LITIGATION SUPPORT TIP OF THE NIGHT

Excel includes an optional add-in (which can be accessed from File . . . Options . . . Add-ins) named 'Solver' which you can use to automatically alter the data listed in an array that the result in a formula is based on, so that this data matches the value you want the formula to result in. When activated it will appear on the Data ribbon in a new group called, 'Analyze'. We begin by selecting a cell which has the result of a formula in it, then opening Solver. In this example, the result...

Excel's FILTER function can be used to generate (by entering the formula once in a single cell) results in multiple cells, by searching for a value in one column, and returning the data from the complete range where there's a hit for that value. So in this example, the FILTER function entered in cell G2, returns from the range A2:D8, those entries where 'Tom' is listed as the sales rep in column B. If you need to search for where a word or phrase appears in multiple cells in a row, you can...

Bluebeam's Revu software provides numerous ways to edit PDF files which are not included in Adobe Acrobat. It was developed for use by professionals working in engineering and architecture, but it includes many functions which litigation support professionals will find useful. Recently, I was asked to add hundreds of links to exhibit citations in a Rule 56.1 statement filed for a summary judgment motion for submission to the court. Adding the links in one by one would have taken up many...