Contents
Feedback 15
Downloading the sample files.. 15
Problem resolution 15
Typographical Conventions Used In This Book 16
Excel version and service pack 18
Sessions and lessons 18
Read the book from beginning to end.... 18
How this book avoids wasting your time 19
Why our classroom courses work so well 19
How this book mimics our classroom technique 19
Avoiding repetition 20
Use of American English 20
First page of a session 21
Every lesson is presented on two facing pages 22
Learning by participation 23
Session Objectives 25
Lesson 1-1: Check your program and operating system version 26
Windows 7 27
Windows Vista 27
Windows XP 27
Lesson 1-2: Apply a simple filter to a range 28
Lesson 1-3: Apply a top 10 and custom filter to a range 30
Lesson 1-4: Apply an advanced filter with multiple OR criteria 32
Lesson 1-5: Apply an advanced filter with complex criteria 34
Lesson 1-6: Apply an advanced filter with function-driven criteria 36
Lesson 1-7: Extract unique records using an advanced filter 38
Lesson 1-8: Convert a range into a table and add a total row 40
Lesson 1-9: Format a table using table styles and convert a table into a range 42
Lesson 1-10: Create a custom table style 44
Lesson 1-11: Sort a range or table by rows 46
Lesson 1-12: Sort a range by columns 48
Lesson 1-13: Sort a range or table by custom list 50
Lesson 1-14: Name a table and create an automatic structured table reference 52
Lesson 1-15: Create a manual structured table reference 54
Lesson 1-16: Use special items in structured table references 56
Lesson 1-17: Understand unqualified structured table references 58
Session 1: Exercise 61
Session 1: Exercise Answers 63
Session Objectives 65
Lesson 2-1: Split fixed width data using Text to Columns 66
Lesson 2-2: Split delimited data using Text to Columns 68
Fixed width data 68
Delimited data 68
Lesson 2-3: Automatically subtotal a range .70
Lesson 2-4: Create nested subtotals 72
Lesson 2-5: Consolidate data from multiple data ranges 74
Lesson 2-6: Use data consolidation to generate quick subtotals from tables 76
Lesson 2-7: Validate numerical data 78
Lesson 2-8: Create user-friendly messages for validation errors 80
Lesson 2-9: Create data entry Input Messages 82
Lesson 2-10: Add a formula-driven date validation and a text length validation 84
Lesson 2-11: Add a table-based dynamic list validation 86
Lesson 2-12: Use a formula-driven custom validation to enforce complex business rules 88
Lesson 2-13: Remove duplicate values from a table 90
Lesson 2-14: Use a custom validation to add a unique constraint to a column 92
Session 2: Exercise 95
Session 2: Exercise Answers 97
Session Objectives 99
Lesson 3-1: Understand precedence rules and use the Evaluate feature 100
Lesson 3-2: Use common functions with Formula AutoComplete 102
Lesson 3-3: Use the Insert Function dialog and the PMT function 104
Lesson 3-4: Use the PV and FV functions to value investments 106
Present Value 106
Future Value 106
Lesson 3-5: Use the IF logic function 108
Lesson 3-6: Use the SUMIF and COUNTIF functions to create conditional totals 110
Lesson 3-7: Understand date serial numbers 112
How Excel stores dates 112
The world began in 1900 112
In Excel, every time is a date, and every date is a time 112
Lesson 3-8: Understand common date functions 114
Lesson 3-9: Use the DATEDIF function 116
Lesson 3-10: Use date offsets to manage projects using the scheduling equation 118
Lesson 3-11: Use the DATE function to offset days, months and years 120
Lesson 3-12: Enter time values and perform basic time calculations 122
Serial number recap 122
Lesson 3-13: Perform time calculations that span midnight 124
Lesson 3-14: Understand common time functions and convert date serial numbers to decimal values.... 126
Lesson 3-15: Use the TIME function to offset hours, minutes and seconds 128
Lesson 3-16: Use the AND and OR functions to construct complex Boolean criteria 130
Lesson 3-17: Understand calculation options (manual and automatic) 132
Lesson 3-18: Concatenate strings using the concatenation operator (&) 134
About strings 134
The concatenation operator (&) 134
Lesson 3-19: Use the TEXT function to format numerical values as strings 136
Custom format strings recap 136
Lesson 3-20: Extract text from fixed width strings using the LEFT, RIGHT and MID functions 138
Lesson 3-21: Extract text from delimited strings using the FIND and LEN functions 140
Lesson 3-22: Use a VLOOKUP function for an exact lookup 142
Lesson 3-23: Use an IFERROR function to suppress error messages 144
Lesson 3-24: Use a VLOOKUP function for an inexact lookup 146
Session 3: Exercise 149
Session 3: Exercise Answers 151
Session Objectives 153
Lesson 4-1: Automatically create single-cell range names 154
Lesson 4-2: Manually create single cell range names and named constants 156
Lesson 4-3: Use range names to make formulas more readable 158
Lesson 4-4: Automatically create range names in two dimensions 160
Lesson 4-5: Use intersection range names and the INDIRECT function 162
Lesson 4-6: Create dynamic formula-based range names using the OFFSET function 164
Lesson 4-7: Create table-based dynamic range names 166
Lesson 4-8: Create two linked drop-down lists using range names 168
Lesson 4-9: Understand the #NUM!, #DIV/0! and #NAME? Error Values 170
Lesson 4-10: Understand the #VALUE!, #REF! and #NULL! Error Values 172
Lesson 4-11: Understand background error checking and error checking rules 174
Lesson 4-12: Manually check a worksheet for errors 176
Lesson 4-13: Audit a formula by tracing precedents 178
Lesson 4-14: Audit a formula by tracing dependents 180
Lesson 4-15: Use the watch window to monitor cell values 182