I had to dig a little on Microsoft’s website to find this- they are always changing the site these days with the new office system, but it’s worth checking out. Click here and then click on your department or general work area (you’ll see the options on the left) to find free tips on being more effective.
No doubt about it- Microsoft Office is the premier software office suite available. It is almost a universal standard. But what if it’s price range is out of your budget? Check out Open Office - a free, highly-sophisticated alternative. Not only does is have a Word Processor and a Spreadsheet program, it can open and creat Excel and Word compatible files. One major difference- it does not use the same macro language that Microsoft Office does, so macros will be non-transferrable. If you don’t use macros, it makes great sense.
Step 1: Highlight the table/data, including the column and row labels
Step 2: Press F11
Excel automatically builds a chart for you- you can customize it by right-clicking and selecting different chart types and options. That’s it!
Yesterday I helped a client with an Excel spreadsheet that her boss wants them to take over. They even sent them to my Excel class to help them, and she learned the basics of Excel and can understand the mechanics of the boss’s spreadsheet, but we still were missing the most important component to using the sheet- a clear, written procedure and explanation of the purpose, constraints and data.
Your sheet should be cleary labeled and explained with comments, along with a flowchart explaining how to update the sheet.
Armed with a process flowchart, comments explaining the data and formulas, and an understanding of the purpose of the sheet, others can maintain sheets and even improve them. It’s up to the boss to provide comprehensive training- written comprehensive training. Sending your empoyee to an Excel class is a smart move, it teaches them “to drive” but don’t expect them to drive to Vermont without a map.
Want to learn the basics of Excel formulas in less than an hour? Take this free course from Microsoft.