Over the years, the king of all spreadsheet programs has grown from a fairly simple calculator into an application with the ability to perform highly complex operations. The problem for most is figuring out where to start and how each of the functions can be used. Books are great reference tools if you already know what you're looking for, but Excel training courses are where you'll really grasp the full potential of Excel quickly. With the right instructional program, you can acquire a base foundation of knowledge with just one day of training.
Of course it takes more than one day of training to get a complete understanding of this powerful program. The most complex levels of Excel training begin to touch on basic programming. Those who think the spreadsheet is little more than a page of blank boxes are often surprised at the program's capabilities. In fact, much of the software that companies and individuals spend money on can be easily created and improved on, through greater control and customization, with a proficient level of training.
Perhaps the greatest impact Excel has in the office is that productivity among those with some sort of Excel training is noticeably higher than of those without. Those who utilize Excel in their daily activities, even for simple workflow tracking, reporting, or sales calculations, tend to do their jobs faster and more accurately. Consequently, the higher the level of Excel training a person possesses, the higher their level of productivity.
There seems to be a threshold of training after which individuals start becoming innovative and using Excel to create more sophisticated methods of tracking and reporting or to solve old inefficiencies that have become "the standard way of doing things." For example after several courses of Excel software training, one student found a way to save 20 or so hours off of the bi-annual publication of the company's 120 page business plan.
In the past, the company would manually change each number on static charts throughout the business plan. Often when one number was changed, countless other figures were affected. After learning about embedded tables in Excel program training, the employee developed a strategy where all numerical data was kept on a master data sheet that would automatically update the Word document when changed.
Many of today's managers require that new employees have some level of Excel training. If you're in the job market, computer training is a C.V. line item you'll want to obtain. Courses are fast, inexpensive and can drastically increase your opportunities. The London job market is fiercer today than ever and earning the position you desire means taking a proactive approach to skill building.
With 5 days of Excel program training courses, you can literally go from no knowledge of Excel to using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), creating pivot tables, creating forms and controls similar to the web, and using a broad range of expressions and formulas. Following the training, you'll be fully prepared to take the Excel portion of the Microsoft Office Specialist Certification, a powerful C.V. selling point.
With bulk course pricing, onsite or offsite training, e-learning or classroom learning, there has never been a better time to start training. Whether you're an employee looking for advancement or an employer striving for greater efficiency and accuracy in the workplace, Excel software training is a smart investment.
Microsoft Excel Advanced Training
Often it is not enough to take an introductory course. For most users of Microsoft Access, advanced training is mandatory and even that is no substitute for experience. Here are a few tips that even many experienced users don't know.
Database Design
Simply sitting down and planning their applications on paper before ever touching the computer could solve most of the problems people have when designing databases. Designing a large project on they fly while sitting at the keyboard is doomed to fail. You may spend hours trying to fix problems that ten minutes of planning could have avoided.
Never work on the production database. Work on a separate copy, the prototype, so that when you make a critical error (and we all do) you don't destroy all of the company's information. Only once the prototype is finished and well tested should it be put out live to other users. Some other pearls of wisdom from Microsoft Access advanced training to remember are to clearly understand all of your fields and relationships, choose naming convention for all elements and stick to them, never set up a database where users can edit fields directly, and always use forms.
Code Writing
Microsoft Access advanced training is where people learn to write SQL and VBA code. This gives them the ability to create powerful databases. It also gives them the ability to really mess things up. Document all code with comments. Don't document outside the application since those documents will inevitably be lost. Never write code with the idea that other developers or users will be able to come to you and ask what the code does. You may no longer be available, have moved on from a job or department, or just not have the time to explain.
Look at other people's code for inspiration. You can even use the code in your application if the author's usage guidelines allow it. Before using it, understand how it works. You will learn how to code better in the future and you will avoid unpleasant surprises.
Write custom error handlers so the users don't get unintelligible error message that will just confuse and frustrate them. Additionally, don't use SendKeys, Smart Codes, or GoTo. Very skilled database programmers may be able to make exceptions to this rule, but usually they just lead to bad code and future problems.
The Most Important Rule of All
You probably learned this in Microsoft Access advanced training. You may have learned it in introductory training and will most likely learn it again in the future. You may have even learned it the hard way when all of your data disappeared. It is the rule that even people who know better frequently violate: Keep regular backups!
Back up not only the production database but any prototypes you are working on. Backup your databases often and occasionally restore the backups to ensure they are working properly.
Both Christine Harrell & Rich Talbot are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Rich Talbot has sinced written about articles on various topics from Software, Data Recovery and Software. Author is a trainer with a Microsoft Office training company, the UK industry leader in its sector. For more information on http://www.MicrosoftTraining.net. Rich Talbot's top article generates over 165000 views. Bookmark Rich Talbot to your Favourites.
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