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

Table automation opportunities

Spreadsheets tend to involve lots of calculations, so first, we’ll see how Table improve and sometimes alter formula behavior. Formulas that reference Table, either by residing within a Table, or referring to a Table will automatically reference additional data that you add to a Table. This eliminates the need to monitor and rewrite formulas that refer to normal ranges of cells. Then, I’ll show you an easy technique for applying number formatting.

From there, I’ll discuss the concept of structured references for formulas. Then, I’ll look at filtering data within Table and automating certain filtering tasks with Slicers. We’ll then see how Table eliminate a common data integrity issue with PivotTables, followed by enabling self-expanding charts.

Let’s begin by seeing how to automate formula management within Table.

Calculated Columns

A Calculated Column within a Table consists entirely of formulas....