Excel Secrets Unveiled: The Excel Secret Decoder Ring - Episode 2330

Microsoft Excel Tutorial: Secret Decoder ring in Excel.

Welcome to the MrExcel Netcast, where we bring you the latest and greatest tips and tricks for mastering Excel. In today's episode, we're diving into the world of alternate number systems with the Excel Secret Decoder Ring. This formula, shared by Mike Girvin and originally created by Bill Szysz, will transport you back in time to 1973 when we learned about multiplication by 12 through a catchy tune about a planet with 12-toed inhabitants. But this formula isn't just for nostalgia - it has practical applications in today's world, such as converting hex color codes for web design.

Speaking of hex color codes, did you know that Excel now has a built-in feature for converting these codes to RGB? No more manual conversions needed! And while we're on the topic of alternate number systems, have you ever wondered how difficult it would be to type in a number using the dec, el, doe system on your keyboard? Thankfully, the creators of hex codes used a more user-friendly system, with numbers 0-9 and letters A-F representing the digits 10-15.

But enough about hex codes, let's get back to the Excel Secret Decoder Ring. This formula uses the DECIMAL and BASE functions to convert numbers from a base 36 system back to their original form. And the best part? You can use this formula to create your own secret messages! Simply type in your message in the orange cells and watch as the formula decodes it for you. And don't worry, we've provided a downloadable workbook in the video description for you to try it out yourself.

We hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane and learned something new about alternate number systems. If you want to stay up to date with the latest Excel tips and tricks, be sure to subscribe to our channel and hit the notification bell. And as always, feel free to leave any questions or comments down below. And don't forget to check out my new book, MrExcel 2020 Seeing Excel Clearly, by clicking the "i" in the top right-hand corner. Thanks for watching and we'll see you next time for another netcast from MrExcel.

This started as an April Fools joke from Bill Szysz and Mike Girvin, but it brought back memories of Schoolhouse Rock from 1973 and the story of Little Twelve Toes. In today's video, a secret decoder ring in Excel using BASE and DECIMAL.
Also: you can now assign fill color and font colors using Hex color codes in Excel.
This video includes alternate numbering systems like Base 12, Hexadecimal, and Base 36.

Table of Contents
(0:00) Problem Statement: Secret Decoder Ring
(0:15) April Fools Formula from ExcelisFun and Bill Szysz
(0:45) Multiplication Rock and Interplanetary Janet
(1:21) Alternate Number Systems in Excel
(1:32) RGB colors are in Hex
(1:52) More Colors Dialog now accepts Hex colors in Excel
(2:45) Trying to read COBOL Hex Dumps in middle of night
(3:15) Algorithm for converting Hex to Decimal
(3:40) Using DECIMAL function to convert Hex to Decimal
(4:27) In Base 36, all 26 letters are used
(4:50) Using Ctrl+Shift+' to copy cell above and leave it in edit mode
(5:25) Ovaltine from Christmas Story
(5:57) TEXTJOIN to an array constant
(6:50) Clicking Like really helps the algorithm

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[excelisfun]

The tips on this day were totally awesome, Mr Excel!!!!

[dontown]

I learned COBOL & Assembler @ College in 1971 using a Honeywell 200 with only 32K memory (punched cards). But 2 yrs earlier in High school I was fortunate to be a Alpha tester of the new ARPANET. We sent an 'e-mail' via TELEX & acoustic modem to SFU here in Canada. Not many people can say they have been on the Internet for 51 yrs! Your videos are always great. Thanks

[excelisfun]

Hey, You are NOT older than me!!!! I am older than you. In 1973, I was already getting rad on a skateboard and then a BMX bike!!!

[excelisfun]

Wow!!! That HEX Color trick is too cool!!!!

[BillSzysz]

Thanks MrExcel :-)
I discovered this trick few years ago but Chandoo reminded it on his YT channel a few days ago. (before first of april). :-))

[Sal_A]

This single cell formula is easier (where A4: A14 is your individual words):
=TEXTJOIN(" ", INDEX(BASE(DECIMAL (A4:A14, 36), 36), ))
If you don't want to dispaly the words, simply change inside Decimal to an array constant with F9 then delete what's inside A4:A14

[DougHExcel]

HEX color input in color picker...finally :-)

[drsteele]

Well super! For years I've been using that, sending people decimal digits so they can stick it in BASE(x, 36) to decode passwords. Now my secret is out!

[darrylmorgan]

Wow!Never Seen Anything Like This Before...You Learn Something New Everyday Thank You And Stay Safe Bill :)

[ricos]

That's very cool. They had significantly dumbed down education by the time I went to school.

[basweerrashid]

While i was watching this video i thought u r making an April fool video 😂😂😂😂😂💔

[jsnuk]

Unrelated query: I wish to plot, with stacked columns, two variables: X= TYPE (1, 2, 3) vs Y = PLACE: (A, B, C, D, E). There is a number (integer) associated with each Place-Type. But I also have a TEMPORAL dimension associated with each Place-Type, namely: YEAR (say, 1900, 1920, 1930, 1940). I thought it would be straight-forward to plot, in a SINGLE CHART, this temporal dimension on another (Z) axis, creating a "3D-effect". The fact that I have not seen this 3-D effect shown in any tutorial suggests to me that this is impossible to do in Excel -- which I find surprising, since so many datasets have a temporal dimension. Please confirm same (to put me out of my misery) or let me know if I'm missing something extremely basic. Many thanks!

[LearnAccessByCrystal]

secret codes, lol -- how interesting, @MrExcel.com ! This would be fun to try with Access too ~ thanks, Bill

[mattschoular]

Hi Team....either I watched this one too early in the morning or its above my pay grade!!! I will leave this to those of you with more than 10 toes. Thanks for sharing and Drink your Ovaltine....