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 is a Table?

The Feature Comparison worksheet contrasts the Table, PivotTable, and Data Table features. Let’s compare each feature:

  • TablesTables transform static cell ranges into self-expanding lists, as shown in Figure 7.2, which, as you’ll soon see, unlocks multiple layers of automation:

Figure 7.2 – Table

  • PivotTablesPivotTables are a report-writing feature that summarizes lists of data inside cell ranges or Tables into concise formats, as shown in Figure 7.3:

Figure 7.3 – PivotTable

Tip

I briefly explore PivotTables in this chapter and Chapter 9, Excel Quirks and Nuances.

  • Data TablesData Tables enable you to swap one or more sets of inputs through a single anchor formula to compare multiple scenarios, as shown in Figure 7.4:

Figure 7.4 – Data Table

Nuance

The TABLE worksheet function, as shown...