Blog

• Combine Multiple Tables for Clustered Charts in Power BI

  Combine multiple tables for clustered column charts in Power BI using DAX, with an alternative Power Query approach.

• Manual WordPress Database Cleanup Using SQL Without Plugins

  Clean and optimize a WordPress database using raw SQL to reduce bloat, improve efficiency, and avoid plugin overhead.

• Indexed by Microsoft Bing but Missing From Search Results

  Why a website indexed by Bing may not appear in search results, with an investigation into causes and steps taken.

• Why Excel Copilot Gets Math Wrong

  Why Excel Copilot appears to get math wrong, how it actually works, where errors arise, and why the criticism is misleading.

• How to Check If a File Exists Using Excel VBA

  Check if a file exists using a reusable Excel VBA function that supports local paths, network shares, and URLs.

• How to Check If an Excel File Is Open Using Excel VBA

  Detect if an Excel file is already open using VBA to prevent runtime errors, conflicts, and accidental overwrites.

• What AI Adoption Reminds Me of Past IT Transformations

  AI adoption mirrors past IT transformations with key patterns, risks, and practical lessons that still apply today.

• Rename SharePoint Files in Power Automate Using REST API

  Rename SharePoint files using Power Automate and REST API while preserving file IDs, version history, and integrations.

• Schedule Monthly Power BI Refreshes Using Power Automate

  Schedule monthly Power BI dataset refreshes using Power Automate with a fully automated cloud flow and no custom code.

• Comprehensive Regex for URL Detection and Spam Filtering

  Build a flexible PHP regex for URL detection and spam filtering covering domains, IP addresses, Unicode, and edge cases.

• Harden WordPress Security Using Custom .htaccess Files

  Improve WordPress security using custom .htaccess rules to block spam, add headers, and improve performance without plugins.

• Windows 10 End of Support: Forced Obsolescence

  Windows 10 end of support forces upgrade decisions, covering options, tradeoffs, and real-world hardware constraints.

• Create a Mobile Menu With the Popover API and No JavaScript

  Build an accessible mobile menu using the HTML Popover API with no JavaScript, no hacks, and minimal dependencies.

• Citizen Development: DIY Applications Without Writing Code

  Citizen development enables low-code and no-code applications but introduces tradeoffs in security, scalability, and long-term maintenance.

• Power Query: Check If Text Starts With a Capital Letter

  Build a reusable Power Query M function to check whether a string’s first character is a capital letter, with step-by-step setup and test examples.

• Simple Methods to Safely Wipe, Reuse, or Destroy Old Storage Devices

  Practical options for handling old storage devices, including testing for reuse, securely wiping data, or physical destruction before recycling.

• Power Query: Check If Text Value Is Alphabetic Only

  Two approaches to validating alphabetic-only text in Power Query: a custom function, and Text.Select combined with if-then-else logic.

• Concatenate Excel Ranges Without TEXTJOIN Using VBA Code

  A VBA function for concatenating Excel ranges and arrays when TEXTJOIN is unavailable, with configurable delimiter and empty-cell handling.

• How to Count Cells by Background Color in Excel With VBA

  Counting Excel cells by background color requires VBA since no native formula handles it. Covers the function, setup, and practical examples.

• Excel VBA: Improve Excel Range Evaluation by Trimming Unused Cells

  Whole-column references in Excel can slow evaluation significantly. This custom VBA function trims unused cells to keep performance in check.