December is only 3 days away, so it’s time for an Excel Advent Calendar! I’ve made a new version this year, and it doesn’t use macros, just basic Excel features. Even if you don’t need an Advent calendar, take a look to see how the calendar is set up. It might give you ideas for other types of Excel projects.
A Door Every Day
In this year’s calendar, there’s a toy hidden behind each day number, from December 1st to 23rd.
Each day’s toy is automatically revealed, when you open the workbook.
In the screen shot below, It’s December 8th, so 8 toys are showing.
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Video: Advent Calendar No Macros
This short video shows how the Advent calendar works, and there are details below the video.
Behind the Scenes
To set up the calendar, I made an image in a graphics program, with 6 by 4 grid, and a toy image in each “cell”.
In Excel, I added that image as a worksheet background.
Then I adjusted the column widths and row heights, to match the image “cells”
Cover the Upcoming Days
To keep the toys hidden, I used conditional formatting to cover the upcoming days’ cells.
The upcoming days show a number, and the past days have an empty string.
The conditional formatting rule colours a cell green, if the cell is not equal to an empty string.
- =B4<>””
That green fill hides the toy picture, in the background image.
Sort the Days
A new feature in this 2024 calendar is the Day Number sorting.
- You can show the days in numerical order, 1 to 24, like a regular calendar
- Or, you can sort the Days list in random order, with 24 always at the end.
I like the “doors” in random order, because that’s like the chocolate-filled Advent calendars that we usually buy!
Excel Advent Calendar Downloads
To get this Excel Advent Calendar, and see how it works, go to the Excel Advent Calendar page on my Contextures site.
That page has download links for three “no macros” Advent calendars, and for three versions that DO have macros.
And remember, even if you don’t need an Advent calendar, you might find some useful techniques for your other Excel projects.
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