Happy 1st Birthday, Dummy Essentials!
Today, it's been a full year since Dummy Essentials team [Pooja and Ankit] first got on stage and on this date, a year ago, Dummy Essentials entered into the world of Blogosphere! This year has certainly been a fascinating ride. For the past year, we've had the pleasure and the challenge of bringing forth tutorials related to your PC in a completely new light. It has been a pleasure to place them in the 'dummy style', in an easy to understand manner, fit enough for novice and geeks alike and to solve PC related problems of all our readers, to the best of our ability.
Our Achievements in the last 1 year range from publishing 172 Posts covering a wide variety of topics to help you learn and cope with your PC better. Added to which we received hundreds of comments and emails from our readers to make our blog a more interactive one. This made our list of loyal followers and readers grow to 400 + each and we received close to 60,000 visits from all these countries.
Dummy Essentials won the Prestigious "Blogger's Choice Awards 2009" for 2 of its categories: The Best Geek Blog 2009 and The Best Blog Design 2009, besides being the First Runner-Up for the other 2 categories in the list: Best Blog About Stuff and Best Education Blog. We also won the About Web Search 2010 Reader's Choice Awards for the Best Blog of 2010 as an all rounder.
Dummy Essentials featured in one of the leading online business publications of Romania, DailyBusiness.ro, for being one of the most popular blogs across.
Dummy Essentials has a Google Page Rank of 4, at present. We hope to take it further up, in the coming months.
We’d like to thank all the followers and readers of Dummy Essentials who have made this blog the success that it is today. We’d like to invite you back for another amazing year of learning computers, just the way you want to. And if you have not done so already, please subscribe to the blog’s RSS feed. We hope you’ll celebrate with us by taking a look back through the archives. Please use the comments section below to share links to your favorite posts and suggest future topics.
Using Large Function In MS Excel 2007
Many of us would have faced this problem of sorting out the top 5 or top 10 or top x numbers from an array. One way to do is to sort it in a descending order. But this will involve additional work of putting those top numbers in a different place. Moreover this will alter the way the data is put up because the data will lose its actual position in the array.
For this we use the LARGE function in excel to select the top numbers in the array.
Let us consider the data below for Daily Cash in order to bring out the Top 7 daily cash.
Now in order to bring out the Top 7 daily cash let us write down numbers from 1 to 7 vertically. This will be helpful using the LARGE function.
As you see above we have written down numbers from 1 to 7. Now let us use the LARGE function as shown below. The LARGE function is written as =Large(array,k). That means array is the range from which one needs to bring out the top numbers. Here is how we use and select the array.
Once the array is selected we will put a comma and select the number next to our formula. This will suffice the ‘k’ part of the formula which means if I select 1 it will give me the 1st highest number, when I select 2 it will give me the second highest number and so on. Also make sure that one does the array an Absolute Cell Referencing.
Once this is done. Press enter you will get the fist largest number. Now because we have done the Absolute Cell referencing for the array. Just copy paste the formula upto number 7 and you will get the Top 7 largest Daily cash.
As you see above we have got Top 7 Largest Daily Cash.
Now in order to bring out the Top 7 daily cash let us write down numbers from 1 to 7 vertically. This will be helpful using the LARGE function.
As you see above we have written down numbers from 1 to 7. Now let us use the LARGE function as shown below. The LARGE function is written as =Large(array,k). That means array is the range from which one needs to bring out the top numbers. Here is how we use and select the array.
Once the array is selected we will put a comma and select the number next to our formula. This will suffice the ‘k’ part of the formula which means if I select 1 it will give me the 1st highest number, when I select 2 it will give me the second highest number and so on. Also make sure that one does the array an Absolute Cell Referencing.
Once this is done. Press enter you will get the fist largest number. Now because we have done the Absolute Cell referencing for the array. Just copy paste the formula upto number 7 and you will get the Top 7 largest Daily cash.
As you see above we have got Top 7 Largest Daily Cash.
Average In MS Excel 2007
Let us learn how to calculate an average of any data. For this consider the table below:
As we see above we have data for 5 batsmen playing cricket along with the scores in every match. So the consolidated score for 3 matches is available. Now in order to calculate what is the average score for each batsman is, here is how we go about calculating:
Put the =average formula and select the range of which you need to take an average. Now press enter and we arrive at the average score for the first batsman as below:
As we can see above the average score of 1st Batsman is 50.3 runs. Now in order to calculate for the remaining, just copy & paste the same formula.
Here you go. Now we have arrived at the average of the entire list of batsmen. We illustrated above how to calculate row wise, we can do the same column wise too (refer below):
And then you can copy and paste the same formula in rest of the columns.
Now you can easily calculate the average of any given data.
As we see above we have data for 5 batsmen playing cricket along with the scores in every match. So the consolidated score for 3 matches is available. Now in order to calculate what is the average score for each batsman is, here is how we go about calculating:
Put the =average formula and select the range of which you need to take an average. Now press enter and we arrive at the average score for the first batsman as below:
As we can see above the average score of 1st Batsman is 50.3 runs. Now in order to calculate for the remaining, just copy & paste the same formula.
Here you go. Now we have arrived at the average of the entire list of batsmen. We illustrated above how to calculate row wise, we can do the same column wise too (refer below):
And then you can copy and paste the same formula in rest of the columns.
Now you can easily calculate the average of any given data.
Make Your Laptop Last Longer Without Recharging
Just a few quick tips on how to make your laptop last longer, without recharging!
1. Dim your laptop screen to minimum.
2. Avoid running too many background applications.
3. Stop using external devices if possible.
4. Hibernate instead of using the standby feature, when the laptop is idle.
5. Use the laptop in a cool environment.
6. Try not to use CD/DVD's when you want to preserve the battery for a longer usage.
If you are shopping for a new laptop, try and get as much RAM as you can afford to. Avoid using virtual memory. Get solid-state drives which consume less power than regular hard disks.
Summation In MS Excel 2007
Dear Readers,Taking into consideration, all the mails that we have been receiving from you, we will be coming up with short and easy tutorials on Microsoft Excel 2007 functions for naïve users. Watch out for our new series.
Let's start by the easiest and most used function: Summation!
A simple excel function which most of us use and at the same time this has been a challenge faced by a lot of users who are new to Excel and its features. Let's understand, how you can perform summation of a particular data.
Consider the data shown below, as an example.
Now if you want to find out the total amount that is to be paid, you would need to perform the "sum" function. The formula is simple and goes like this (as shown below):
=sum(range)
Once the range is selected, then press "enter" on your keyboard and you will get the desired output or the total cost to be paid.
That is all to the SUM function.
Shoortcut: The shortcut for the sum function is "Alt + = " (without the quotes). Hitting these keys, will activate the SUM function and select the range, automatically.
Award For The "Best Blog - 2010" Goes To Dummy Essentials! Another One In The Row..!
Well, this has taken us completely by surprise, because we weren't even aware of Dummy Essentials getting nominated for the "Best Blog" (overall) category for the "About Web Search 2010 Reader's Choice Category" (ref: HERE) and here we were informed sometime back by one of our readers, that we have been chosen as winners by the About Web Search for being the Best Blog for 2010. It honestly sounds too good to be true.. 2 awards in a row, followed by the excitement of winning 2 categories in the recent Blogger's Choice Awards 2009 for the Best Geek Blog and the Best Blog Design, just around a month back (ref: HERE) We would like to thank all our readers and for appreciating the work we do, because without you all, our blog couldn't have been a success. Here's the screenshot of the Award presented (on your left, you would need to click on the image to enlarge it) and if you would like to visit the link, you would need to CLICK HERE.
We would say, its just the beginning and there is still a lot to come, with our promise to deliver the best to our readers. Thank you all!
To see more of Awards that have been conferred on Dummy Essentials, you can visit the "Awards" page, HERE.
Dummy Essentials Scoops Another Award!
The About.com Reader's Choice Awards 2010- Best of Google (ref: HERE) were announced yesterday and Dummy Essentials scooped another award for the top position, after the winning the Blogger's Choice Awards 2009 (ref: HERE) around a month back.
After the nomination followed by a whole month's assessment and voting by the readers of one of the biggest tech networks on the Web - About.com, Dummy Essentials won the award for excellence in the blogging world, once again. We would personally like to thank all the readers of About.com who found our blog interesting and helpful and in turn voted for us.
Dummy Essentials was one of the five blogger blogs, selected for the 2010 Reader's Choice Awards.
The read the details, kindly click the image below, else you can visit the website HERE.
Following were the Poll Results:
We are glad that we grabbed the honor again and the appreciation for our past efforts will encourage us to meet more challenges in the future. Thank you all!
To see more of Awards that have been conferred on Dummy Essentials, you can visit the "Awards" page, HERE.
End Program Automatically At Shutdown
Does your PC take a long time to shutdown, when you actually want it to, within seconds?
Here's a simple way to fasten the shutdown process, where all your active processes automatically end, with the click of 'Shutdown PC'.
Let's begin by clicking on the "Start" menu on the taskbar. Followed which, click on "Run".
In the "Run" window, type: regedit and click on "OK"
Navigate to:
HKEY_CURRENT USER\Control Panel\Desktop
On the right side of the window, locate the key titled "AutoEndTasks" and double click on it and in the "Edit String" pop-up window, change the value data to "1" and click on "OK"
That's it and you are done! Close the registry editor, never to wait again for your PC to shutdown.
Here's a simple way to fasten the shutdown process, where all your active processes automatically end, with the click of 'Shutdown PC'.
Let's begin by clicking on the "Start" menu on the taskbar. Followed which, click on "Run".
In the "Run" window, type: regedit and click on "OK"
Navigate to:
HKEY_CURRENT USER\Control Panel\Desktop
On the right side of the window, locate the key titled "AutoEndTasks" and double click on it and in the "Edit String" pop-up window, change the value data to "1" and click on "OK"
That's it and you are done! Close the registry editor, never to wait again for your PC to shutdown.
Apple iPad: A Super Sized iPhone?
Apple Computer has just launched its touchscreen tablet computer that further obscures the line between a smartphone and a laptop. "More intimate than a laptop and so much more capable than a smartphone", the iPad is intended to serve as an instant-on Internet device which can used for browsing and e-mail, an e-book reader, audio-video media playback, as well as computing and gaming.
The much-anticipated tablet offers a 9.7-inch, capacitive multitouch, LED-backlit glass display with a 178 degree viewing angle. Interaction, input and navigation is exactly the same as that on the iPhone or the Touch -through intuitive finger taps, swipes, pinches and stretches.
There is no physical keyboard.
Apart from 12 next-generation multitouch native applications, it has the ability to run most of the 1,40,000 apps available on the Apple App Store currently.
Then there is a new iBooks app to browse, buy and read books on a mobile device and a new multitouch version of iWork (Apple's office suite).
Like with the iPhone and Touch, the 0.5 inches thick, 1.5 pounds iPad employs iTunes to sync contacts, photos, music, movies, TV shows, applications etc. to a PC or Mac. All apps and content you download from the App Store, iTunes Store and iBookstore will be automatically synced to your iTunes library. The iPad can be hooked to a new iPad Keyboard Dock if you want to use a full-size traditional (hardware) keyboard.
The iPad will be launched in two versions: one with WiFi and the other with WiFi as well as 3G. The 3G version will be able to notch up speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps on HSDPA networks. The iPad, powered by Apple's A4 claims to offer a battery life of up to 10 hours which is built for a 1,000 charge cycles lifespan without a significant decrease in battery capacity over a typical five year lifespan.
The WiFi only iPad will be available in March 2010 worldwide. 3G models will be available April onwards.
The iPad can't multi-task, offers no Flash support, wireless syncing, handwriting recognition, and has no webcam winking at you. Yet two factors give it a definite edge: a humongous library of existing apps and very good value for money if you are on the lookout for a netbook or an ebook reader... because it is both and more...
The much-anticipated tablet offers a 9.7-inch, capacitive multitouch, LED-backlit glass display with a 178 degree viewing angle. Interaction, input and navigation is exactly the same as that on the iPhone or the Touch -through intuitive finger taps, swipes, pinches and stretches.
There is no physical keyboard.
Apart from 12 next-generation multitouch native applications, it has the ability to run most of the 1,40,000 apps available on the Apple App Store currently.
Then there is a new iBooks app to browse, buy and read books on a mobile device and a new multitouch version of iWork (Apple's office suite).
Like with the iPhone and Touch, the 0.5 inches thick, 1.5 pounds iPad employs iTunes to sync contacts, photos, music, movies, TV shows, applications etc. to a PC or Mac. All apps and content you download from the App Store, iTunes Store and iBookstore will be automatically synced to your iTunes library. The iPad can be hooked to a new iPad Keyboard Dock if you want to use a full-size traditional (hardware) keyboard.
The iPad will be launched in two versions: one with WiFi and the other with WiFi as well as 3G. The 3G version will be able to notch up speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps on HSDPA networks. The iPad, powered by Apple's A4 claims to offer a battery life of up to 10 hours which is built for a 1,000 charge cycles lifespan without a significant decrease in battery capacity over a typical five year lifespan.
The WiFi only iPad will be available in March 2010 worldwide. 3G models will be available April onwards.
The iPad can't multi-task, offers no Flash support, wireless syncing, handwriting recognition, and has no webcam winking at you. Yet two factors give it a definite edge: a humongous library of existing apps and very good value for money if you are on the lookout for a netbook or an ebook reader... because it is both and more...
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