If you have ever felt like you are working for Excel instead of Excel working for you , it is time to go prospecting. I recently got my hands on a PDF copy of David Ringstrom’s Exploring Microsoft Excel’s Hidden Treasures , and frankly, it has ruined the way I look at spreadsheets—in the best possible way.
Here is what Ringstrom argues (and proves): The Treasure Map: What’s Inside the PDF You won’t find a list of "Top 10 Keyboard Shortcuts" here (though those are included). Instead, Ringstrom digs into the psychological barriers that keep us from using better tools. Here are three "hidden treasures" from the book that I have already implemented:
Why the "File" tab is the most powerful button you’ve never clicked. If you have ever felt like you are
Beyond SUM and AVERAGE: Unlocking David Ringstrom’s Hidden Treasures in Excel
Download the PDF. Skip the chapters on Charts (we all know how to make a bar graph). Go straight to the "Data" and "Review" tab chapters. That is where the real gold is buried. Have you read Ringstrom’s guide? What is the one "hidden treasure" you use every day? Let me know in the comments below. Instead, Ringstrom digs into the psychological barriers that
But "fine" leaves money on the table. It wastes hours of repetitive clicking.
We all know the drill. You open Microsoft Excel, type your data into a neat grid, hit SUM at the bottom, maybe slap on a filter, and call it a day. For 80% of users, that is Excel. It works. It’s fine. Skip the chapters on Charts (we all know
David Ringstrom’s Exploring Microsoft Excel’s Hidden Treasures is not for beginners. It is for the "intermediate user" who knows just enough to be dangerous but wants to become the office Excel wizard.