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

Commands Not in the Ribbon

One of my favorite areas to explore in Excel is the Commands Not in the Ribbon listing in the Quick Access Toolbar section of Excel’s Options dialog box. Sometimes, you can find enhanced versions of built-in commands that streamline tasks or enable hidden functionality. In addition, you might be able to unearth and restore commands that Excel has removed from the Ribbon.

Enhanced commands

First, let’s look at versions of commands that offer functionality that you can’t accomplish through Excel’s Ribbon. I’ll show you how to add and then use the AutoFilter command in Excel for Windows, which enables you to filter a list based upon a single cell’s contents with one click:

  1. Access the Quick Access Toolbar section of the Excel Options dialog box.
  2. Click on Choose Commands From | Commands Not in the Ribbon.
  3. Click once on AutoFilter in the left-hand column. Then, click on Add (or double-click on AutoFilter...