5 Tips For Using Excel More Effectively And Powerfully
Microsoft Excel entered the market over 30 years ago, and has become one of the must-have tools for businesses. Having been around for that long, you would think that most of its users have mastered it.Excel has so much potential to help in any organization's data management efforts. But very few users know anything more than entering data and doing some simple math.If you wish to explore Excel's potential, these five tips can help you get the most out of it.
- Using Macros in Excel
- Conditional Formatting
- Data Filtering
- Print Optimization
- Automate With IF
A macro is a set of actions created by Excel users which can be replicated many times and can be used to save time in repetitive tasks. While this definition can make it feel like it doesn't do much, there is more to it.It may not be possible to explain what an Excel macro can do for you in a few lines. The best way to learn about Excel macros is by enrolling in an Excel VBA training course which can help you get so much more on macros and other functionalities of Excel.
The digital marketing scene runs on data. But making sense of data can be quite a challenge, especially if it is not organized. Conditional formatting helps give a better picture of the data entered on the spreadsheets.Conditional formatting helps users determine products or services performing the best in every given period, best performing sales agents, and the most productive business conversations in a few clicks. You may need formal Excel training to master conditional marketing and have it work for you.
You may want to view data from rows with a particular name, topic, pay scale, or any specific detail. Most people will scroll up and down to pick out their required data from the spreadsheets. While this approach could be manageable for small quantities of data, it can be quite a challenge when you have tons of data to work with.The easier way out is using Excel data filtration functionalities to get what you want to achieve without breaking a sweat. The process of filtering data is pretty straightforward.The first step involves selecting the row or column you want to filter. Next, select the data tab at the quick access toolbar, click the funnel-shaped filter icon on the cell rage option, click on the drop-down menu and select your data filtration preference.
There are times you will need to print data on the Excel spreadsheet. But selecting the print option on Excel doesn't always produce the document as it appears in the workbook, which can be frustrating.The way to go around this challenge is to learn how to make some adjustments in the print preview, such as adjusting margins, adjusting the preview to fit one page, etc. Since printing is something you will need to do for a long time, it is worth taking the time to master it.
IF automation is one of the seemingly complex applications of Excel, but it may not be as complicated if you have formal training. It helps with inputting specific information to cells with corresponding details.Suppose you intend to award points to individuals who reach a certain performance level. Rather than scroll through your spreadsheets and add numbers to every individual that meets the performance requirements, you generate an IF formula that adds the set value to cells that meet the qualification.The general IF formula is IF(logical_test, value_if_true, [value_if_false]). So, if you intend to add ten points for hitting a certain target, the formula would read something like IF(performance > target, 10,0). It doesn't have to be this simple. You can customize your formula to do whatever you need automated.