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

What-If Analysis

Many users are unaware of the What-If Analysis features in Excel, which can be used to find answers to questions in an automated fashion. I'll start lead off by I'll start by showing you how to use the Scenario Manager feature to both you to back up key inputs and compare the results of different sets of inputs. I'll then use the Goal Seek feature to automate solving for a missing input within a calculation. After that I'll show you how the Data Table feature can streamline situations where, normally, the user would need to rewrite formulas to handle a variety of inputs, such as comparing what a mortgage payment would be at two different interest rates and loan terms. We'll use the Forecast Sheet feature to project amounts into the future, and then finish up with a brief look at Excel's Solver feature.

In this chapter, we will cover the following primary topics:

  • PMT function
  • CUMIMPT function
  • CUMPRINC function
  • Scenario...