Excel Mastery: From Basics to Advanced Techniques

Course Description

Excel Mastery: From Basics to Advanced Techniques is an intensive 25-day program designed to equip participants with comprehensive Excel skills essential for professional success. This course covers a wide range of topics, starting from fundamental Excel functionalities to advanced techniques such as data analysis, visualization, and automation.

Getting Started with MS Excel

• Day 1: Introduction to Excel (2 hours)
  • Overview of Excel interface
  • Understanding workbooks and worksheets
  • Introduction to ribbon and quick access toolbar

• Day 2: Navigating Excel efficiently (2 hours)
  • Keyboard shortcuts for efficient navigation
  • Using scroll bars and navigation tools
  • Customizing Excel settings for personal preferences
    
• Day 3: Data Entry Techniques (2 hours)
  • Best practices for entering and formatting data
  • Managing data using autofill and flash fill
  • Formatting options for cells and text
  • Renaming, inserting, deleting, and organizing sheets
  • Grouping and ungrouping worksheets
  • Using color codes and tabs for better organization

Working with Data

• Day 4: Sorting and Filtering Data (2 hours)
  • Sorting data:
    • Learn how to sort data alphabetically, numerically, and by color to organize information effectively.
  • Filtering data:
    • Explore Excel’s filtering options to display specific data subsets and analyze information based on criteria.

• Day 5: Data Validation (2 hours)
  • Setting up drop-down lists:
    • Create drop-down lists to standardize data entry and ensure consistency.
  • Restricting data entry:
    • Implement data validation rules to prevent incorrect data entry and maintain data integrity.
  • Input message creation:
    • Provide users with helpful input messages to guide them during data entry and ensure accurate input.
      
• Day 6: Advanced Filtering (2 hours)
  • Utilizing advanced filter criteria:
    • Learn how to apply complex filter criteria to extract specific data subsets from large datasets.
  • Filtering unique records:
    • Discover techniques for filtering unique records based on specific criteria to identify distinct data entries.
  • Handling complex filter scenarios:
    • Explore strategies for addressing complex filtering scenarios involving multiple criteria and logical operators.

Tables

• Day 7: Introduction to Excel Tables (2 hours)
  • Creating tables:
    • Understand the benefits of using Excel tables and how to create them to organize and manage your data efficiently.
  • Benefits of using tables:
    • Explore the advantages of using Excel tables, including automatic expansion, structured references, and built-in features.
  • Managing table data:
    • Learn how to add, remove, and modify data within Excel tables while maintaining data integrity and consistency.

• Day 8: Structured References (2 hours)
  • Understanding structured references:
    • Explore the concept of structured references in Excel formulas and functions, allowing for dynamic referencing within tables.
  • Advantages of structured references:
    • Learn how structured references enhance formula readability, adaptability to table changes, and error reduction.
  • Using structured references in formulas:
    • Discover how to leverage structured references in various Excel formulas for efficient data analysis and manipulation within tables.

• Day 9: Sorting and Filtering Tables (2 hours)
  • Sorting tables:
    • Learn how to sort table data using table-specific sorting options to organize information effectively.
  • Filtering tables:
    • Explore advanced filtering techniques within Excel tables to analyze and extract specific data subsets based on user-defined criteria.
  • Utilizing slicers:
    • Understand how slicers can enhance data filtering and visualization within Excel tables, providing an intuitive interface for data exploration.

Power Query

• Day 10: Introduction to Power Query (2 hours)
  • Importing data:
    • Learn how to import data from various sources into Excel using Power Query, including external databases, text files, and online sources.
  • Transforming data:
    • Explore Power Query’s transformation capabilities to clean, reshape, and manipulate imported data for analysis and reporting purposes.
  • Cleaning data:
    • Discover techniques for cleaning and standardizing data within Power Query, including removing duplicates, handling errors, and formatting data types.

Working with Formulas (Basic & Advanced)

• Day 11: Review of Basic Formulas (2 hours)
  • Recap of basic formulas including SUM, AVERAGE, MAX, MIN, COUNT, etc.

• Day 12: Logical Functions (2 hours)
  • Explore logical functions such as IF, AND, OR, NOT, nested IF functions, and logical tests.

• Day 13: Lookup Functions (2 hours)
  • Master the application of lookup functions including VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, INDEX, MATCH, and advanced lookup techniques.
    
• Day 14: Text Functions (2 hours)
  • Acquire proficiency in text manipulation functions such as CONCATENATE, LEFT, RIGHT, MID, FIND, REPLACE, and others.
    
• Day 15: Date and Time Functions (2 hours)
  • Explore date and time functions such as TODAY, NOW, DATE, DAY, MONTH, YEAR, and date-related calculations.
    
• Day 16: Array Formulas (2 hours)
  • Understand array formulas, array constants, and array functions for advanced data manipulation.

Working with Pivot Tables

• Day 17: Introduction to PivotTables (2 hours)
  • Learn how to create PivotTables, select data, and understand PivotTable structure.
    
• Day 18: PivotTable Layout and Design (2 hours)
  • Format PivotTables, change layout options, and apply styles for effective presentation of data.
    
• Day 19: Filtering and Sorting in PivotTables (2 hours)
  • Use slicers, filters, and sorting options in PivotTables for data analysis..
    
• Day 20: Calculated Fields and Items (2 hours)
  • Add calculated fields and items to PivotTables for custom analysis.

Working with Charts & Graphs

• Day 21: Introduction to Charts & Customizing (2 hours)
  • Creating charts, selecting data, and understanding chart types.
  • Charts: Formatting chart elements, adding titles, labels, and legends.
    
• Day 22: Advance Charting Techniques & Interactive Charts (2 hours)
  • Using secondary axes, trendlines, and data labels.
  • Creating dynamic charts using form controls and dynamic ranges.
  • Review and Practice: Hands-on exercises to reinforce charting skills.
    

Working with Macros

• Day 23 : Automation with Macros
  • Introduction to Excel macros.
  • Recording and editing macros.
  • Assigning macros to buttons and shortcuts.
  • Basic VBA programming concepts.

Excel Tips and Project Work

• Day 24: Advanced Excel Tips and Tricks
  • Advanced data validation techniques.
  • Customizing Excel with personalized settings and templates.
  •  Collaboration features.
  •  Excel tips for efficiency and productivity.
  • Q&A session and course review.
    
• Day 25: Project Work (2 hours)
  • Apply skills learned in real-world scenarios through project work.