Computer E-Learning

Welcome to the Excel 2013 Expert workshop. Excel includes some powerful tools to help you manipulate your data. From sharing workbooks to advanced functions and formulas, this workshop will help you become a true power user of Excel 2013.

This module introduces you to the Information tab on the Backstage View. You’ll learn about marking a workbook as final, which makes the workbook read-only. You’ll also learn about permissions – both encrypting the workbook with a password and restricting permissions. This module explains how to protect both the current sheet and an entire workbook’s structure. You’ll also learn how to add a digital signature, which is helpful if your workbook contains macros that you want to share with others. Then we’ll move on to exploring the Excel options dialog box, where you can set advanced options and properties. We’ll look at managing versions, which can help you recover unsaved work if you have Autosave turned on. Finally, we’ll look at saving your workbook as a template to simplify new workbook creation.

This module helps you understand the issues concerned with sharing a workbook. First, we’ll look at how to inspect the workbook for issues. Then, you’ll learn how to share a workbook and edit a shared workbook. You’ll also learn about tracking changes to document other users changes and comments. Finally, you’ll learn how to merge copies of a shared workbook to consolidate the changes.

This module will help you with formulas and calculations. We’ll start with learning how to use the Watch Window, where you can monitor results of different areas of your workbook and even different workbooks related to the one you are changing. Then we’ll learn about Excel’s methodology when calculating worksheets. You’ll learn how to set the calculation options for the current workbook and for all workbooks. This module also explains how to enable or disable automatic workbook calculations. Finally, we’ll look at the IFERROR function, which can help you evaluate formulas and display specific results if the formula contains an error.

This module introduces using array formulas. We’ll first look at what array formulas are and some advantages, disadvantages, and rules when using them, as well as an introduction to array constants. Then you’ll practice creating simple and more advanced arrays.

In this module, you’ll learn how to assign a macro you have created to a command button, which you can easily access each time you want to run the macro. You’ll also learn how to set up a graphical area that causes a macro to run when it is clicked. Similarly, this module explains how to run a macro automatically when a spreadsheet is opened. Finally, you’ll learn how to change a macro.

This module takes a closer look at forms. Really, all Excel spreadsheets are a type of form where you can enter data. However, we’ll take a look at data forms and form controls a little more closely as other ways to collect information with more flexibility. You’ll also learn how to create and use a data form, including adding a new row of data, finding information by navigating or by entering search criteria, and changing or deleting a row of data. Next, we’ll look at some specific examples of using different types of form controls. This module covers the list box control, the combo box control, the spin button control, and the scroll bar control.

In this module, you’ll learn about some advanced chart features. First, we’ll look at the different types of trend lines to help you analyze your data. You’ll also learn how to add a trend line. Then, we’ll take a look at how to plot one of your data series on a secondary axis. Finally, you’ll learn how to save a chart you have formatted to your liking as a chart template to be available for use when creating other new charts.

This module explains slicers and timelines. You’ll learn how to create a slicer in an existing table. You’ll also learn how to format a slicer. Finally, we’ll discuss how to disconnect or delete a slicer.

The Data Model in Excel 2013 is a new approach for integrating data from multiple tables. It actually builds a relational data source inside an Excel workbook, but it is virtually transparent. Data models provide the tabular data that is used in PivotTables, PivotCharts, and Power View reports. In this module, you’ll learn how to connect to a new external data source and create a PivotTable using an external data connection. You’ll use PivotTables to analyze data in multiple tables. You’ll also learn how to create relationships between tables.

Power View is an interactive way to explore, visualize, and present data that encourages ad-hoc reporting. This module will introduce you to Power View with lessons that include downloaded data from the Windows Azure Marketplace to learn how to create a Power View sheet, add additional tables to the data model used by the Power View Sheet and add an additional chart and change it to a map.

Although this workshop is coming to a close, we hope that your journey to improve your Excel skills is just beginning. Please take a moment to review and update your action plan. This will be a key tool to guide your progress in the days, weeks, months, and years to come. We wish you the best of luck on the rest of your travels!