When it comes to IT world, we can’t escape from not using Microsoft products. The most useful product from them I would say is Microsoft Excel. However, not all have mastered Excel to the extent of using formulas or advance level. We are working with reports, data entries, data collections, etc on daily basis and Excel can be extremely helpful and widely used in most working environment. It was not a compulsory to learn Microsoft Office products but it actually saves more time by using some useful tools. If you are intending to create a graph from data collected, using “Insert Graph” function will instantly create the graph with several options.
Personally, I always work with excel sheet and was not aware of sorting before. Imagine when you need to cut and paste rows to make it look sorted each time. I was doing it for nearly 5 years because was not willing to learn more about Excel or its functions. I just wanted to use the tables. I just realized that things could have been so much easier and I would have done a lot more work during these 5 years only if I only know sorting earlier. Next, I took a step forward to learn formulas in Excel and “wow” that was my first impression.
Formulas simply merge and clarify our work on one sheet. This is by far the best thing I have ever learned this year. I used to have separate work sheets for several work related information inputs earlier and keeping all sheets updated is a real pain in the neck. With formula, things got so much simpler where I can work with one excel sheet for inputs, reporting and other necessary information. Rules is another function that make the report looks neat even with colors.
My customers are happy with improved format of reports they get from me and I have saved almost 50% of my time working on these sheets by learning formulas, sorting and rules. I wonder what else I can learn from Excel to save more time in the sheet or reporting. Remember, reports is non-productive work where results based oriented companies will have bad reputation if we took more time in creating reports. More time should be spend on real work and not the reporting. Thus, finding ways to simplify and speed up the reporting is a must for everyone.
Another useful function is import and export which is rarely used by many. Personally, I have never used this function to import data from notepad or csv files on Excel. I used to copy all in one column and make a manual separation by copy and paste. I wish to use import button much earlier where it could have save me several days in a month time of workload. There are more functions that I am not aware of till now and slowly exploring Excel each day. I have an access to use Microsoft Office since 1997 but never really go through all the improvements in newer versions.
I must have saved at least a few months time over 5 years period if those functions known earlier. Nothing is too late to learn and keep positive thinking. I am glad that I can save several days of working hours before end of this year using this newly learned tools and functions. Overall performance will be improved and it is a way towards a forward direction. Advance excel is a must learn subject for all who uses Microsoft Office products. What do you think?
Written by Atniz
Topics: Tools