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Other Topics => Off-Topic Discussions => Tech Talk => Topic started by: Jenkar on June 01, 2013, 06:14:28 pm

Title: GDocs Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
Post by: Jenkar on June 01, 2013, 06:14:28 pm
I've realised a lot of people do not know what gdocs is capable of, and often ask me in chat questions about it when they need some help. Since i believe that every answer should be beneficial, post here if you have a question for me about gdocs. :3
Title: Re: GDocs Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
Post by: rob77dp on June 02, 2013, 05:12:10 am
Freezing more than 10 rows or 5 columns...?

 >:(
Title: Re: GDocs Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
Post by: Jenkar on June 02, 2013, 09:57:37 am
Freezing more than 10 rows or 5 columns...?

 >:(
I have no problem doing that. Do you use the "drag the grey bar in the top left corner" method to freeze your rows?
Title: Re: GDocs Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
Post by: rob77dp on June 02, 2013, 02:47:50 pm
Freezing more than 10 rows or 5 columns...?

 >:(
I have no problem doing that. Do you use the "drag the grey bar in the top left corner" method to freeze your rows?

OK, that does work!  Thanks Jenk!

Now, I bring into question the lengthy help threads discussing this exact thing with Google sponsored replies that claim it not possible at the moment due to current program limitations.  Do you know how long that "drag the gray bar in the top left corner" method has been functional for >10 rows and >5 columns?
Title: Re: GDocs Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
Post by: Jenkar on June 02, 2013, 02:57:13 pm
No idea.
Title: Re: GDocs Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
Post by: Jenkar on June 17, 2013, 06:01:13 pm
Because this came up just now with the collosseum favorite thingy :

Q: What does the "indirect" function do.

A: Let's look at the formula in the betting thingy : =IFERROR(INDIRECT(""&A3&"!G7"))
A3 is the number representing the player. So for example; jenkar's sheet being sheet 16, on that line it'd be interpreted as :
=IFERROR(INDIRECT("16"!G7")), which, with the use of indirect, does : =IFERROR(16!G7). Indirect converts a string in a reference.

Note on references : references are of the form : <sheetname>!($)<column>($)<row>. The <>'s are for indicating beggining/end of field, you don't type them in a ref. Also, the $ are optionnal (hence the parenthesis, again not typed () ), and they serve to indicate an absolute reference. There are two $ possible placement, one for absolute column and one for absolute row. (Using both gives absolute cell reference). What is an absolute reference? If you drag a cell, the formula will be copy pasted into the cells you drag along, AS IF YOU MOVED THE REFERENCE TOO. This is relative referencing. Absolute means the references stay the same.
Title: Re: GDocs Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
Post by: ddevans96 on June 17, 2013, 06:17:51 pm
I figured out how to use concatenate :D

Okay not really. I mean I know how it works, but let's say I have something like this in cells A1-C2:

Jenkar
2-0
ddevans96
ddevans96
2-1
Jenkar

If I used =concatenate(A1, "vs", C1) in cell E1, and the same in E2, it would look like this:

Jenkar
2-0
ddevans96
          Jenkar vs ddevans96
ddevans96
2-1
Jenkar
          ddevans96 vs Jenkar

However, I want E1 and E2 to concatenate alphabetically, so I can apply conditional formatting to column E and highlight all duplicates, like this:

Jenkar
2-0
ddevans96
          ddevans96 vs Jenkar
ddevans96
2-1
Jenkar
          ddevans96 vs Jenkar

Note I'm using Excel terminology, since I'm more familar with it. I hope GDocs isn't so different that you can't understand what I'm asking xD
Title: Re: GDocs Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
Post by: Jenkar on June 17, 2013, 06:28:18 pm
Note : Gdocs solution here. Try it out for yaself in excel!
In gdocs you can test alphabetical order by using > or <. Doesn't take caps in account.

So you could do :
=if(A1<C1,concatenate(A1," vs ", C1), concatenate(C1," vs ",A1))
Title: Re: GDocs Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
Post by: TribalTrouble on June 17, 2013, 10:29:02 pm
Why can't you print straight from GDocs? Why must you download it first? >.>

Why do word documents downloaded from GDocs to print have the format all messed up?!? X_X
Title: Re: GDocs Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
Post by: ddevans96 on June 17, 2013, 11:04:01 pm
So you could do :
=if(A1<C1,concatenate(A1," vs ", C1), concatenate(C1," vs ",A1))

This worked. I never thought of using greater than and less than for letters - thanks Jenky :3
Title: Re: GDocs Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
Post by: Jenkar on June 18, 2013, 06:41:30 am
Why can't you print straight from GDocs? Why must you download it first? >.>

Why do word documents downloaded from GDocs to print have the format all messed up?!? X_X
...? Gdocs prints directly for me.
Title: Re: GDocs Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
Post by: Pella on June 18, 2013, 06:48:40 am
Note on references : references are of the form : <sheetname>!<column>($)<row>($).
I'm reasonably certain that the $ must appear before the column or row you wish to be absolute, not after it.
Title: Re: GDocs Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
Post by: Jenkar on June 18, 2013, 07:12:13 am
Note on references : references are of the form : <sheetname>!<column>($)<row>($).
I'm reasonably certain that the $ must appear before the column or row you wish to be absolute, not after it.
And you're right. *facepalm*
Title: Re: GDocs Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
Post by: TribalTrouble on June 18, 2013, 12:15:25 pm
Why can't you print straight from GDocs? Why must you download it first? >.>

Why do word documents downloaded from GDocs to print have the format all messed up?!? X_X
...? Gdocs prints directly for me.
It never does for me. If I use the browser's file print it comes up as a completely empty page. If I hit print from GDocs's print button it makes me download it into Adobe and open it from Adobe. This occurs on both my home's Macs and Linux computers as well as my school's Windows computers.
Title: Re: GDocs Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
Post by: Jenkar on June 18, 2013, 01:16:43 pm
Maybe browser dependant? Try chrome?
Title: Re: GDocs Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
Post by: TribalTrouble on June 18, 2013, 04:37:35 pm
Maybe browser dependant? Try chrome?
I've tried Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and IE...
Title: Re: GDocs Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
Post by: Jenkar on June 18, 2013, 04:47:12 pm
I have seriously no idea then. I've used the print under file command and had absolutely no problem whatsoever. Printed perfectly fine. No downloads.
Title: Re: GDocs Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
Post by: rob77dp on June 18, 2013, 05:05:35 pm
Why can't you print straight from GDocs? Why must you download it first? >.>

Why do word documents downloaded from GDocs to print have the format all messed up?!? X_X

I have no issues with any method (from Docs, from browser, to PDF...) of printing from GDocs.  Seems it is likely a software/driver sort of problem as opposed to "simple answer".  :s
Title: Re: GDocs Ask a simple question, get a simple answer
Post by: rob77dp on July 16, 2013, 09:13:51 pm
First, sorry for double post.  This really doesn't fit as an edit to my last post though.

GDocs - I discovered today (on accident, of course) how to 'tab' between sheets in a workbook on the Google Spreadsheet program.  Use Ctrl+Shift+PgUp or Ctrl+Shift+PgDn to scroll through them.  In Excel, this is without the shift key but in browsers (where GDocs live) that goes between browser tabs!  Stumbled upon the GDocs method today and thought I would share (possibly everyone but me already knew this?).

TL;DR - Ctrl+Shift+PgUp or Ctrl+Shift+PgDn to change sheets in a workbook on GDocs Spreadsheet.


(Can the above really be too long to read?  Maybe, I suppose.)
blarg: