One of the software suites that has forever changed the way the world does business is without a doubt Microsoft Office. Being skilled in the usage and application of Microsoft Office in business settings is a very desirable trait in the job market, and nowhere does that apply more than in the case of Microsoft Excel.
Whether you’re just making a spreadsheet or performing some complicated financial analysis, Microsoft Excel has very significant capabilities. Knowing how to use these efficiently will no doubt make your life easier no matter what role you hold at your company. Several platforms can be used to merge spreadsheet files for more organized data.
In this article, we’ll go over five big Excel tips that you need to know to take your Microsoft Office skills to the next level.
1. Leverage Excel Macros
The first thing to know about Microsoft Excel is the existence of macros. An Excel macro is essentially a programmable function that repeatedly performs said function whenever a user activates a trigger (e.g. clicks a button).
You don’t even need to be a programming whiz in order to leverage Excel macros. You just need a bit of basic coding know-how plus knowledge of the VisualBasic syntax that Excel macros use. Once you have that under your belt, there’s no doubt that you’ll find several applications for macros if you build spreadsheets that viewers are supposed to interact with.
2. Conditional Formatting
Another important tip to take your spreadsheets to the next level is to use conditional formatting. With conditional formatting, you can set certain prerequisite characteristics that, when met, change the formatting of specific cells.
For instance, you can set a cell to have red text if the numerical value within it is negative (highly useful in finance applications).
3. Use Formulas Across Spreadsheets
Did you know that you can reference cells from different spreadsheets on the same spreadsheet? Excel’s unique capability here allows you to draw information from multiple different files into one file.
This trait of cell reference capability allows you to compute formulas that use values from different files in your spreadsheet.
4. Hide Unnecessary Data
Does your spreadsheet have a lot of data? Are you finding yourself scrolling across hundreds of rows or columns to get to the cell you’re looking for?
If there’s some data that you need in the spreadsheet to compute a function or something, but don’t necessarily need to view the data all the time, then use Excel’s group hide functionality to make those cells disappear and your spreadsheet that much easier to navigate.
Read More: What You Need to Know Today to Improve Data Quality Management
5. Pivot Tables
Last but not least, pivot tables will change the way you use Excel. Pivot tables, however, are a somewhat complicated concept and require some training to use properly. Try to visit site like this one to get that training.
Making a Spreadsheet Doesn’t Have to Be Hard
There you have it! Making a spreadsheet doesn’t have to be hard when you have all of these Excel features to lean on. For more software training, be sure to check out the rest of the articles on the website!
