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DataSmiths Evolution Features
This collection of 70* commonly-used and custom, macro-driven functions reduces to a single-click the user input necessary to access these features. Some of these functions can be performed in the standard (default) Excel environment (if you can find them ...), but it will take, on average, more than 4 times longer* to do so. Other functions are custom, macro-driven, but extremely useful features that can only be accessed through the DataSmiths Evolution application. Enjoy a 75% increase in productivity* with the following unique features available with single-click access using DataSmiths Evolution:
 | File Save As | Saves the Active file while allowing the opportunity to change the file name |
 | File Close | Closes the Active File while allowing changes, if any, to be saved |
 | Normal View | Restores Normal View after using Page Break Preview |
 | Page Break Preview | Switches from Normal View to Page Break Preview to more easily visualize and change Page Breaks |
 | Page Break | Inserts a Page Break above or to the left of the currently selected cell |
 | Print Custom Portrait View | Custom macro to maximize print content per page with Portrait Orientation, adds automatic footer with File Name & Path, Date/Time and Page Number(s) |
 | Print Custom Landscape View | Custom macro to maximize print content per page with Landscape Orientation, adds automatic footer with File Name & Path, Date/Time and Page Number(s) |
 | Set Print Area | Sets Print Area to selected region |
 | Paste Special Formula (Only) | Custom Macro that performs the Edit, Paste Special, Formula function |
 | Paste Special Values (Only) | Performs the Edit | Paste Special | Values function. When used with the Shift Key, performs the Edit | Paste Special | Format (only). |
 | Paste Special Link (Only) | Custom Macro that performs the Edit, Paste Special, Link function |
 | Windows Freeze Panes | Toggles to Freeze/Un-freeze Panes of the current Window so that cells above and to the left of the selected cell will remain frozen, allowing scrolling without losing the visual reference of Column and Row labels |
 | Activate Previous Open File | Custom Macro that activates the Previous Open File (continued clicks will cycle through all open files) |
 | Activate Next Open File | Custom Macro that activates the Next Open File (continued clicks will cycle through all open files) |
 | Format Cells | Format Cell Properties function (Number, Alignment, Font, Borders, Patterns, Protection) |
 | Auto Format | Repeats the last Auto Format function used |
 | Styles | Provides access to the Styles Dialog, allowing creation, modification or assignment of defined Styles (Number, Alignment, Font, Borders, Patterns, Protection). When used with the Shift Key, accesses DataSmiths custom Font Control feature, allowing easier control over Font formats, such as Subscript, Superscript, as well as other selected Font attributes that can be applied to various components of a single cell's contents all in one operation. |
 | Increase Font Size | Increases Font Size to the next higher standard increment |
 | Decrease Font Size | Decreases Font Size to the next lower standard increment |
 | Justify | Justifies Alignment of text in selected cells (i.e., spreads text apart to provide a block of text that is even on both sides) |
 | Center Vertically and Horizontally | Custom macro to Center text of selected Cell(s) both Vertically and Horizontally (particularly useful for Column headings). When used with the Shift Key, accesses the Wrap Text control (only) on the Format Cells | Alignment tab. |
 | Align Bottom | Custom macro to Center text of selected Cell(s) Horizontally with a Bottom Alignment (alternate Format also useful for Column headings). When used with the Shift Key, Centers text of selected Cell(s) Horizontally with a Top Alignment |
 | Center Across Selection | Custom macro to Center selected cell contents across selected area - used in lieu of Excel's default Merge and Center cells function which does not allow the copying or cutting of rows or columns that intersect with Merged cells—this does (With Shift Key, accesses standard Merge and Center) |
 | Angle Counterclockwise | Angles text of selected Cell(s) up or counterclockwise - useful when Column Headings are wider than the Column width (When used with the Shift Key, Angles text down or Clockwise) |
 | Outline Border | Formats selected cells with an Outline Border |
 | All Borders | Formats selected cells with both inside and outside borders |
 | Top & Double Bottom Borders | Custom macro to Format cells with both a Top and a Double Underline border (useful for Total rows in accounting use) |
 | Patterns | Allows formatting of selected cells from a selection of various Pattern formats |
 | Conditional Formatting | Opens Conditional Formatting dialog box |
 | Adjust Column Width to Fit | Custom macro that increases/decreases the Column Width to Fit Text in selected cells only (With Shift Key, accesses Column Width dialog) |
 | Wrap Text, Bold & Center | Custom macro to format cells with a Wrap Text specification (Increases Row Height to accommodate cells' contents), then formats with a Bold Font & Center Alignment (Useful for Column headings and labels that would otherwise take multiple rows to fit the selected text). When used with the Shift Key, accesses Row Height dialog. |
 | Shrink Text to Fit | Custom macro to format selected cells by "Shrinking the Text to Fit" within the Cell boundaries. Note this does NOT change the selected font size (Toggle will undo) |
 | Edit Clear All | Performs an Edit | Clear All function, clearing cell contents, formats and comments for all selected cells |
 | Insert Custom Text Box | Custom macro that inserts a Text Box, with a light Yellow Fill Color (to increase legibility) & formats contents the user will add with a Center Alignment |
 | Select Region | Selects the Current Region defined by a contiguous range of occupied cells |
 | Select Visible Cells | Selects the Visible Cells in a selected area (e.g., the collapsed Subtotal cells in a Data, Subtotal list) - Useful for copying summary data values only (without copying the hidden Detail rows). This is particularly helpful when graphing the Subtotaled results of a Data List |
 | Select Blank Cells | Custom macro that selects Blank Cells only in selected region - Useful in either adding common constants or formulas to a group of blank Cells. This can be particularly useful in adding common, custom descriptions to the Subtotal Rows in a Data List (After Selecting Blank Cells in a given region, they can all be updated with the same constant value or formula in one operation by editing any one of the selected Cells and then pressing [CTRL+ENTER]). |
 | Show Outline Symbols | Toggles to show or hide Outline Symbols above and to the left of Data that has been Grouped in a Data, Outline |
 | Group | Groups selected Rows or Columns in a Data, Outline that can be collapsed to hide or expanded to show desired levels of detail |
 | Ungroup | Ungroups selected Columns or Rows so they are no longer subject to being hidden when an Outline is collapsed |
 | Data Pivot Table Wizard | Activates the Data Pivot Table and Pivot Chart Wizard |
 | Data Subtotals | Opens Data Subtotals Dialog Box to allow specified columns in the selected region of data to be automatically subtotaled & outlined at breaks in user-specified column(s) of data - Provides from 9 to 11 Subtotal functions (depending on Excel version), including Sum, Count, Average, Min and Max (All columns should be labeled with no blank rows or columns, & the Data List should be sorted in the order of the Column(s) the user will be using for Subtotals). See User Guide for details on how to allow for multiple levels of Subtotals |
 | Remove Data Subtotals | Custom macro that Removes Data Subtotals in selected region |
 | Data AutoFilter | Custom macro to toggle On/Off the Data AutoFilter to insert/remove Drop-Down Filter Tools in all Columns of the selected contiguous region, allowing users to filter the data list to show only those rows of interest - All Columns should have Column Headers with no blank rows or Columns in the data set of interest. Note: If you have more than 1,000 unique items in a given column, only the first 1,000 items appear in an AutoFiltered list. (When used with the Shift Key, Shows All Rows, i.e., unfilters previously hidden rows while leaving the AutoFilter Drop-down Tools in place). |
 | Data Filter - Advanced | Displays the "Data Filter | Advanced" Dialog Box |
 | Trace Precedents | Clicking repeatedly will display Trace Precedents arrows from the formulas in the selected cells to each incremental level of supporting cells, including Externally Referenced cells in currently open files |
 | Trace Dependents | Clicking repeatedly will display Trace Dependents arrows from the formulas in the selected cells to each incremental level of cells that reference the selected cells, including Externally Referenced cells in currently open files |
 | Remove All Arrows | Removes all Trace Precedents and/or Trace Dependents Arrows |
 | Trace Error | For active cells with an error value (e.g., #VALUE, #DIV/0), draws tracer arrows from the active cell to the cells causing the error value |
 | Evaluate Formula | Allows users to step through a problematic formula, evaluating each formula component separately to find out where it goes astray (Requires Excel XP 2002 or higher) |
 | Tools | Options | Displays the Tools | Options dialog box, allowing the user to change the Excel environment |
 | Edit Directly in Cell | Custom macro that Toggles the Tools | Options... | Edit | "Edit Directly in Cells" setting to provide alternative formula auditing capabilities. Double-clicking on a formula Cell (or F2) will access the formula Edit mode and, depending on this Toggle setting, will either: 1) IF "OFF", provides color-coded formula components matched to referenced Cells; or 2) If "ON", selects all referenced Cells on the Active Worksheet and subsequently pressing [Enter] repeatedly will cycle through all of the selected Cells (and pressing [F5] and [Enter] at any time in the process will return you to the original formula). If the alternate capability is desired, click this button first before editing the formula Cell of interest (Note that the Tool Tip will also indicate whether the current setting is "ON" or "OFF" and the Button will appear depressed when in the non-default "OFF" state). |
 | Move Selection After Enter | Custom macro that toggles the Tools | Options | Edit | "Move selection after Enter" setting - Toggle to move Down or Right after Enter (Note that the Tool Tip will also indicate whether the current setting is "Down" or "Right" and the Button will appear depressed when in the non-default "Right" state). |
 | Lock/Unlock Selected Cells - Toggle (Will also apply/remove Worksheet Protection) | Custom macro that toggles the Locked/Unlocked status of selected Cells, allowing them to be either protected or edited (The Worksheet Protection Dialog box is also subsequently activated to either Protect or Unprotect the active Worksheet when necessary). |
 | Protect/Unprotect Worksheet | Custom macro that toggles Worksheet Protection On/Off to prevent/allow editing or deleting of Locked Cells/Objects in the Active Worksheet (this is the standard Protect Sheet dialog). When used with the Shift Key, accesses the "DataSmiths Multiple Sheet Protection" dialog which allows Protection to be turned On/Off for All Sheets or Selected Sheets in the Workbook with optional use of Passwords. |
 | Go (Dropdown) Menu | Provides most of the functionality of the Web Toolbar without taking up the space of the Web Toolbar |
 | Record Macro | Activates the Record Macro Dialog Box (This icon has a blue dot in earlier versions of Excel) |
 | Visual Basic Editor | Activates the Visual Basic Editor for Editing Macros and other components of the Excel environment |
 | Customize | Accesses the Customize Toolbar function to modify your Toolbar environment |
 | Chart Source Data | Accesses dialog box to Add/Modify selected Chart Data Series/ Points |
 | Lines | Accesses selection of AutoShape Drawing Tools, including Lines, Arrows, Double Arrows, Freeform and Scribble |
 | Connectors | Accesses selection of AutoShape Drawing Tools, including Connectors with Straight/Curved/Elbow Lines or Arrows |
 | Basic Shapes | Accesses selection of Basic Shapes Drawing Tools |
 | Block Arrows | Accesses selection of Block Arrow Drawing Tools |
 | Flowchart | Accesses selection of Flowchart Drawing Tools |
 | Word Art | Accesses a collection of 30 Word Art Styles suitable for graphical emphasis |
 | Insert Comment | Inserts a New Comment (or Edits an existing comment) to allow user notes documenting individual cells |
 | Delete Comment | Deletes Comments in selected cells |
 | Increase Zoom | Custom Macro that accesses the View | Zoom controls and increases Zoom in 25 % increments (When used with the Shift Key, increases Zoom by 5 %) |
 | Decrease Zoom | Custom Macro that accesses the View | Zoom controls and decreases Zoom in 25 % increments (When used with the Shift Key, decreases Zoom by 5 %) |
 | Zoom View to Fit | Custom macro that accesses the View | Zoom | Fit Selection function that increases/decreases the Zoom level so what you have selected is what you see. |
* = The 70 DataSmiths Evolution Features above are those single-click features available in Excel 2003 with a 1024 x 768 Screen Resolution (in addition to most of those included in the default Microsoft Toolbar configuration) and represent the core features generally available throughout all of the other available screen resolutions and Excel versions. However, with lower screen resolutions, it may take more clicks to access some of these features on drop-down menus. With screen resolutions higher than 1024 x 768, there are even more single-click features than those shown here, but all are available Microsoft functions whose "Tool Tips" will document their features when the cursor is "floated" over them for a second or so. The "more than four times longer" and reciprocal "75% increase in productivity" quotes above were based on a study of the number of mouse clicks/keystrokes necessary to achieve the indicated functions using the Microsoft default toolbars vs. those necessary using DataSmiths Evolution with a 1,024 x 768 screen resolution (this resolution was chosen because it is the most popular, used by more than half of all users). There are 21 configurations that ship with the product to support the 3 Excel PC versions (2000, 2002 [XP] and 2003) and 7 standard screen resolutions from 800 x 600 through 1,600 x 1,280. Our Installation program will automatically install the correct version and our Users Guide will assist users in optimizing their configuration as well as learning the new user interface.
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