GDocs Ask a simple question, get a simple answer

[Jenkar]

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

[rob77dp]

Freezing more than 10 rows or 5 columns...?

 

[Jenkar]

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?

[rob77dp]

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?

[Jenkar]

No idea.

[Jenkar]

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.

[ddevans96]

I figured out how to use concatenate

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

[Jenkar]

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))

[TribalTrouble]

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

[ddevans96]

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

[Jenkar]

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.

[Pella]

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.