If you want to have a level of mastery of Excel spreadsheets which is intermediate, here I will tell you about the most important Excel functions that you need to learn to consolidate the intermediate level and then continue to the advanced level. Read these tips carefully as every Excel function here is of higher importance to achieve more productive results and impress your colleagues and your boss.
1 – Use AutoFill
With AutoFill tool, available in Excel and in most spreadsheets, you can shorten the task of entering data. It serves to avoid you having to repeatedly enter the data.
2 – Conditional Formatting
With Conditional Formatting tool, you can give a specific format to the cells based on various parameters. The conditional formatting is on the Home tab and within this in the working group Styles have the following options;
Highlight cell rules
Top and bottom rules
Data bars
Color scales
Icon sets
With this resource you give a conditional format to the cells quickly and get a spreadsheet whose data is easy to understand and visually attractive.
3 – Know AutoSum Well
If you click directly on the summation sign, you add the sum of the adjacent cells or the ones you indicate. You can also expand the triangle and open other options from AutoSum to perform other different calculations such as Average, Count, Max. Min. and a few more Excel functions.
4 – Create Graphs
The types of graphs you can do with Excel spreadsheets are varied. For making a graph, you can choose the one that best represents the data you have.
Column charts
Bar charts
Line graphs
Circular graphs
XY Graphics
Area charts
5 – Filters
You need to perform data filters for reporting and see the evolution of the business to obtain the specific information you are looking for. With the filter, what you do is select the records within the database that you have to display if they meet one or more a criteria specified by you.
6 – Subtotals
Subtotals are a step beyond the filters. With Excel to perform subtotals automatically, you can get a data summarized as a series of data in your spreadsheet.
7 – Convert Excel Files to Other Formats
In order to present your data in Excel reports created in other different formats or to supplement at some point, you may need to convert Excel files into other formats such as PDF or Access file format which can easily be done in Excel.
8 – Control Data Entry
Specifically controlling data entry is called in spreadsheets with the term validation. It consists of setting limits to the data of an electronic sheet, either referred to a cell, a row or column, or in relation to data of type number, text or formula. It will help you to avoid entering erroneous data.
With every Excel function mentioned here, you will achieve the intermediate level to use Excel program which will ultimately make to follow learning for advanced level.
