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This is the best Excel tutorial I have ever found. Even if you don't remember much about Excel, the following from this video allows me to basically get started

This is the best Excel tutorial I have ever found. Even if you don't remember much about Excel, the following from this video allows me to basically get started with any data very quickly: 1. Ctrl A : Select all the data 2. Insert table : This will allow you to be able to filter or sort on any column, provide a row for stats if you want, and will auto format and color the table. You can also choose to go to a pivot table easily from here.

Analemma_ 7y ago
Those two suggestions, plus “always work in R1C1 mode”, are enough to supercharge most inexperienced users of Excel. If you take nothing else away from Joel’s video, get those three.
- bitwize 7y ago
  R1C1? I haven't seen that actually used since Multiplan...
  - jasomill 7y ago
    A1? I haven't actually used that since 1-2-3… A1 users, please explain what the expression "$A$1 - A1" means in twenty-five words or less.
- e12e 7y ago
  Hm, so that's using integers for rows and columns, rather than integer/letter (a1 vs r1c1). Is there a way to do indirect/computed references? Because if not, I'm not sure I see how it's much better (saner/easier maybe..)? What's the elevator pitch for r1c1? https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/msoffice_excel-mso_mac/how-to-usecreate-formulas-in-r1c1-mode/f74759f0-725e-44ec-ba3a-abf1a747f603 https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/msoffice_... Ed: ok, apparently the video starts with r1c1 - so I guess I've found my elevator pitch...
  - iudqnolq 7y ago
    In one sentence: Excel seems magic because when you copy and paste cells the references change to still work, but you can understand in less than a minute exactly how and why that happens if you learn R1C1. In two more sentences: Specifically if you're in cell A1 and you enter =B1 what is actually stored is =RC[1] (same row, one column more relative to this cell). So if you copy that into cell H50 it will still be RC[1] and now evaluate to I50.
CraigRood 7y ago
CTRL-T creates the table against the selected data.
- enitihas 7y ago
  Just tried this, and I think this will be my number 1 recommended shortcut to every Excel user. Thanks

Analemma_ 7y ago

Those two suggestions, plus “always work in R1C1 mode”, are enough to supercharge most inexperienced users of Excel. If you take nothing else away from Joel’s video, get those three.

bitwize 7y ago
R1C1? I haven't seen that actually used since Multiplan...
- jasomill 7y ago
  A1? I haven't actually used that since 1-2-3… A1 users, please explain what the expression "$A$1 - A1" means in twenty-five words or less.
e12e 7y ago
Hm, so that's using integers for rows and columns, rather than integer/letter (a1 vs r1c1). Is there a way to do indirect/computed references? Because if not, I'm not sure I see how it's much better (saner/easier maybe..)? What's the elevator pitch for r1c1? https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/msoffice_excel-mso_mac/how-to-usecreate-formulas-in-r1c1-mode/f74759f0-725e-44ec-ba3a-abf1a747f603 https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/msoffice_... Ed: ok, apparently the video starts with r1c1 - so I guess I've found my elevator pitch...
- iudqnolq 7y ago
  In one sentence: Excel seems magic because when you copy and paste cells the references change to still work, but you can understand in less than a minute exactly how and why that happens if you learn R1C1. In two more sentences: Specifically if you're in cell A1 and you enter =B1 what is actually stored is =RC[1] (same row, one column more relative to this cell). So if you copy that into cell H50 it will still be RC[1] and now evaluate to I50.

CraigRood 7y ago

CTRL-T creates the table against the selected data.

enitihas 7y ago
Just tried this, and I think this will be my number 1 recommended shortcut to every Excel user. Thanks