Book Image

Exploring Microsoft Excel’s Hidden Treasures

By : David Ringstrom
Book Image

Exploring Microsoft Excel’s Hidden Treasures

By: David Ringstrom

Overview of this book

David Ringstrom coined the phrase “Either you work Excel, or it works you!” after observing how many users carry out tasks inefficiently. In this book, you’ll learn how to get more done with less effort. This book will enable you to create resilient spreadsheets that are easy for others to use as well, while incorporating spreadsheet disaster preparedness techniques. The time-saving techniques covered in the book include creating custom shortcuts and icons to streamline repetitive tasks, as well as automating them with features such as Tables and Custom Views. You’ll see how Conditional Formatting enables you to apply colors, Cell icons, and other formatting on-demand as your data changes. You’ll be empowered to protect the integrity of spreadsheets and increase usability by implementing internal controls, and understand how to solve problems with What-If Analysis features. In addition, you’ll master new features and functions such as XLOOKUP, Dynamic Array functions, LET and LAMBDA, and Power Query, while learning how to leverage shortcuts and nuances in Excel. By the end of this book, you’ll have a broader awareness of how to avoid pitfalls in Excel. You’ll be empowered to work more effectively in Excel, having gained a deeper understanding of the frustrating oddities that can arise daily in Excel.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
1
Part 1: Improving Accessibility
6
Part 2:Spreadsheet Interactivity and Automation
12
Part 3: Data Analysis

Double-click trick for navigating within worksheets

Let’s say that you want to edit the contents of a worksheet cell. Many of us reflexively double-click on the cell in question and get to work. Folks that are into keyboard shortcuts often press F2 (Fn + F2 on certain keyboards) instead of double-clicking. Or you might select a cell and then click into the Formula Bar. All three are valid, but a slight variation on the first approach may make you think Excel is possessed. Allow me walk you through a scenario:

  1. Activate the Double-Click Navigation worksheet, as shown in Figure 9.6:

Figure 9.6 – A four-pointed arrow indicates the navigation mode

  1. Position your mouse over the middle of cell B4 and notice how your cursor presents as a white cross, and then click once to select cell B4.
  2. Position your mouse over the bottom border of cell B4 and notice how your cursor changes to a four-pointed arrow, as shown in Figure 9.6. Now, here...