Randomly select a day of the week in Excel

The Task

Create an Excel spreadsheet that includes a formula designed to pick a day out of the week at random using spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel.

You will need to use one of Excel's random functions to generate at least one random number as the basis of this exercise. That random number or perhaps a series of random numbers will then be needed to pick one of the seven days of the week (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday).

Converting binary code to text in Excel

The Task

0100001101101111011011100111011001100101011100100111010000100000011101000110100001101001011100110010000001100010011010010110111001100001011100100111100100100000011000110110111101100100011001010010000001101001011011100111010001101111001000000111010001100101011110000111010000100000011101010111001101101001011011100110011100100000011100110111000001110010011001010110000101100100011100110110100001100101011001010111010000100000011100110110111101100110011101000111011101100001011100100110010100100000011100110111010101100011011010000010000001100001011100110010000001001101011010010110001101110010011011110111001101101111011001100111010000100000010001010111100001100011011001010110110000101110

Copy the binary code above into Excel and create formulas to convert it into readable text.

Create a new sports league structure in any software

The Task

Create the structure of a new sports league using any productivity software. For this exercise, all information shared should be included in your files. For example, explanations should probably be in a word processing program or perhaps presentation software.

Imagine that you could create a league for team sports such as hockey, baseball, or football. If you could do whatever you want, how would you handle it? We don't need all of the details right now. We are primarily looking for structure. I don't want schedules, payrolls, lower-level leagues, or anything else that is not a core component of your vision of the best league you can come up with.

Compare months using a weather index in Excel

The Task

Create a tool for comparing months using a weather index using spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel.

Use a weather index such as one created for a previous mental exercise or the weather index I created. Develop a spreadsheet that uses a score for each month and can be used to compare each month with the same month from previous years.

Explain how to copy/import tables to Excel using presentation software

The Task

Create a presentation that shows how to copy and import data into Excel. Show how to partially automate data entry from existing data tables online for tasks such as the Weather Index.

Create a simple checklist in Excel

The Task

Create a simple checklist with daily, weekly, and monthly tasks in a spreadsheet program such as Excel. Columns should reflect the Frequency, Task, Date Completed, and Status (a provided formula to quickly display whether or not the item has been completed). Among the features that you should use are copying and pasting, filling, and find and replace. If you are already familiar with Excel, you may want to skip this beginner exercise.

Check the validity of Logic Problem #1 in Excel–Part 1

The Task

Create a table in Excel that matches the table in Logic Problem #1 then create a formula (or formulas) to test the validity. Our first validity check will make sure that we have 6 different months and that they are in the correct order. I would also recommend using data validation to ensure that all months entered match the requirements of the logic problem.

Picture List in Excel

The Task

Create a spreadsheet that keeps track of information relating to pictures that you are keeping on your computer. For now, you can keep it simple.

Sightings list in Excel

The Task

Create a list of wildlife sightings (fictional sightings are acceptable for this exercise) using spreadsheet software such as Excel. The final list should be larger in both height and width (zooming in can reduce the number of rows and columns required to accomplish this task) than can be properly displayed on your monitor. Adjust settings to improve your ability to read and enter data.

Merging documents through an inclusion list with VBA

The Task

With Visual Basic for Applications (or a similar language for those who do not use Microsoft Office), merge word processing documents from a spreadsheet-based inclusion list.

Download or copy the contents from an inclusion list and three Word files:

Inclusion List	Link
Sharman, Buck	Link
Curry, Tom	Link
Emery, Marcello	Link

At this time, the inclusion list will include two worksheets. Full shows all entries that are currently being kept track of. Inclusion1 is the worksheet that you will be using for this exercise. Word files are going by a strict Last, First format… at least for now. Use the inclusion list to automatically generate a single document that combines the contents of the Word files for the two people listed into a single word processing document. Feel free to test the third person to ensure proper function.

Exploding Apples in Kodu

The Task

Create code for exploding apples using the Kodu Game Lab.

By pressing a key on the keyboard or a button on a controller, a user-controllable character should launch an apple that explodes.

Weather Index in Excel

The Task

Create a weather index using spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel.
Grab weather data online and use that data to develop a seemingly objective measure of how nice the weather is each day, month, and/or year.