Running a small business is challenging in any economic climate. One way to increase efficiency, minimize errors and maximize profits is to use the data available as effectively as possible.

Information equals data plus context, and at this point in mankind's history, we have way too much data. But there are ways to constrain it all and make it usable, including through software. Consider ...

Drop-down lists in Microsoft Excel (and Word and Access) allow you to create a list of valid choices that you or others can select for a given field. This is especially useful for fields that require ...