An Introduction to Excel
The ability to use a spreadsheet efficiently has almost become a mandatory skill for anyone working in a modern business environment. This course introduces you to Excel, Microsoft's powerful spreadsheet and database application for computers. It will provide you with the capability and confidence to use Excel professionally.
What's a spreadsheet?
Spreadsheets consist of many cells formed by the intersection of rows and columns. Numbers (and text) can be placed in these cells and spreadsheet applications such as Excel, can use formulae that you enter (and functions that Excel provides) to manipulate the cell contents quickly and easily giving the answer to your problem. Excel is thus ideally suited to adapting calculations from paper and the calculator to the computer.
This course
We concentrate on presenting the 'big picture' - an overview of Excel's ability to manipulate numbers and text. We show you Excel working across many disciplines and teach you to harness the power of Excel to make 'spreadsheeting' a smooth, efficient and rewarding process.
During the course, you will learn to record, total and sort data; process your data into graphs, view spreadsheet data in a number of different ways and to use Excel as a database, filtering lists to reveal patterns in data.
Try an instructional movie from the course
We have provided some links below to a number of instructional movies from the course. We routinely explain a concept in one of these movies and then invite you to repeat the process using your copy of Excel.
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Click here to download and play one of the movies from the course. It shows Excel working at its simplest level. If the movie (a 1.5 Mb file) works well on your computer, then your equipment is suitable for the distance learning version of this course. |
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Click here to play a movie illustrating the value of setting absolute cell references in Excel worksheets. |
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Click here to play a movie showing how to split a window in an Excel worksheet. |
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Click here to play a movie which shows how macros can be used to good effect in Excel to speed up tedious operations. |
Cost of courses
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Online learning via broadband
The most popular option is to take a course as an online learning student. Our online broadband learning courses features rapid enrolment, many multi media instructional movies, online forums, multi-choice reviews, questionnaires, submission of assignments, email support etc. This is an enhanced learning experience at an affordable price. Click one of the broadband online learning sites above and click on the blue information button to sample a course. Visit http://www.softwaretutor.designcad.com.au and enrol. The course cost is $AUD75.00 for >30 hours of high quality training. You can pay by PayPal which accepts direct deposit and credit cards and start immediately.
One-on-one training (Adelaide or Canberra - in our offices or yours).
We can provide face-to face training. Each course takes one day and costs $AUD550.00. We do require some information about what it is that you or your organisation hopes to achieve by training so that we can prepare appropriate materials in advance of the course.
Each participant in one-on-one full day courses is automatically enrolled at no extra cost in the broadband learning version of the matching course (at either softwaretutor.net or landscapetutor.net). This would normally cost an additional $75.00 per person. In this way, students get a double benefit - personal tuition and the ability to access any of the written instructional materials online, replay any of the demonstration movies, download sample files, log questions, take quizzes and submit assignments for review.
Printing materials
We continue our drive to reduce our carbon emissions by using digital delivery of course materials. If you do need to a paper print of part of the course notes (say to print the steps in an operation), we encourage you to print just the web page you are currently viewing rather than the whole module. This can usually be done through the preview option in the print facility of the browser you are using, and selecting print the current page. Another option is to press the Shift PrntSc key combination which puts a copy of what you are viewing onto the Windows clipboard. Then start your word processor Microsoft Word or WordPad (available in everyone's computer) and paste the clipboard contents into the page and print from Word or WordPad.
About our courses & methodology
Experience over many years has taught us that adults learn best by progressing through a course of study at their own pace and at times that suit them. Wherever possible, they like to learn by working on their own materials, rather than work through long unrelated practice exercises. Our courses are specifically designed so that this can occur. We introduce a topic, provide a movie showing you how to do the task with your software and then give detailed step-by-step instructions for you to follow.
About our courses & methodology
Experience over many years has taught us that adults learn best by progressing through a course of study at their own pace and at times that suit them. Wherever possible, they like to learn by working on their own materials, rather than work through long unrelated practice exercises. Our courses are specifically designed so that this can occur. We introduce a topic, provide a movie showing you how to do the task with your software and then give detailed step-by-step instructions for you to follow.
When you have finished this course
Please remember to build on your knowledge of Illustrator after you complete this course. We strongly recommend that Illustrator be used quite intensively after these early stages of learning. You will lose a lot if you let new-found skills ‘wither on the vine’. Practice is the key to learning sophisticated software. The key to success is to complete your first real project as soon as possible.
Philosophy
Here is a link to background material on the philosophy behind our course design.
Prerequisites
An understanding of basic computer operation including the ability to create, save and locate files. We would expect that you have used a computer with the Windows operating system for some time and perhaps developed reasonable facility with a word processor such as Microsoft Word. If you are unsure about your level of preparation, please take our free Basic Computer Skills course at http://www.softwaretutor.designcad.com.au
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Module |
Description |
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Spreadsheet Process |
Opening a workbook and using a spreadsheet to calculate the interest payable on a loan, varying the amount borrowed and the interest rate. Opening a workbook containing a list of class names - rearranging (sorting) a list of names. |
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Some Preliminaries |
Coping with different versions of Excel. Formatting diskettes and copying workbooks to disk for others to share. Installing Excel on your computer. Creating the right environment for Excel - tuning your computer. Excel and the Windows and Macintosh operating systems. |
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The Excel Interface |
The user interface (screen). The title bar, cells, cell identifiers, toolbars, naming sheets and saving workbooks. The editing box (or formula bar). The importance of the mouse pointer shapes. Adjusting row and column widths and heights. Selecting and copying cells. Splitting the screen and hiding rows and columns. Toolbars & tool tips. Manipulating toolbars. Formatting cells in a spreadsheet. Formatting numbers and text. Entering and correcting data. Inserting rows, columns, cells and comments. Inserting and deleting worksheets. Moving, copying and renaming worksheets. Selecting some or all worksheets. |
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Spreadsheet Fundamentals |
Some examples of tasks performed with Excel - financial analysis, medical research results, work attendance records, databases. Using existing spreadsheets and modifying data, viewing formulae, changing the display of lists and charts. Using the AutoSum feature. Printing a spreadsheet. Setting print zones and adding custom headers. Using the AutoFill feature and the Fill feature (which can insert series with incremental steps). Types of data - constant values and formulae. Cutting, pasting and copying. Sorting, zooming and charting. |
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Calculations |
Performing calculations with Excel. Entering formulae. Using operators in formulae. Using functions. Calculating an average. Displaying and printing formulae in a spreadsheet. Formula of constants. Formulae containing cell references. Operators and their order of calculation. Joining text. Logic operators. Locking cells. More Excel functions - minimum cost, average cost, total costs, number of costs and the count function. Error messages. |
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Relative and Absolute References |
A focus on using relative and absolute references skillfully in spreadsheets. Switching between relative and absolute references. Combining all your skills by building a payroll spreadsheet. |
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Databases |
Using Excel as a database. Tips for database design. Managing a stock list for a small business. Using AutoFilters to display only the required information. |
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Printing to PDF |
A bonus module. Installing a PDF writer in your computer. Testing its functionality by printing Excel spreadsheets to a PDF file (for distribution to others). |
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Running an Excel Macro |
When it becomes necessary to automate tasks in the Excel environment, we develop and run short program fragments called macros. We run a macro to show how selection of kitchen cabinetry might be automated. |
When you have finished this course
Please remember to build on your knowledge of Excel after you complete this course. We strongly recommend that Excel be used quite intensively after these early stages of learning. You will lose a lot if you let new-found skills ‘wither on the vine’. Practice is the key to learning sophisticated software. The key to success is to complete your first real project as soon as possible.