Is Excel Really That Hard?

I think Microsoft Excel is the most underutilized software application of our day. What gnaws at me is how, with just a small amount of training, anybody can make very good use of this amazing tool. In my 25 years of conducting Excel training I find that most Microsoft Excel users are self-taught and are not aware of some very basic information that could open the door to increased productivity. I call this information "The 5 Big Concepts of Microsoft Excel."

My first big concept, and it does come across better in class, are the 3 configurations of the cursor. Knowing what the "white plus sign", the "4-headed arrow", and the "black plus sign in the lower right corner of the cell" do, and when to use them is key. The configuration that causes the biggest problem is the 4-headed arrow that you can see when you hover the mouse on the edge of any cell. When used properly this allows for the contents of the cell to be moved to a new location. When used accidentally, which is what happens most often, it causes untold havoc! This concept, among others, will be demonstrated in my “Formulas and Functions I” session to be held in Charlottesville on January 11.

As I mentioned, with just a little bit of training you too can begin using Microsoft Excel in ways that you may have never imagined. When your boss wants to know, “who created this spreadsheet?” You can say, “I did it!” Come join me at OpenSpace this month for a series of 1 ½ hour sessions to brush up on your Excel skills. Click here to see the January training schedule!

Mark Watlock
Advantage Computer Training, LLC
(434) 566-2489
mark@adtechtraining.com