Post Tagged with: "video tutorial"
How to Link Cells in Different Excel Spreadsheets
Excel Spreadsheet Linking Tutorial
Overview: Learn how to link data in one Excel Spreadsheet to data in cells of another worksheet or workbook using linking formulas.
Pulling All of your Information Together
Excel allows one worksheet to get information from cells in another worksheet. The other worksheet can be inside of the same workbook (file) or in an entirely different one. This is a nice way to use certain sheets for information input (think transactions, prices, account balances) and other worksheets to summarize and and report on the detailed data (think dashboards).
The process of linking data between Excel worksheets and/or workbooks actually only involves a few simple steps:
- Open all of the Excel files that you want to link
- Pick the linked data’s Destination cell
- Select the Soure Data to be linked
- Press the Enter key
Linking Excel Worksheets within the Same Workbook
Open your Excel spreadsheet and go to the worksheet where you want to display the linked data and click in the desired destination cell.
Press the “equals” key on your keyboard to begin the linking formula. Then, click on the worksheet (tab) where the source data resides.
Click in the cell where the source data resides.
Notice that the Worksheet name, then the cell name appear in the formula bar.
Press the Enter key.
The source data will be displayed in the destination cell.
Notice how the Worksheet and Cell are displayed in the formula bar.
Linking Excel Worksheets Between Different Workbooks
?Open up all the your Excel spreadsheets whose data you would like to link.
Go to the worksheet where you want the source data to be displayed and click in the destination cell. Press the “equals” key then switch to the Excel Workbook where the source data resides.
?
?Click in the cell where the source data resides.
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?Notice that the Workbook (file) Name, the Worksheet name, then the Cell name appear in the formula bar.
Press the Enter key.
The source data will be displayed in the destination cell.
That’s the entire process. Not that hard, right?
Linking Excel Spreadsheets Video Tutorial
See how to link up your spreadsheets in the video tutorial below.
Read More »
Major Milestone – One Million Views of VitaminCM.com Video Tutorials
That’s a lot of eyeballs
I use a service called TubeMogul.com to upload and track my videos on multiple video sharing services. Two of my favorite stats are which services get the most views and of course, how many Total Views all of my videos on all sites get. Well Sunday morning I woke up to check my stats and saw that I finally passed the ONE MILLION TOTAL VIEWS mark. Wow! It’s hard to imagine that my silly little video tutorials have been watched over a million times.
Let’s take a look at how those numbers break down:
My Most Viewed Video
How to Control Multiple Computers with Single Mouse Using Synergy had a hair under 150 thousand views. Here are my most viewed videos in order:
Video Site Serving the Most Views
5Min.com is my biggest video sharing service by a mile. That makes sense, since they are a site that specializes in instructional videos. Here are my video sharing services in order:
Most Commented Video
The video that received the most comments was
How to Configure Your XAMPP Server with a total of 38 comments.
My Favorite Video
My favorite video by far is How to Create a Web Operating System Today . Sadly, it only received about 5,000 views. Well, here is its big change at redemption. See why it’s my favorite video.
If you want to see the full Create the Web Operating System Today article, take a look, I think it’s some of my best writing.
Where to find my Vidoes
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Share Files Between All of your Computers
Sharing Files Between Any Devices in your Home
OVERVIEW: You will learn how to share folders and file on your Windows, Macintosh, and Linux computers on your home netork.
This is the first article in a three part series on Sharing Files Between Any Devices in your Home.
- Part 1 - Share Files Between All of your Computers
- Part 2 - Stream Computer Media to the TV using Video Game Consoles
- Part 3 - Sharing Between your Smartphone and Computer
You Can Get there from Here
Your home has any number of “connected” devices (Computers, Video Game Consoles, Phones, Portable Media Players, Televisionss, DVRs, etc.). Are they all really connected? Here are some simple (and not so simple) steps to get all of your devices singing in harmony.
Sharing Files on your Computers
If you’re like me, the bulk of your media and files sit on one or more computers. You may even have more than one Operating System to further complicate the business of sharing information. Here is how you can share your files between computers runing Windows, Mac, and Linux.
NOTE: This article only addresses sharing files between devices INSIDE of your home network. While connecting to devices on your home network from the outside world (internet) is possible, it will not be covered here.
Sharing the Files on your Computers
IMPORTANT: The following set of instructions shows how to share ALL of the files on your computer. This is not the most secure approach to sharing. You should determine which folders you want to share (for example My Documents or My Music) and perform the following steps at that level.
Sharing Files on a Windows Computer
Windows allows you to share an entire hard drive or select specific folder to share. You can choose the drive or folder to share from Windows Explorer.
Open Windows Explorer (Windows Key + E)
You will see all of your computer’s drives (C, D, etc.)
Browse to the entire drive or specific folder that you would like to share.
Right click on the folder that you want to share and select Properties from the options menu.
The Properties menu will open.
Go to the Sharing tab
Check the Share button.
Optional: You can also apply finer controls to the sharing priviledges from the Advanced Sharing menu.
Click the OK button to close the Properties menu.
Now, users on your network will be able to access the files on this compter.
Sharing Files on a Mac Computer
You can also share folders with other computers on your Mac computer. You need to go to the System Preferences menu to configure sharing (Applications> System Preferences).
The preferences are grouped by topic on this menu. Click the Sharing icon under the Internet & Wireless heading.
This will open the Sharing panel.
You can share several of your Mac’s resources from here.
Check the resources that you want to share and close this menu.
Now, other computers on your network will be able to this compter.
Sharing Files on a Linux Computer
One of the best and easiest ways to share folders between Linux computers and machines running Windows is using Samba. Samba is a suite of applications for Linux that provides connectivity between Linux and Windows machines. This will allow a Windows machine to interact with it just like another PC.
NOTE: This example uses Ubuntu Linux. If you use a different distro, just Google for the specific instructions.
Start out by installing Samba on your Linux machine. Go to the terminal and type the following command:
sudo apt-get install samba smbfs
Samba is installed now, but you need to configure it so that it is accessible. Run the following command to open Samba’s configuration file (smb.conf):
sudo gedit /etc/samba/smb.conf
Scroll down to this section in the file:
Uncomment the security line (delete the number sign), and add the following line below it, so that it look like this:
security = user
username map = /etc/samba/smbusers
Now, Samba will use the smbusers file to look up the user list.
You need to creat a user that can access the Samba server.
There are two steps to creating a user.
Run the smbpasswd utility to create a samba password for the user. Type the following command (substitute a real user name for “username”):
sudo smbpasswd -a <username>
Next, open up the smbusers file and add that username. Type the followng command:
sudo gedit /etc/samba/smbusers
When the smb users file opens, add the following line, (substitute a real user name for “username”).
<username> = “<username>”
The format is <ubuntuusername> = “<samba username>”.
Telling Samba to Share a Linux Directory
Now you can create Samba shares and give access to the user(s) that you create here.
Reopen Samba’s configuration file (smb.conf) by typing the following command:
sudo gedit /etc/samba/smb.conf
Scroll down to the Share Definitions section of the file, and make it match the following:
#======================= Share Definitions =======
# Un-comment the following (and tweak the other settings below to suit)
# to enable the default home directory shares. This will share each
# user’s home directory as \server\username
[homes]
comment = Home Directories
browseable = yes
# By default, \server\username shares can be connected to by anyone
# with access to the samba server. Un-comment the following parameter
# to make sure that only “username” can connect to \server\username
valid users = %S
# By default, the home directories are exported read-only. Change next
# parameter to ‘yes’ if you want to be able to write to them.
writable = yes
Now Windows machines/users will be able to map a drive on windows using the following share format:
\ubuntumachinename\username
For example, if the Ubuntu machine is named linuxshare, and the username is chris, your share path would be \linuxshare\chris
Connnecting to a Shared Computer
Now that you have the files on all of your machines shared, you need to connect to them from another machine. You can even “map” these shared drives permanently so that they are always available, just like your computer’s Hard Drive or CD/DVD Drive.
Connecting to a Shared Computer from a Windows Computer
You can locate shared computers on your network from the My Network Places section of Windows Explorer.
Open Windows Explorer (Windows Key + E)
Click the “+” icon to the left of My Network Places in the folders panel. (View> Explorer Bar> Folders)
Click the “+” icon to the left of Entire Network
Click the “+” icon to the left of Microsoft Windows Network
Look for the name of the shared computer/drive Drill down on that compter as if it were a folder on your computer.
Permanently Mapping to a Shared Drive in Windows
If you want to Window Explorer to remember this shared folder and give it a drive letter (like your C or D drives) you need to “Map” it.
Select Tools> Map Network Drive
Select a letter for this share from the Drive dropdown list
Click the Browse button to the right of the Folder dropdown list
Use the steps above to locate the shared drive/folder that you want to map
Check the Reconnect at Logon box (this will remember the letter/drive mapping)
Click the Finish button
Now, the next time you start the computer the shared folder will appear just like your local hard drive or CD drive with the letter you assigned.
Connecting to a Shared Computer from a Mac Computer
You can locate shared folders on other computers on your network using the Finder application on your Mac. (Applications> Finder)
Click on your Mac, so that you can see the local drives and the Network icon.
You will see any computers that have shared drives/folders on your network.
Click on the shared machine to access its files.
Permanently Mapping to a Shared Drive in Mac
If you want Finder to remember this shared folder just like the ones on your local machine you need to “Add it to the Sidebar”.
Browse to the shared folder and click File> Add To Sidebar.
Now it will show up under the Places heading on Finder’s sidebar.
Connecting to a Shared Computer from a Linux Computer
You can locate shared folders on other computers on your network using one of the many file manager applications available in Linux.
NOTE: This example uses Dolphin to navigate Linux’s file system.
Open Dolphin and click the Network icon in the Places panel.
You will see a list of ways to access your Network and the shared folders located on its machines.
Click Network to locate Linux and Mac machines. Click Samba Shares to locate Windows machines.
Permanently Mapping to a Shared Drive in Linux
If you want Linux to remember this shared folder just like the ones on your local machine you need to “Add it to the Sidebar”.
Browse to the shared folder and click File> Add To Sidebar.
Video Tutorial – See it in Action
See how to perform each of the steps listed above in this video tutorial
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Ultimate Portable Computer Rescue Kit Saves Any Computer
Build a USB Rescue Drive with Free Portable Utilities
OVERVIEW: This video tutorial shows how to set up a collection of portable apps on a USB drive that can be used to diagnose and repair almost any broken windows computer.
The Difference Between Men and Monkeys is Tools
During the holidays I typically spend a great deal of time travelling to see freinds and relatives. As you may have guessed, I frequently get asked to "fix" everybody’s jacked up computers. When I’m not at home with all of my resources, it’s pretty hard to figure out what’s wrong and even harder to fix it. What if thier internet connection is down? There goes just about all of the things that you can download to fix any problems. These are the sort of catch 22′s that I’m usually up against.
Since I’m not about to carry my laptop and a bunch of other junk to a New Year’s Eve party, I decided to build myself a portable USB Rescue Kit that takes up no space in my pocket. Now, next time I get asked for help, I can spring into action, diagnose, and fix thier PCs in time to see the big ball drop. If you’re the "computer guy or gal" in your family, you can prepare yourself to handle these situations by investing about $10 and 30 minutes of your time building your own kit.
How to Set Up Portable Apps on a USB Drive
Here is a tutorial for loading portable apps on a usb drive that I wrote a while ago. It walks you through the process of setting up a portable application suite on a USB drive.
What Apps to Load on Your Rescue Drive
Now that you know how to set up your USB drive, you need to know which applications and utilities that you want to have in your arsenal.
I set myself up with the following applications (in no special order):
- Antivirus (ClamWin)
- Disk Defragmenter (JKDefrag and Defraggler)
- Archive Tool (7zip)
- FTP Tool (Filezilla, Putty, WinSCP)
- Remote Access Tools (VNC, RDP)
- CD / Disk Imaging Tools (InfraRecorder)
- Screenshot / Screen recorder – (Lightscreen and VTuteRecorder)
- Spyware Remover – (SpyDLLRemover and RootKitRevealer)
- Password Manager – (KeyPass)
- System Cleaner – (CCleaner and Revo Uninstaller and PC Decrapifier)
- Registry Tools – (Wise Registry Cleaner and Dial-A-Fix)
- Media Player (VNC and K-Lite Codec tool)
- PDF Tools (Foxit and PDFTKBuilder)
- Software Serial Numbers (ProdUKey)
- Communications – (Skype and Pidgin IM)
- Startup Management – (Startup Manager and CCleaner)
- Wi-Fi – (WirelessKeyFinder)
- Plus any Office, Internet, and Graphics tools that you may think you need.
ReadWriteWeb recommends a good list of portable apps and utilities that you can use to repair a computer. A Computer Repair Utility Kit You Can Run From a Thumb Drive (Just about all of them are included in my build.)
Where to Get Good Portable Apps
There are a few great sites that have all of the applications on this list and plenty of others.
PortableApps.com has a great suite of applications and a very nice launcher tool that basically makes your portable suite into its own operating system.
LiberKey.com has a 270+ applications in their extensive catalog. If you can’t find the right tool here, it probably doesn’t exist.
PenDriveApps.com has a large, albeit poorly organized collection of useful application and utilities.
LupoPenSuite.com has a collection that combines dozens of USB and Web-Based apps that can perform typical productivity, media, and maintenance activities.
Video Tutorial for Building a USB Recue Kit
The following video will show you how to install and configure your USB Rescue Kit.
What to do After Everything is Fixed
After you get that nasty mess cleaned up, you may want to do a little preventative maintenance. Set up this newly healthy machine with a few good tools:
- Antivirus Protection (AVG or Avast)
- A Good Browser (Firefox, Chrome, or Opera)
- Malware Protection (Spybot Search and Destroy, Malwarebytes, Microsoft Security Essentials)
- PDF Tools (Foixt Reader and CutePDF Writer)
- Safe P2P Downloading (uTorrent and eMule)
- Zip Tool (7zip)
- System Cleaner (CCleaner)
- VNC Server (RealVNC so that you can connect to their machine and fix it later)
Before you balk at how much time this will take to set up, there is a great tool that will make this take just a few minutes. Ninite.com allows you to create a "batch installer" that will download and install dozens of great free applications in just a few clicks.
Set yourself up with a bulk installer of recommended applications and keep that on your USB drive to install once your done. Since they download the actual files at the time of installation the files will take up less than 200K on your drive.
My Holiday Gift to You
Here’s the prize for the diligent PC repairman who has read this far. On Christmas Eve (December 24th, 2009) I will select one random commenter to receive a 4 gig USB drive that I set up with everything mentioned in this article, plus a few extra goodies. The rules are simple: Just leave a comment about who you would help with this USB Emergency Kit. Good luck to all!!!
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Add Features to a WordPress Blog with Widgets
Make Your Blog Come to Life When you set up your WordPress blog, you select a Theme to control the look and feel of the site. WordPress themes create a sidebar (or two) on the right and/or left side of your screen. You can add further styling, information, and functionality to your site using Widgets. [...]
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