2012 March Madness Bracket is coming...

We're under two days until Selection Sunday! You know what that means, right? That's right. It's almost time for another version of the ExcelGeek.com March Madness Bracket pool manager spreadsheet (and associated participant version).

I've got something new to show you all this year. OOOOooooooo..., right? Well, actually the pool master spreadsheet and associated participant picks sheet both will look and feel and work pretty much like they did last year. The big difference this is that you won't have to email me the "Lock Code" you get when you first open the (locked down and protected) "master" file. Instead, I'll give you a place to enter that code so that it is submitted when you pay the $2.00 via PayPal. Then, when the payment is processed, you'll be taken to a page that automatically generates the associated "Key Code" you'll need to put in the spreadsheet to make it work.

How about that? No more waiting on me. Instant gratification! (And, I don't have to struggle to keep up with emailing people codes.) You didn't know I was also a budding web developer did you? In all seriousness, I have a good friend, Craig, to thank for being patient enough to "teach" me a bit of .php. Thanks, Craiggers!

As soon as all of the picks are announced on Sunday, I'll get the files posted.

Talk to you all again in 48 hours or so.

Excel_Geek

2011 March Madness Bracket is coming soon

Mark your calendars, folks. March 13th is Selection Sunday. In what has now become a five year tradition, I'll be releasing the ExcelGeek.com March Madness Bracket spreadsheet late that evening, once the picks are known.

In years past I've charged $3 for the "Master" version of the sheet -- the one for the organizer of your office pools, etc. I used the opportunity to showcase (read: show off) a system I've developed for locking down and protecting, then individually licensing access to my spreadsheets. I plan to keep it locked down (damn, right?), but I'm dropping the price for the Master Spreadsheet to $2. Once you pay via PayPal and send me the "Lock Code" given to you by the spreadsheet once you open it (and have your Macros enabled properly), I'll send you the "Key Code" to gain access.

Can't wait...

Excel_Geek

2008 March Madness NCAA Basketball Bracket

Selection Sunday is over. I've updated my handy little bracket spreadsheet with the selected teams. Those who'd like to download and use it, here's the drill:

1. Click here to send me $3.00 via PayPal.
2. Once you've made the payment, you should land back on a page to download the file. If for some reason that doesn't work properly, click here to download the file.
3. Open the file, making sure you can enable the macros -- that is, your Macro security is set to Medium at highest (Tools --> Macros --> Macro Security). Take note of the "lock code" it gives you.
4. Email me your lock code, and I'll send you back an associated "key code" that unlocks the file for your use. This code is specific to you and the computer you are using. If you want to use the file on numerous computers, let me know, and I'll see if I can accommodate you.

Good luck with your picks!

Excel_Geek Insiders, if you'd like to use the file, simply download it, and email me your "lock code", I'll send you the "key code" as part of your subscription.

Later,

Excel_Geek

Get your March Madness Bracket Here

Ever since my post describing the NCAA basketball bracket spreadsheet I created, I've been getting asked, "Are you going to post that file so that we can use it?"

Sure.

I even filled in the teams picked today ("Selection Sunday") and you can download it all for the bargain basement price of $3.00. Just click here to send payment via PayPal (major credit cards accepted), and you'll be taken to the download page (Zipped file). OR...if you'd rather, you can download the file here, then email for the key code once you've sent $3.00 PayPal to ehunzeker@gmail.com.

Some of you might be wondering why I'm rolling out a $3.00 NCAA basketball bracket spreadsheet. Why not just give it away for free?

Well, here's a little secret: what I really wanted to show off to you -- many of you being Excel geeks in your own right -- is a terribly handy little piece of programming I've been working on: a super simple, self-contained means for locking down standard Excel spreadsheets for licensing purposes.

When you download and open the NCAA basketball bracket file, you'll be prompted to email me a "License Lock Code" that is generated when you open the file (be sure to enable macros). I'll then send you a corresponding "License Key Code" which will open up the file for your use. Oh, and if you think you can pay once and share it with your friends -- it's just a spreadsheet after all...should just be able to copy it and share it with whomever you like, right? -- not so fast. When your friends open the file on their computers, they'll auto-generate a different lock code, and will be prompted to get their own unique key code (and pay, too). How about that?

So...for all of you March Madness crazies, enjoy the download for less than the price you might pay for a decent cup of coffee, and for all of you Excel programmers who've been looking for a way to protect the brilliant spreadsheets you've created over the years, drop me a line if you'd like to learn how I created this little security system. I'm currently working on commercializing it, too.

Later,

Excel_Geek