all names in the currently open Excel file
    For Each tempName In ActiveWorkbook.Names
        tempName.Visible = True
    Next
End Sub


Once I deleted all the hidden Names I was then able to delete the external link.


Another tool I used to hunt down possible issues was FILE>Info>Check for Issues>Inspect Document

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Count unique text values in excel range

Thanks to this site for giving me the solution to this challenge.
https://exceljet.net/formula/count-unique-text-values-in-a-range

Excerpt from the site:

Handling empty cells in the range

If any of the cells in the range are empty, and you want to use FREQUENCY instead of COUNTIF, you'll need use a more complicated array formula that includes IF:
{=SUM(IF(FREQUENCY(IF(data<>"", MATCH(data,data,0)),ROW(data)-ROW(data.firstcell)+1),1))}
Note: because the logical test portion of the IF statement contains an array, the formula becomes an array formula that requires Control-Shift-Enter. This is why SUMPRODUCT has been replaced with SUM.

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Garmin 405cx won't sync workouts

I dusted off my Garmin forerunner 405cx to loan to a friend.  I wanted to put some interval workouts on the training calendar and sync it all to the watch.  I kept getting a sync error.  I believe it's because the workout had more than 40 repeats.  When I edited the workout to bring it down to a warm up, 40 repeats, and cool down it synced over just fine.

Friday, December 2, 2016

Nathan Fireball Hydration Vest Review - Run 1

I took the Nathan Fireball out for a 4 mile test run and so far really like it.  First of all, it doesn't move at all and you don't have to crank the straps down to keep it still.  It just comfortably sits in place.  I wore a running singlet/tank with racerback straps and I didn't have any chafing or have any areas that felt like they might chafe at a longer distance.  It comes with 2 insulated 12 ounce bottles. The zip pocket wasn't big enough to fit my phone (Google Pixel), so I put it in one of the water bottle pockets which cinched up tightly enough that I wasn't worried about it falling out and it didn't bounce around at all.  The slip pocket on the front of the one water bottle pocket (that I used for my phone) was big enough to easily carry one gel and pepper spray.  The zip pocket can easily fit several gels.  The small pill pocket above the other water bottle pocket was the perfect size to carry a chapstick.  Since I was only going out for a 4 mile run and it's "winter" in Florida it was only in the mid-70s so having just the one 12 ounce bottle wasn't an issue.  The vest does work with a bladder so for longer summer runs that should work fine.  The bladder tube slips through an opening at the top/center of the vest.  My phone would also fit behind the bottle, so if you really wanted to take two bottles I'm guessing you could, but not sure how secure your phone would be.  The back pocket is divided in two sections so it will keep the bladder separate from anything else you would toss in there.  I think it's plenty big enough to fit a light jacket.  So far the only small issue I've found is that the neck of the vest sits directly at the base of your neck so it felt a little heavy there.  It could be that I'm just not used to something sitting right there and I'll be interested to see if that issue doesn't happen when using a bladder.




Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Ultimate Direction Jenny Ultra Vesta Review - Run 1

Well, I just took a short run with my new Ultimate Direction Ultra Vesta.  For frame of reference, I have been running for about a year with this kid's version CamelBak and it never fit exactly right (shocking) and would sometimes rub my inner upper arms so I decided to upgrade.  My first impression is that moving from a pack with a hydration bladder in the back to a pack with bottles in the front is going to take some getting used to.

First, just a little bit about sizing.  I went back and forth trying to decide whether to go with the XS/SM or MD/LG.  I decided on the XS/SM and think that was the right choice, but I live in Florida so it is unlikely that I will ever wear this over anything but a tshirt or light jacket.  If I thought I'd be wearing it over even a heavyweight sweatshirt or if I was going to carry a lot of stuff I might have returned this for the MD/LG.  My measurements over a tech fabric tank top - 36" measured just under my armpits and 33" measured about 2" below the band of my running bra.  When I tighten the top sternum strap I think that if the vest were the larger size that the front would cinch too close in front, but it's hard to know that for sure having not actually tried the larger size.  Anyway, if you're close to my measurements and plan to wear something more than a tshirt or carry anything substantial in the pack then you might want to consider sizing up to the MD/LG.  I'm still on the fence as to if I made the right decision or not.

I only took this out for a very short 1.5 mile run (yes, that's one and one-half, not fifteen) where my calves decided to not cooperate so I didn't give it much of a first test run, but I'm a little nervous that it might chafe the sides of my neck right at the top of my shoulders.  I'm hoping that on a longer run and with a little more fidgeting with the tension on the straps that it won't be an issue.  And I'm hoping that this isn't because I was right on the edge of the XS/SM size and should have sized up.  Plus, the weight of the water bottles being on the front is a very different feel and the vest seemed to slip side to side just a little bit.  I also didn't have anything in the back of the vest to offset the weight at all.  I don't think trying to take the bottles out and replace them whenever you want to take a sip of water is practical, they are just too squishy and take a little maneuvering to get back into the pocket.  But you also don't hear any water sloshing noise which is excellent.  And if you push the pocket of the vest up just a bit you can tip your head forward and drink out of the bottle without removing it.  So this is not a deal breaker for me.

The phone pocket (the one with the zipper) on the front is just barely big enough to fit my Google Pixel in its case.  The phone with case measures just shy of 6" x 4".  Even just a little bit taller and I don't think it would fit.

The back of the pack sits high on your back and doesn't cover up your lower back at all.  It feels a little strange at first, but I think in the heat of the Florida summer it's going to be great to not have your lower back covered.  That being said, I couldn't even begin to reach any of the pockets on the back with the pack on.  But I'm also not the most bendy person in the world.

I'll be interested to see how this works out on longer runs.  I'm hoping I get the kinks worked out otherwise I'm going to be pretty bummed to have an expensive pack that doesn't quite work for me.

Sunday, September 25, 2016

Link on deleting excel formatting

http://excelribbon.tips.net/T012259_Deleting_Unwanted_Styles.html

Excerpt:
Removing user-defined styles is very easy, though, if you use a macro. The following macro will quickly delete the unwanted styles:
Sub StyleKill()      Dim styT As Style      Dim intRet As Integer        For Each styT In ActiveWorkbook.Styles          If Not styT.BuiltIn Then              intRet = MsgBox("Delete style '" & styT.Name & "'?", vbYesNo)              If intRet = vbYes Then styT.Delete          End If      Next styT  End Sub  
The macro needs just a little user input. Whenever the macro detects a user-defined style, you are asked if you want to delete it. Clicking on the Yes button causes the style to be removed from the workbook.
I also found this link, however, currently has my workbook locked up so we'll see.....
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/291321