Diploma in

Excel
Starter Pack
 Module 1
Lesson 1: Setting the stage
Lesson 2: The blank canvas
Lesson 3: Sheets, tables and things
Lesson 4: Keep organised
Lesson 5: The code of conduct
Lesson 6: Lights, camera, action!
Lesson 7: Getting into shape
Lesson 8: Keep it clean
Lesson 9: Creating footprints
Lesson 10: A helping hand

Module 2
Lesson 1: Prelude to pivots
Lesson 2: Tempting tables
Lesson 3: Fancy formulas
Lesson 4: Pretty protected
Lesson 5: Pivot progression
Lesson 6: What’s in a name
Lesson 7: Up the ante
Lesson 8: Unleash the creativity

Excel Module 3
Lesson 1: Delectable data

Course Outline Lesson 2: Funky formulas

Lesson 3: Nifty nesting
In this course you can expect Lesson 4: But what if?
4 modules comprising the Lesson 5: Fun with formatting
following: Lesson 6: Perfecting pivots
Lesson 7: The road less travelled
Each module consists of:
Lesson 8: Mighty macros
• 8/10 lessons
• 4/5 practice assignments Module 4
• 1 module assignment
Lesson 1: Formula feats
• Webinar slides
Lesson 2: Crafty controls
• Summary notes
• Bonus lessons Lesson 3: Paramount pivots
Lesson 4: Dazzling dashboards
Lesson 5: Delving deeper into data
Lesson 6: Magical macros
Lesson 7: Very basics of VBA
Lesson 8: Encore - VBA
 1. Use templates
If you do not feel creative or you are under time pressure, utilise the templates
available in Excel. There are thousands of predesigned templates available for you
to search and download.

2. Apply consistency
Choose one or two fonts to distinguish between headings and the contents of
your data. Apply these fonts consistently throughout the workbook. When using
colours, dark text on a light background is often easier for users to read.

3. Remove gridlines
To create the professional appearance, remove the gridlines on the View tab in the
Show group. Instead of utilising your format tools and filling your cells with white
makes the size of your workbooks unnecessarily large, so removing the gridlines
is more efficient and effective.

4. Add a logo
If you are creating a spreadsheet for work or even for your own business, consider
adding in a logo for that professional touch and branding.
Excel
5. Naming
Top tips To keep organised, label your worksheets as well as your workbooks. Apply
consistency when naming for ease of reference.

Top tips for working efficiently

6. Align visuals
in Excel and creating easy- When adding in multiple charts, check their alignment with reference to each
to-read, visually appealing other in the print preview pane. Ensure they start in the same row and keep the
spreadsheets dimensions proportionate.

7. Do not hard code

When working with dependent variables, avoid manually entering the numbers.
As far as possible, link data to an input sheet and make use of formulas, making it
easy for a reviewer to follow your thought process and for you to easily trace the
source of the numbers should you need to refer to the workbook at a later date.

8. Use keyboard shortcuts

To save you some time in excel, instead of navigating with your mouse you can
make use of some handy shortcuts that have proven to be quite effective.
 Here you can find the A – Z of the control keyboard shortcuts in Excel 365 for
ease of reference:

Shortcut Action
Ctrl + A Select all

Ctrl + B Bold

Ctrl + C Copy

Ctrl + D Copies the data from the cell immediately above the active cell

Ctrl + E Flash fill data if there is a pattern

Ctrl + F Find

Ctrl + G Go to

Ctrl + H Find and replace

Ctrl + I Italics

Ctrl + K Insert a hyperlink

Excel Ctrl + L Create a table (same as Ctrl + T)

Ctrl + N Create a new workbook

Shortcuts Ctrl + O Open an existing workbook

Ctrl + P Print

Ctrl + Q Brings up the quick analysis commands within a table

Ctrl + R Copies the data from the cell immediately to the left of the active cell

Ctrl + S Save a workbook

Ctrl + T Create a table

Ctrl + U Underline

Ctrl + V Paste

Ctrl + W Close a workbook

Ctrl + X Cut

Ctrl + Y Redo an action

Ctrl + Z Undo an action