Formatting An Excel Workbook: Practical Skills

Format and redesign a Microsoft Excel workbook using formula, cell styles, advanced data types and templates.

What you'll learn
To take an unformatted Excel workbook and format it so that it is easy to understand.
Apply practical Excel formatting skills such as borders, fonts and styles/colour styles.
Use of data types and data validation to improve the format of your Excel workbooks.
Understand and apply layout concepts in Excel.
Create Excel workbooks that have clear formatting through use of wrapping text and merging cells.
Requirements
Need access to Microsoft Excel. No former experience with Microsoft Excel is necessary.
Description
This Formatting in Excel course consists of 7 sections with a total of 27 lectures. This course is unique in that it uses a sequential approach so that you can be faster at using Excel and develop skills to create more user friendly and error free workbooks.Section 1 IntroductionSection 1 is an introduction. You will be able to understand what skills you are expected to gain in this course and be able to identify many problems in an existing workbook so that these issues can later be rectified.It is split into 2 lectures:· Formatting an Excel Workbook Introduction· Introducing a Demo WorkbookLecture 1 Formatting an Excel Workbook IntroductionThe lecture provides: an overview of the course, objectives, skills to be gained, skills not covered, the basic structure of the course with 5 main sections or parts mentioned. These main parts are Introduction, Formatting an existing workbook, Formatting skills, Redesigning an existing workbook and Closing comments.You will learn:· The objectives of the course· What skills will be gained in the course· What skills are not covered in the courseLecture 2 Introducing a Demo WorkbookIntroduces presenters and the Unformatted Excel workbook. A summary of the problems with an existing Excel workbook is provided.You will learn what to focus on to improve and develop an Excel workbook.Section 2 Basic formattingYou will learn many basic formatting skills (e.g. borders, aligning data, basic data types, copy and paste, COUNT function) that are taught through 3 main demonstrations presented in 7 lectures.· Formatting Demo 1 Borders· Formatting Demo 1 Aligning Data· Formatting Demo 2 Basic Data Types· Formatting Demo 2 Percentages· Formatting Demo 3 Copying Links, Data & Formats· Formatting Demo 3 Using Count Function· Formatting Demo 3 Consistent ColumnsLecture 3 Formatting Demo 1 BordersThis lecture focuses on the creation of space and addition of outside borders to improve the Unformatted Excel workbook.You will learn:· Methods to create space in an Excel workbook by insertion of rows and columns.· The steps of creating borders in an Excel workbook.Lecture 4 Formatting Demo 1 Aligning DataThis lecture focuses on further ways to improve the Unformatted Excel workbook by aligning the data.You will practice:• How to line up titles• Merging/unmerging of cells• Ways to align data inside cellsLecture 5 Formatting Demo 2 Basic Data TypesYou will learn the importance of selecting basic Data Types consistently and appropriately to improve Unformatted1 Excel workbook. You will learn the purpose of basic data types in Excel.You will practice:· The use of Text data type· Defining numbers· Using percentages data typeLecture 6 Formatting Demo 2 PercentagesThis lecture explores Percentages in greater detail to improve this type of data on the Unformatted1 Excel workbook. You will learn the importance of zeros in an Excel workbook .You will practice:· Selecting the percentage data type consistently and appropriately.· Adjustment of zeros in an Excel workbook.· How to decrease decimal places in workbook data.Lecture 7 Formatting Demo 3 Copying Links, Data & FormatsThe focus of this lecture is on copying links, data and formats on the Unformatted2 Excel workbook. You will also develop further skills in using merge and center and inserting rows.You will practice:· How to copy links, data and formats in an Excel workbook.Lecture 8 Formatting Demo 3 Using COUNT FunctionThis lecture focuses on using the COUNT function to improve the Unformatted2 Excel  workbook.You will learn the following skills:· How to use the COUNT functionHow to unmerge a tableHow to line up columnsThe use of trace precedents and trace dependentsLecture 9 Formatting Demo 3 Consistent ColumnsCreation of consistent columns to improve the Unformatted2 Excel workbook is the focus of this lecture.You will learn the following Excel skills:• How to make columns consistent in an Excel workbook• Adding a variety of borders and remove borders• How to wrap text so that all the text in the cells can be seen.Section 3 Making Consistent FormulaThis section consists of two lectures which demonstrate how to modify equations for consistency.You will learn to modify equations for consistency and practice using the IF function in the Unformatted3 Excel workbook.You will learn to:• Use Equations Consistently• Apply an example of Consistent Equations using IF function.Lecture 10 Modifying Equations for consistency - Using Equations ConsistentlyThe focus of this lecture is using equations consistently in the Unformatted3 Excel workbook. The importance of this consistency is explained.You will learn the following Excel skills:· How to modify equations for the purpose of consistency· How to copy and paste formula.· The use of common source to copy· How to use the dollar sign ($) in Excel formula· How to clear contentsLecture 11 Modifying Equations for consistency- Example of Consistent Equations using IF function.This lecture presents the example of consistent equations through use of the IF function in the Unformatted3 Excel workbook.You will learn:• How to use the IF function in Excel• Further skills in adjustment of zeros in an Excel workbookSection 4 Cell StylesThis section focuses on using cell styles to improve an Excel workbook.You will learn to use standard cell styles, create and modify cell styles and apply a wide range of cell styles to an Excel workbook.There are 3 lectures:• Standard Cell Styles• Customising Cell Styles• Applying Cell StylesLecture 12 Standard Cell StylesThis lecture introduces the use of standard cell styles in order to improve the Unformatted4 Excel Workbook.You will gain skills in:• Using Headings (a basic Excel cell style).• Use of Merge& Center• Applying a variety of borders• Use of Wrap TextLecture 13 Customising Cell StylesThis lecture demonstrates the use of other standard cell styles and how to modify cell styles in order to improve the Unformatted5 Excel workbook.You will learn:• How to use standard cell styles such as Input, Calculations and Output.• How to modify the cell style (e.g. change the colour of fill).• Use of Copy and Paste format for efficient set up of cell stylesLecture 14 Applying Cell StylesApplying a greater variety of cell styles and the creation of cell styles are the main topics of this lecture. A greater range of cell styles are sourced from a dedicated Excel workbook called MMColourCode. These cell styles are then applied to improve Unformatted6 Excel workbook.You will learn skills in:• Using a wide range of cell styles e.g. Superuser, Labels, Fixed and Background. • Creation and formatting of cell styles.• Transferring the range of cell styles to the workbook using Merge Styles.• Adjusting the decimal places• Applying thick borders to tablesSection 5 Advanced Data TypesThis section demonstrates the use of advanced data types to improve Unformatted7 Excel workbook.You will learn to use conditional formatting, various types of dates, useful data validation options, text and text formula to improve an Excel workbook.There are 4 lectures in this section:• Conditional Formatting• Using Dates• Data Validation• Using Text and Text FormulaLecture 15 Conditional FormattingThis lecture focuses on conditional formatting to improve an Excel Workbook. A comparison is provided between use of conditional formatting and use of cell styles.You will learn the following skills:• Use of New Rules• Formatting only cells that contain….• Selecting ‘Fill Colour’.Lecture 16 Using DatesThis lecture demonstrates the use of dates in an Excel workbook. Advantages and reasons for using certain types of dates are provided.You will learn to:• Reset as a date• Use long and short dates.Lecture 17 Data ValidationThe use of Data Validation is demonstrated in this lecture on an Excel workbook. The benefits of using data validation is explained.You will gain skills in:• using whole number option• using decimal option• using list optionsLecture 18 Using Text and Text FormulaThis lecture provides examples of using text and text formula in an Excel workbook. The use of text formula provides a way to automate Text written in cells rather than using less efficient manual approaches.Section 6 TemplatesThis section demonstrates the effective use of templates for efficient and accurate use of Excel.You will learn to create an original template, set up, adjust and copy template clones for efficient and accurate use of Excel. You will also learn skills in redesigning of templates.There are 7 lectures in this section:• Template Concepts• Creating a Template• Setting up Clone Template• Clone Template Use• Templates Formula for Status• Templates Percent Available• Templates Percent LostLecture 19 Template ConceptsThis lecture explains template concepts in preparation for following lectures.You will learn:• The importance of using templates• Appropriate layouts for templates• The conventional way to design a flowchart• Considerations for setting up of easy to follow templatesLecture 20 Creating a TemplateHere a table is set up (using Unformatted7 Excel workbook) that is to be copied to form clones. Here we set up the original template. This allows for efficient redesigning of tables.You will therefore learn skills in setting up an original template.Lecture 21 Setting up Clone TemplateThis lecture demonstrates setting up a clone template in Unformatted8 Excel  workbook. Here a clone is similar to the original template but has some modifications.You will therefore learn skills in setting up a clone template.Lecture 22 Clone Template UseThis lecture demonstrates the use of the clone template to create other tables of the same style in the Unformatted8 Excel workbook. By doing this Excel is used more efficiently.You will learn skills in:• Copying a clone template• Adjusting a clone template• Adding data to a clone templateLecture 23 Templates Formula for StatusThis lecture demonstrates the use of Templates Formula for status in the Unformatted9 Excel workbook. You will learn to use nested IF statements applied to text.Lecture 24 Templates Percent AvailableIn this lecture we consider what the original developer is trying to achieve. Here a minor redesign is demonstrated in Unformatted9 Excel workbook by adding a calculation.Lecture 25 Templates Percent LostThis lecture demonstrates appropriate redesigning in the Unformatted9 Excel workbook by making equations much simpler. An equation with some 20 terms is converted to one with about 5. A key part of formatting Excel is to use equations in such a manner that they are as simple as possible. This allows templates to be both efficient and clear.Section 7 CloseThis section comprises 2 lectures:• Closing lecture• Bonus lectureYou will understand what skills you have gained and what other courses are available and being developed to build on these skills. You will have access to a Formatted1 Excel workbook and will have gained the skills to transform the original Unformatted Excel workbook to the Formatted1 Excel workbook during the course.Lecture 26 CloseThis lecture includes:• a summary of what was covered• skills not covered• objectives achieved• general information about other related courses• how to find out about new courses (email)• acknowledgementsLecture 27 BonusThis final lecture provides information on available and planned Udemy courses related to this current course through use of a flowchart.

Overview

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1 Formatting Introduction

Lecture 2 Introducing a Demo Workbook

Section 2: Basic Formatting

Lecture 3 Formatting Demo 1 Borders

Lecture 4 Formatting Demo 1 Aligning Data

Lecture 5 Formatting Demo 2 Basic Data Types

Lecture 6 Formatting Demo 2 Percentages

Lecture 7 Formatting Demo 3 Copying Links, Data & Formats

Lecture 8 Formatting Demo 3 Using COUNT Function

Lecture 9 Formatting Demo 3 Consistent Columns

Section 3: Making Consistent Formula

Lecture 10 Modifying Equations for consistency - Using Equations Consistently

Lecture 11 Example of Consistent Equations using IF function

Section 4: Cell Styles

Lecture 12 Standard Cell Styles

Lecture 13 Customising Cell Styles

Lecture 14 Applying Cell Styles

Section 5: Advanced Data Types

Lecture 15 Conditional Formatting

Lecture 16 Using Dates

Lecture 0 Data Validation

Lecture 0 Using Text and Text Formula

Lecture 0 Template Concepts

Lecture 0 Creating a Template

Lecture 0 Setting up Clone Template

Lecture 0 Clone Template Use

Lecture 0 Templates Formula for Status

Lecture 0 Templates Percent Available

Lecture 0 Templates Percent Lost

Lecture 0 Close

Lecture 0 Bonus

People who have used Microsoft Excel and want to learn about formatting. Also people who are new to Microsoft Excel will find this course valuable.