Microsoft Excel’s greatest strength—flexibility—is also its greatest weakness. This Excel course for new and even the most skilled Microsoft Excel users demonstrates how to build structure and consistency into your spreadsheets to maximize accuracy and minimize errors. We also explain the five key questions that you need to keep in mind when constructing your spreadsheets for external review.

We review the methods and best practices for building a structural foundation for your spreadsheets, and provide a downloadable template file which you can adapt to your own style as you develop it. We cover:

  • Why structure matters
  • Creating a structural foundation for consistent spreadsheets
  • Constructing spreadsheets that meet three main goals using key five questions
  • Tips for using calculation and functionality to maximize accuracy and minimize errors
Learning Objectives
  • Design and Implement a consistent formatting and structural approach to your spreadsheets
  • Structure calculations and utilize Excel functionality to maximize accuracy and minimize time required to error check​
  • Adopt core Excel rules of efficiency and error checking
Last updated/reviewed: August 5, 2023
40 Reviews (107 ratings)

Reviews

4
Anonymous Author
The course provides an excellent in depth overview of constructing and organizing an excel spreadsheet, including providing goals to achieve, the different excel user groups, and providing various tips to make excel easier to use and communicate. In addition, the instructor works with illustrations as you go to give you a hands on learning experience.
4
Member's Profile
Very good for beginner to intermediate Excel users. As an advanced Excel user with 20+ years of experience I found a couple of solid suggestions to improve my practices and I agree with 90% of what Simon says in this presentation.
5
Member's Profile
This is a very useful course! The tips and suggestions to make spreadsheets more readable and usable are huge. They seem like they should be obvious, but as I haven't used them in my existing spreadsheets - they aren't. Thanks!
4
Member's Profile
Good overview of excel fundamentals and the reasoning behind his thinking. My only complaint is that I wanted to learn more about the keyboard shortcuts but I understand that it is beyond the scope of this course.
4
Member's Profile
These are some fundamental concepts, but a good reminder. Although it is more work up front, consistently using these concepts when setting up Excel workbooks would save a lot of time in the long run.
5
Member's Profile
Excellent way to keep a spreadsheet organized. As a basic user I appreciated all the information presented. Even if some of it I won't be using.
5
Member's Profile
Even though the content is essentially basic, the ideas Simon puts forth are applicable to Excel users of all experience levels.
3
Anonymous Author
I would have been better able to understand this lesson had I had to follow along by filling out an corresponding excel file.
4
Anonymous Author
This was a little slow to follow. Good information otherwise. Good steps and tips to eliminate errors and time wasting.
5
Anonymous Author
More great Excel advice I will put to use. I wish I had all this exposure to Excel years ago and had been using it.
5
Anonymous Author
This is one that I plan on going over and over in the future. There are tips and examples. Very good coverage.
4
Anonymous Author
Some good takeaways. I particularly like the idea of housing specific structural elements on different tabs.
4
Anonymous Author
Some great information but some of it assumes knowledge by the student of other excel functions.
5
Anonymous Author
Well described examples with a lot of details. Very useful course in the dat to day work
1
Anonymous Author
I liked the structured approach to setting up spreadsheets and to formatting elements.
5
Anonymous Author
Great presentation with some really solid tips that I plan on using going forward.
3
Anonymous Author
Course was very informative. I will use approach to create effective spreadsheets.
4
Member's Profile
Great class, wish you would slow down on showing where some of the functions live.
5
Anonymous Author
Very useful overview of structuring Excel files and some helpful functional tips.
4
Anonymous Author
Good concepts on building spreadsheets and keeping the integrity of spreadsheets.
5
Anonymous Author
I needed to first go back and grab 1 or 2 theories to remember about Vlookups.
4
Member's Profile
I like how the course got straight to the point and simplified the examples.
5
Anonymous Author
Good course for learning how to develop structure into your spreadsheets.
4
Anonymous Author
Excellent tips and tricks to help with presentation and efficiency.
4
Member's Profile
Для общего развития курс не помешает
5
Anonymous Author
interesting content, very informative. good points and suggestions
4
Member's Profile
There were many good tips for improving Excel Worksheets.
5
Member's Profile
Very useful tips on for preparing spreadsheets in Excel.
3
Anonymous Author
The saving features part of this course, very helpful.
4
Anonymous Author
Quite a few helpful tips in an hour - very worthwhile.
5
Anonymous Author
Enjoyed learning on how to build quality spreadsheets.
4
Anonymous Author
Great tips to use. The power of excel is amazing.
5
Member's Profile
Very easy to follow and course went by quickly.
5
Anonymous Author
Ctrl + ~ is a very helpful tip for reviewers.
5
Member's Profile
excellent course on a much needed topic
5
Member's Profile
Some excellent advice in this course.
3
Anonymous Author
Very dry, but the material is good.
4
Member's Profile
Learned a few good tips
3
Anonymous Author
Good info.
5
Anonymous Author
Very good.
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Prerequisites
Course Complexity: Foundational

No advanced preparation or prerequisites are required for this course

Education Provider Information
Company: Illumeo, Inc., 75 East Santa Clara St., Suite 1215, San Jose, CA 95113
Contact: For more information regarding this course, including complaint and cancellation policies, please contact our offices at (408) 400- 3993 or send an e-mail to .
Instructor for this course
  Course Overview CPE
Course Syllabus
INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
  2:31PREVIEW: Introduction to 5 Key Questions Every Spreadsheet Should Answer
Excel – Why Structure Matters
  Goals and how to achieve them4:44
  Illustrative example 17:30
Structuring Excel workbooks
  Excel User Groups: What They Need and How to Give It to Them5:41
  Illustrative example 25:49
Structuring Excel Calculations
  How best to approach calculations3:26
  Illustrative example 315:59
Excel Rules and Tips
  Ways to make your life a whole lot easier8:04
Conclusion
  Tips Demonstration and Course Conclusion1:10
Continuous Play
  Excel 101: Establishing Structure and the Five Key Questions Every Spreadsheet Should Answer 54:54
SUPPORTING MATERIALS
  Slides: Excel 101: Establishing Structure and the Five Key Questions Every Spreadsheet Should AnswerPDF
  Excel 101: Establishing Structure and the Five Key Questions Every Spreadsheet Should Answer Glossary/IndexPDF
  Calculation Examplexlsx
  Sales Incentive Calculationxlsx
  Template Base Filexlsx
REVIEW & TEST
  REVIEW QUESTIONSquiz
 FINAL EXAMexam