Maximize Excel: Spreadsheet Basics Part 1


CPE Credit: 2 hours

If you’ve never worked with Excel spreadsheets or you haven’t in several years, this is a “must-attend” presentation. Excel expert David Ringstrom, CPA, starts with the basics and takes you through the process of building functional spreadsheets, enabling you to work with them efficiently and effectively.
 
David demonstrates every technique at least twice: first, on a PowerPoint slide with numbered steps, and second, in the subscription-based Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) version of Excel. David draws your attention to any differences in the older versions of Excel (2021, 2019, 2016 and earlier) during the presentation as well as in his detailed handouts. David also provides an Excel workbook that includes most of the examples he uses during the webcast.
 
Microsoft 365 is a subscription-based product that provides new feature updates as often as monthly. Conversely, the perpetual licensed versions of Excel have feature sets that don't change. Perpetual licensed versions have year numbers, such as Excel 2021, Excel 2019, and so on.


Topics Covered

• Copying formulas efficiently down one or more columns at the same time.
• Discerning the nuance of entering text into worksheet cells.
• Getting oriented with Excel’s grid of rows and columns.
• Handling situations where numbers are presented as # signs on-screen and in Print Preview.
• Jump-starting spreadsheet projects using free, prebuilt templates in Excel.
• Learning about the different types of files you can create in Excel.
• Learning the nuances of copying formulas within Excel spreadsheets.
• Managing column widths within your spreadsheets.
• Mastering Excel’s order of operations for mathematical formulas.
• Preventing errors from the start by choosing from thousands of free Excel spreadsheet templates.
• Saving time by using the AutoSum formula to sum multiple columns at once with a mouse click or a keyboard shortcut.
• Specifying information that should be printed at the top and/or bottom of each page of a printout by managing headers and footers.


Learning Objectives:

• Identify how to skip confusing menus by way of time-saving mouse tricks and keyboard shortcuts.
• Apply the structural basics of Excel worksheets and workbooks.
• List basic data-analysis techniques.