Maximize Excel: Disaster-Proofing Spreadsheets
Presented by David H. Ringstrom, CPA
 
Event Date/Time: 12/22/25 12:00 PM Eastern
Duration: 100 minutes
 

In this presentation author and Excel expert David Ringstrom, CPA, will empower you to avoid crises in Excel due to program crashes and establish safety nets for your spreadsheets. Learn how to configure AutoRecover settings and enable automatic backups for key workbooks, including the AutoSave feature available in Excel 2021 and Excel for Microsoft 365. Uncover mouse tricks for efficiently duplicating worksheets and explore both worksheet and workbook protection options to prevent unauthorized changes. Gain insights into repairing damaged workbooks, managing temporary files, and utilizing advanced features like undo/redo for multiple steps at once.

David is the author of “Microsoft Excel 365 for Dummies”, “Exploring Microsoft Excel’s Hidden Treasures”, and has written or co-authored six other books. He demonstrates every technique at least twice: first, on a PowerPoint slide with numbered steps, and second, in the subscription-based Excel for Microsoft 365. David draws your attention to any differences in Excel 2021, 2019 or 2016 during the presentation and in his detailed handouts. The handouts include an Excel workbook with most of the examples he uses during his demonstrations.

Excel for Microsoft 365 is a subscription-based product that receives periodic feature updates. Conversely, perpetually licensed versions have year numbers in their names and do not receive any feature updates.

Who should attend: Professionals seeking to use Microsoft Excel more effectively.

Topics typically covered:

• Managing the external data security warning that may appear when you link external data into Excel spreadsheets.

• Understanding the constraints of the Document Recovery task pane in Excel.

• Protecting macros by assigning a password that prevents macros from being viewed.

• Learning the mouse trick that lets you quickly make a copy of an existing worksheet.

• Exploring options for recovering lost passwords for Excel spreadsheets.

• Learning what steps to take if you can’t open a damaged workbook.

• Filtering unwanted data out of Power Query results.

• Toggling the locked status of a worksheet cell on or off by way of a custom shortcut.

• Protecting hidden sheets from within a workbook.

• Exploring Excel’s Scenario Manager feature that enables you to store various sets of inputs, such as best case, worst case, and most likely, without having to replicate worksheets or workbooks.

• Understanding the risks and nuances of the AutoSave feature and OneDrive in Excel 2021 and Microsoft 365.

• Limiting access to sensitive workbooks by way of password protection.

Learning objectives:

• Recall the section of the Excel Options dialog box where the AutoRecover setting resides that controls how often Excel creates a back-up copy of your workbooks.

• Recall the location of the Always Create Backup option.

• Recall how to duplicate worksheets more efficiently by holding down a key while dragging the worksheet tab.

Level: Basic

Instructional Method: Group Internet Based

NASBA Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge  (2 hours)

Program Prerequisites: None

Advance Preparation: None