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

Inquire add-in

Most Excel features are baked into the software, but sometimes Microsoft provides features through a type of software known as add-ins. I discuss the Solver add-in for Excel for Windows in Chapter 6, What-If Analysis. Since you cannot enable add-ins within Excel for macOS the Solver feature is built into the Data tab of the Ribbon. Let’s turn our attention to the Inquire add-in, which is available in Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise. I’m going to cross my fingers and hope you can access this great feature:

  1. Choose File | Account.
  2. As shown in Figure 9.19, the Account screen may display Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise, or it may simply reference Microsoft 365.

If you don’t see the words Apps for enterprise as shown in Figure 9.19, then this section will be a dead end for you; otherwise, read on to see how to enable the Inquire add-in:

Figure 9.19 – Account page of Excel’s Backstage view

Here...