OT: Becoming a Microsoft Office power user question

[HuskyNan]

Power user or highly advanced, whatever the current terminology is. I'm a financial analyst and have been using Excel for years but after an introductory class decades ago, I'm mostly self-taught, learning functions as the need arose. Recruiters have told me I'm advanced Excel user because I can do most of the functions and pivot tables, etc but there are still some gaps in the things I know. When I trained a new employee a couple months ago, he kept showing me shortcuts that I knew nothing about so I figure I want to take a class to fill in the gaps and brush up on things I haven't done in ages (macros) and learn whatever is out there that I don't even know about.

Classes run about $300. If I start with an advanced class, I'm going to miss all those nifty tricks taught in the beginners' classes but if I have to sit through an 8 hour training learning where cell AE2350 is and how to add it to cell GC1592, I'll go brain dead. Another problem is that I also need to fill in the knowledge gaps for PowerPoint (ugh) and learning how to use Access is on the agenda, too. If I do the $300 class thing, I could end up in the poor house.

There are a zillion online tutorials but, again, I don't know what it is I need to know so I could page through a zillion links looking for something... but I don't know what. I could buy one of those $129 online libraries and do the self-taught thing but am not sure how useful those are.

With all the people here I figure someone must have been through this process, or something similar. Advice is gratefully received.

 

[MarlboroughMike]

For shortcuts, I think 220 are listed a laminated card for around $10. The card can be found on Amazon or Exceljet sites. I think a search on Amazon using the following will get you to the card. Also I believe Microsoft press puts out a series of Excel books for CPAs and accountants - don't know how useful they would be for you. Can also be found on Amazon - search for Excel for CPA.

Search for shortcuts card:
Microsoft Excel Laminated Shortcut Card - Over 200 Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows and Mac Side-by-side

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

I'd do the online tutorial since you are already experienced at using Excel. I'm with you; I couldn't imagine sitting through a class. I give all new hires an Excel test and most people barely score above 60.

 

[TDiNozzo]

YouTube? A lot of tutorials there.... I've been surprised what I find there.

 

[AdamOwe]

Power user <snip> and have been using Excel for years after a [brief introduction, largely self taught, capable]. Recruiters have told me I'm advanced Excel [but recently, new aquaintance showed me some serious tricks and I could use a refresher. Where to go, structured course, prefab kit, online?]

There are a zillion online tutorials...

I don't mean any disrespect by condensing your question, I did so to focus my response. My experience mirrors your except that I would begin with DOS and 123. Like you, I've always felt good about my level even while amongst IT professionals, but I also know there's a lot to learn.

Books help. Local library could be a good resource. In Flfd County, the Main Branch of the Fairfield Library is exceptional. They constantly upgrade w new books and the truth is that excel/office are mature subjects, older books are still useful. I like to search pdfs but I also like the feel of actual pages.

I recommend this author on all things excel/office John Walkenbach. He's on [amazon].

When I learned VBA I used a book by him: Excel VBA Programming For Dummies(2004) isbn10: 0764574124 It's available on Amazon in a used [softcover] for .01 + 3.99 shipping. Get it if you don't use VBA now. Good, low-cost investment.

As far as video courses go, there are so many choices. I've used them for years and I think they are valuable, but I have also started a few that I thought well of but never finished. It's hard to find that combination of suitability and interest. As it happens, a month ago, I ran into a course that I watched start to finish and I must have picked up an emmersion bump, because everything I did in the next couple of weeks, just felt better.

Excel Workshop: Building a Dynamic Heat Map with Chris Dutton

It's on lynda.com, you can preview it [here].

Out of all the possible online cbt suitors, I like lynda the best, almost to exclusion. I've been impressed with instructor Dennis Taylor for general brushing-up but the course by Dutton had an uplifting quality to it. Lynda is a subscription service at 25/mo. There's a 10 day free trial from the home page. If you go the online route and you check out Lynda.com, do look into the "heatmap" workshop.

Good luck with it!

 

[UcMiami]

The advantage with classes is the investment and time commitment that forces less organized people to actually focus on learning. From the little I know of you you seem to be pretty organized and task oriented so I would think either books or on-line tutorials would work really well for you - and the advantage is that with your familiarity with the software already you can skip through the stuff you already know. Specific to short-cuts and tricks - on-line searches can usual get you to really good discussions of 'tricks' with any software you use frequently.

If you are just getting into database management and haven't been exposed to basic kinds of programming, you might find a course with the ability to actually interact and ask questions with another human to be beneficial - if you do have some exposure already to programming concepts and database manipulations then you would probably be fine with the tutorials/books route.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I have refused to read any of the above and I'm so happy I do not think I'm missing anything! Not that you all are not terrific, which you are.