Microsoft Office Excel for Engineers

Excel Primer

This document outlines many of the commands reviewed in the

SolidWorks screencast Microsoft Office Excel Tips for Engineers

Created By:
Darren Henry, Director of Product Marketing
Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corporation

©2010 Dassault Systèmes, All Rights Reserved

Data Population
Quickly populate adjacent cells with series of values

Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday

January

Cell Addressing
In formulas, Excel uses relative addressing by default. As you copy formulas through your
spreadsheet it will adjust the cell locations.

To lock down the cell location insert a dollar sign "$" in the cell address.

Equation How Excel interprets the address

=A5 relative addressing
=$A$5 equation will always reference cell A5 no matter where it is copied
=$A5 equation will always reference column A, but will adjust the row number as it is copied
=A$5 equation will always reference row 5, but will adjust the column letter as it is copied

Darren's Tips: Use the F4 key to quickly cycle through the various address
combinations
er as it is copied
as it is copied
Data Validation (List)
Location: Data →Data Validation
Use Data Validation to make user friendly pick lists

Possible Uses:
Prompting for options and accessories
Selecting languages, units, or styles

Darren's Tips: The list used for validation must reside on the same worksheet as
the cell being validated. The "Source" field of a Data Validation list can utilize "IF"
functions to add another level of customization.

Example:
Color hexadecimal
Blue 16711680

Color Red Green Blue Hexadecimal

Black 0 0 0 0
Red 255 0 0 255
Orange 255 128 0 33023
Green 0 255 0 65280
Blue 0 0 255 ###
Purple 255 128 255 ###
Turquoise 0 255 255 ###
White 255 255 255 ###
e worksheet as
st can utilize "IF"
IF
Syntax: IF(logical_test,value_if_true,value_if_false)
Use IF to conduct conditional tests on values and formulas. Returns one
value if a condition you specify evaluates to TRUE and another value if it
evaluates to FALSE.

Possible Uses:
Millions of uses, from conditional formulas based on dimensions, to part
number prefixes based on options. When driving CAD models with Excel,
use IF functions to control whether a component is suppressed or resolved.

Darren's Tips: You can nest up to six IF functions, but if there is more than
three, consider storing data in a table and use Vlookup.
$STATE@Caster<1

Darren Henry:
Here an IF function
suppresses or resolves
a caster component
based on a user's
Caster?

choice. Type in "No" in

cell B11 to see the
change.
>

Example: Yes R
CONCATENATE
Text1, text2, ... are 1 to 30 text items to be joined into a single text item.
Syntax:
The CONCATENATE
text items (text1,text2,...)
can be text strings, numbers, or single-cell references.

Possible Uses:
Piecing together part numbers

Darren's Tips: You can explicitly type in any symbols that separate prefixes
and suffixes, but I find if you list them in individual cells, it aids in edit-ability

Material Length Hole spacing

Example: SS 12 1.5

Special Character
- Part NumberSS-12-1.5
&
Syntax: "Text1"&" Text 2"
.

Possible Uses:
Piecing together part numbers

Darren's Tips: Remember to add " " Space between variables when desired

material Length hole spacing

Example: SS 12 15
Darren Henry:
Part Number SS - 12 - 15 Here we used a simple
formula with & to piece
together a part
number. We explicitly
typed in the dashes
and spaces.
VLOOKUP
Syntax: VLOOKUP(lookup_value,table_array,col_index_num,range_lookup)
Searches for a value in the leftmost column of a table, and then returns a
value in the same row from a column you specify in the table.

Possible Uses:
Use instead of writing nested IF statements, finding part number prefixes and
suffixes, finding correct hexadecimal color code, etc
Darren's Tips: Watch out for unwanted spaces in the first column, excel will
not find a match if there is and extra space in the text string. You can
Vlookup from different worksheets, so organize your tables by storing data on
other worksheets

Example: Color hexadecimal Darren Henry:

Vlookup is locating
Black 0 the color in the table
and then returning
the corresponding
value in the 5th
column.
Color Red Green Blue Hexadecimal
Black 0 0 0 0
Red 255 0 0 255
Orange 255 128 0 33023
Green 0 255 0 65280
Blue 0 0 255 16711680
Purple 255 128 255 16744703
Turquoise 0 255 255 16776960
White 255 255 255 16777215
nge_lookup)
Trace Precedents
Found under Formulas-> Trace Precedents
Draws arrows to show cell dependencies. Great tool to help understand where a
cell's value originates.

Possible Uses:
Making your formulas easy to troubleshoot
Darren's Tips: Use Trace Precedence, Show Formulas, and simple double
clicking to help understand which cells have equations and where they
come from. The arrows will be removed when saving or you can use the
Remove Arrows command when you are done.

material Length hole spacing

Example: SS 12 15

Special Character
- Part Number SS-12-15
Darren Henry:
click on cell and choose
Formulas ->Trace
Precedents
INT
Syntax: INT(number)
Rounds a number down to the nearest integer.

Possible Uses:
Use when calculating number of instances in patterns
Darren's Tips: INT does not round up, so accurate hole calculations may require multiple
formulas

Example 1: Number Integer

2.8 2

Example 2: overall length 18

hole spacing 3.5
number of holes 5
Custom Views
Found under Views --> Custom Views…
Quickly toggle betweens showing your control panel, and the entire design
table

Darren Henry:
a few custom views
have been created. Go
to View->Custom View
to see them.
CONVERT
Syntax: CONVERT(number,from_unit,to_unit)
Use Convert to convert a number from one unit of measurement to
another.

Possible Uses:
Great for any type of Engineering calculation. Allow the user of the
spreadsheet to specify the type of units they are familiar with, and
convert all data to suite.

Darren's Tips: Specify the from_unit and to_unit in cells, so they can
be changed quickly.

Heat Converter
2400 J equals 2.275 BTU

Darren Henry: Darren Henry:

Enter any value in this Convert was used in
cell and it will be this cell to calculate the
converted from Joules value of BTUs
to BTUs
Paste Special
Location: Available from Right Mouse Button, once a cell has been selected for cop
Enables the user to copy more than a cells value. Includes the ability to copy
data validation restrictions as well as perform bulk mathematical tasks.

Possible Uses:
Update price sheets or quantities in BOMs

Price New Price Multiplier

$100.00 0.9
$150.00
$200.00
Darren Henry:
$250.00 Select cell D20 and choose
$300.00 Copy, then highlight the
$350.00 prices and use Paste Special,
Multiply. All the numbers
will be multiplied by 0.9
een selected for copy
Copying from PDF files
Many product spec sheets and property tables are available as PDF files. Often you
may copy the data for use with 3D CAD models.

In Adobe Acrobat, when selecting large amounts of tabular data, use the right
mouse button option: "Copy as Table" to aid in copying the data
Custom Lists
Create a custom list that Excel will use to auto-populate adjacent cells with
series of values
Under Excel Options --> Popular--> Edit Custom Lists, you can simply type
a series of values or import from an array of data that exists in your
spreadsheet.

Darren
Neil
Mark
Jeremy
Match
Syntax: Match(Lookup value, Lookup array, Match Type)

Use Match to return the row and column location within an array of data.
Use a zero as the "match type" for an exact match

Mechanical Properties for Wrought Aluminum

Tension %
Brinell
Elongatio Ultimate
Ultimate Yield Hardness Enduranc
Alloy and n 1/16" Shearing
Strength Strength 500kg, e Limit
Temper thick Strength
(ksi) (ksi) 10-mm (ksi)
specime (ksi)
ball
n
3003-H12 19 18 10 35 12 8
3003-H14 22 21 8 40 14 9 Quick Find
3003-H16 26 25 5 47 15 10
3003-H18 29 27 4 55 16 10 Material
3004-O 26 10 20 45 16 14 Property
3004-H32 31 25 10 52 17 15
3004-H34 35 29 9 63 18 15 Row
3004-H36 38 33 5 70 20 16 Column
3004-H38 41 36 5 77 21 16
4032-T6 55 46 12 120 38 16
5005-O 18 6 25 28 11 14
5005-H12 20 19 10 36 14 14
5005-H14 23 22 6 41 14 14
5005-H16 26 25 5 46 15 14
5005-H18 29 28 4 51 16 14
5005-H32 20 17 11 36 14 15
5005-H34 23 20 8 41 14 12
5005-H36 26 24 6 46 15 12
5005-H38 29 27 5 51 16 12
Quick Find

5005-H34
Yield Strength (ksi)

17
3
Index + Match
Syntax: Index(reference, row number, column number, area number)

Use Index as an alternative to Vlookup. Index will find a value within a table. It uses the intersection of a s
column. If the you are looking up data from one continuous table, you can leave the area number blank. T
perfect to use to help specify the row and column location.

Mechanical Properties for Wrought Aluminum

Tension %
Brinell
Elongatio Ultimate
Ultimate Yield Hardness Enduranc
Alloy and n 1/16" Shearing
Supplier Strength Strength 500kg, e Limit
Temper thick Strength
(ksi) (ksi) 10-mm (ksi)
specime (ksi)
ball
n
Wingate 3003-H12 19 18 10 35 12 8
Wingate 3003-H14 22 21 8 40 14 9 Quick Find
Wingate 3003-H16 26 25 5 47 15 10
Wingate 3003-H18 29 27 4 55 16 10 Material
Argyleln 3004-O 26 10 20 45 16 14 Property
Argyleln 3004-H32 31 25 10 52 17 15
Argyleln 3004-H34 35 29 9 63 18 15 Value
Argyleln 3004-H36 38 33 5 70 20 16
Argyleln 3004-H38 41 36 5 77 21 16
Wingate 4032-T6 55 46 12 120 38 16
Wingate 5005-O 18 6 25 28 11 14
Bonnell 5005-H12 20 19 10 36 14 14
Bonnell 5005-H14 23 22 6 41 14 14
Bonnell 5005-H16 26 25 5 46 15 14
Bonnell 5005-H18 29 28 4 51 16 14
Bonnell 5005-H32 20 17 11 36 14 15
Argyleln 5005-H34 23 20 8 41 14 12
Argyleln 5005-H36 26 24 6 46 15 12
Argyleln 5005-H38 29 27 5 51 16 12
the intersection of a specified row and
area number blank. The Match function is

Quick Find

3004-O
Ultimate Shearing Strength (ksi)

16
Conditional Formating
Location: Home -> Conditional Formatting

Use Conditional Formatting to add clarity to data

without creating separate charts and graphs. Differ
methods can be used to add value bars, shading, o
icons to the data.

Part Quantity
BEARING - LINEAR 2
BLOCK - BEVEL DETENT 1
BUSHING - BEVEL LOCK 3
BUSHING - LINEAR ROD 4
Countersunk Flat Head Cross Recess Screw_DIN(ISO 7046-1 - M4 x 16 - Z --- 16C) 3
Curved Spring Lock Washer_DIN(Spring washer DIN 128 - A5) 2
HANDLE - PEDESTAL-LH 1
HANDLE - PEDESTAL-RH 1
Hex Nut GradeC_DIN(Hexagon Nut ISO 4034 - M5 - N) 2
Hex Screw GradeAB_DIN(ISO 4017 - M4 x 10-N) 1
Hex Screw GradeAB_DIN(ISO 4017 - M6 x 16-C) 2
Hex Thin Nut Chamfered GradeAB_DIN(Hexagon Thin Nut ISO 4035 - M8 - C) 4
Pan Head Cross Recess Screw_DIN(ISO 7045 - M4 x 20 - Z --- 20N) 2
Pan Head Cross Recess Screw_DIN(ISO 7045 - M5 x 10 - Z --- 10N) 2
PEDESTAL - BEARING - B3 1
PLATE - BEVEL LOCK 2
Shim-Support Ring_DIN(DIN 988-S6x12) 2
SHIELD - LINEAR BEARING 2
Socket Head Cap Screw_DIN(DIN 912 M6 x 25 --- 25C) 2
Socket Set Screw Cup Point_DIN(DIN 916 - M8 x 12-C) 2
Socket Set Screw Flat Point_DIN(DIN 913 - M8 x 16-C) 4
arity to data
graphs. Different
ars, shading, or

Mass (g)
95.00
235.52
0.83
15.46
0.25
0.04
45.82
47.03
0.23
0.24
0.79
0.43
0.36
0.39
83.61
15.28
0.10
27.22
1.10
0.50
0.71
Excel Solver
Location: Data--> Analysis-->Solver
Note: You must enable the Solver Add-in

Use the excel solver to perform what if

analysis. It will solve for an optimal value
of a cell, and take into consideration
numerous constraints.

Example: Excel will find the height of a

cylinder so that it will have a specified
volume. To see the solver dialog, highlight
the yellow cell and chose the solver
command.
Cylinder Volume Calculation

Diameter 45 mm
Target Volume ### ml

Calculated Volume ### ml

Height ### mm
Solved Height ### mm