Would you embark an airplane without safety doors, slides and oxygen masks? I won’t * While not a matter of life and death, I won’t deliver an Excel application without proper Error Handling. Here’s why, and a hands-on video on how to do it right

What is error handling?

Ever received an error message popping up from an application you had no idea what it means, what to do and what’s going to happen to your data you just entered? Maybe something like this:

How does it make you feel? Do you know what caused this error? Do you know how to avoid it next time? Do you...

Just a small Excel fix. Just a couple of tables as a temporary solution. Just a little help with some formulas * How small Excel problems turn into a large-scale, business software. Happens to me all the time…

Just a small patch...

Couple of weeks ago, I was approached by a business owner, with this story: he’s offering an online service that matches home loaners with investors. For every mortgage need, he matches many small investors (any person, basically) to fund this loan. Loaners’ monthly receivables are distributed to the loan’s funders, short of the...

Need to update a large range of Worksheet cells using a Macro (VBA)?
Use an Array - don't loop the Worksheet cells!
The bottom line: 52 seconds or less than 1 second.

Arrays are a very important and popular data structures used in computer programming.

Manipulating arrays is extremely fast.

Updating Worksheet cells, one by one, is extremely slow.

Here’s an experiment that shows this in action

I set out to fill 500,000 cells with random numbers.

I did it in two ways:

Looping the cells, updating them one-by-one, took 52 seconds.

Looping an array, "throwing" the filled-up array to the...

Are you an Excel user?
Ever heard of Excel Macros, or VBA?
What comes to mind when you hear that?

Here are 5 surprising facts you may not know about Excel VBA.

1. Excel VBA is a complete software programming language. You can develop professional, top-notch business applications. Many of my customers work on Excel solutions for their mission-critical business needs, every day.
   
   Personal sales dashboard for increasing deals closure and meeting targets
   
   
2. Excel VBA can work with external data sources, including all major Databases in the market, such as MySQL, MS-SQL, Oracle, and others. You no...

Introducing an ERP culture, processes, solutions and technology is one of the most disruptive changes to an organization. Bringing the employees, management, organization and business to play together through a successful project – is a work of art, science and heart. How can this mission be a success?

In my previous Blog posts in the ERP Explained series, I outlined the approach and process of selecting an ERP solution, what is it and its benefits and challenges. In this closing post I offer some key considerations to secure a successful project. If you haven’t read the ...

ERP should be an enabler of growth, efficiency and professional visibility of your business. Being part of a strategic organizational and business transformation haul, significant challenges prey along the way * Rip the benefits, prepare for the challenges

In my last Blog post I outlined the approach and process of selecting an ERP solution. The preceding post explained what is ERP and why you need it for your business. In this third Blog post in the ERP Explained series, we’ll consider the benefits expected from an ERP system against the challenges to prepare for.

Expected ERP...

Choosing an ERP solution is (almost) like a catholic wedding. It is one of the most important decision with long lasting implications, up to making the difference between a growing business and an enslaved business * Here are my main points to discuss with your strategic consultant when matching the best solution for your business.

In my last Blog post I explained what is an ERP system and why consider it for your business. Now it’s time to consider the selection process of an ERP solution.

I cannot emphasize enough: selecting an ERP solution is a critical decision with many...

Can you run your business with a pen and a paper? I don’t think so. What software solutions can come to the rescue? The most popular recommendation you here is probably: ERP * In a series of Blog posts I will dissect ERP to the what, why, how, benefits and challenges. We start today with: What is an ERP system and why should you consider getting one?

A typical business has to handle money, employees, suppliers, sales, marketing, some also have inventory to maintain, production, warehouses etc.

One cannot manage all of these areas with a pen and a paper. We use computer software for...

You know an electronic spreadsheet is the right tool for your need, but you’re not sure which of the available products to choose. Two prominent options are suggested: Google Spreadsheets and Microsoft Excel. Let’s make it easier for you

First, let’s consider your requirements. The following list will help us frame the discussion:

• Do you need multiple users to concurrently work on the solution, or can one person at a time exclusively work on it?
• Do you need pixel-perfect visual design with wide flexibility over fonts, colors, forms design etc.?
• Does the solution needs to...

In choosing a software to support your business processes and requirements, you basically have the following options:

1. An ERP solution (either implemented on your premise, or used as a service delivered from “the cloud”).
2. Best of Breed - buying and implementing different solutions for different areas (departments) of your business (e.g. Human Resources, Manufacturing, Sales, Financials, …) and maintaining interfaces between them.
3. Tailored Development Solutions - Software that is designed and developed for your specific needs (may also be to support only parts of your...