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Excel learning path

Excel for everyday work

Work through thirty-four Excel tasks, from your first table to a sales dashboard. Start with files and data types, then try formulas, charts and Power Query. Each lesson gives you a small example, steps to follow, an exercise and results to compare. The data is made up for practice. Windows Power Pivot and desktop VBA lessons include notes for Mac and browser users.

34 practical lessons6 modulesBeginner to advanced
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Stored on this browser and device. Completion is your own checklist, not a certification.

What you’ll be able to do

  • Organize records and catch incorrect or missing inputs
  • Write formulas and check their references and results
  • Build PivotTables, charts and queries you can refresh
  • Create relationships and DAX measures in Windows Power Pivot
  • Write a small report macro with an error cleanup path
  • Hand over a readable workbook with clear totals and refresh notes

Follow the path in order or jump to a topic. The steps use English Microsoft 365 menus; each lesson explains relevant Mac and web differences. Copilot is an optional extra.

Files, workspace and data

Save and organize a workbook, keep types consistent and create a useful source table.

  1. Choose the right Excel file and edition

    Save an editable workbook and a separate CSV, then see what each file keeps.

    Beginner~20 min practice
    →

  2. Navigate the worksheet without losing your place

    Jump to cells, read the formula bar and move between sheets.

    Beginner~20 min practice
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  3. Manage worksheets and cross-sheet references

    Build a monthly summary and keep original and scenario sheets separate.

    Beginner~20 min practice
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  4. Recognize numbers, text and dates

    Keep identifier zeros, convert text amounts and build dates with DATE.

    Beginner~20 min practice
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  5. Design a table that analysis can trust

    Turn a month-by-month matrix into a table you can filter and extend.

    Beginner~20 min practice
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  6. Keep headers visible and organize rows safely

    Keep headers and item codes visible while scrolling.

    Beginner~20 min practice
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  7. Format numbers without changing their meaning

    Format a budget and see why displayed decimals differ from stored values.

    Beginner~20 min practice
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  8. Copy formulas and paste values

    Fill line totals down and make a fixed upload copy.

    Beginner~20 min practice
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Formulas, lookups and error checks

Calculate results, look up values and find the cause of a formula error.

  1. Build formulas with reliable references

    Use relative, absolute and mixed references in an order sheet and a price grid.

    Intermediate~25 min practice
    →

  2. Add up sales with SUMIFS

    Total sales by region, reuse the formula and add a minimum-sale condition.

    Intermediate~30 min practice
    →

  3. Look up products and build a dynamic result list

    Find a product price and return a list of products above a price threshold.

    Intermediate~25 min practice
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  4. Diagnose formula errors before hiding them

    Find the cause of a formula error and handle a zero plan separately.

    Intermediate~25 min practice
    →

Clean records and guide entry

Sort, filter, validate and reshape a list while keeping its records together.

  1. Sort complete records using multiple keys

    Sort by team and amount while keeping each request row together.

    Intermediate~25 min practice
    →

  2. Filter a list and calculate visible totals

    Show a subset of requests and calculate the visible total.

    Intermediate~25 min practice
    →

  3. Control inputs with validation and audit checks

    Add region and quantity rules, then check pasted records with a formula.

    Intermediate~25 min practice
    →

  4. Split and clean a delimited import

    Split a pipe-delimited list without breaking names or losing identifier zeros.

    Intermediate~25 min practice
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  5. Remove true duplicates and build separate subtotals

    Remove a repeated request while keeping legitimate requests with equal amounts.

    Intermediate~30 min practice
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  6. Tables and basic data cleaning

    Clean a weekly sales export and explain the change in its total.

    Beginner~30 min practice
    →

  7. Highlight exceptions with a clear rule

    Highlight overdue tasks and add a text label for the same condition.

    Intermediate~30 min practice
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Summaries, charts and analysis

Answer a question with a PivotTable, chart, query or small scenario model.

  1. Summarize sales with a PivotTable

    Compare regional sales and break the totals down by month.

    Intermediate~35 min practice
    →

  2. Connect a PivotChart to a focused sales question

    Chart monthly totals and show which region is selected.

    Intermediate~30 min practice
    →

  3. Choose a chart that answers one question

    Choose a simple chart, label the units and keep its scale honest.

    Intermediate~30 min practice
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  4. Clean sales with Power Query and add model measures

    Refresh a cleaning query, then calculate DAX measures in Windows Power Pivot.

    Advanced~60 min practice
    →

  5. Test scenarios with Goal Seek and Solver

    Find a target input, compare prices and solve a small product mix.

    Advanced~55 min practice
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Automation, protection and handover

Try desktop VBA and prepare workbooks for a colleague or a printed report.

  1. Build a small report with VBA

    Read a recorded action, run a report macro and test its cleanup path.

    Advanced~55 min practice
    →

  2. Protect formulas and prepare a clear handover

    Leave quantity inputs editable and protect the calculation cells.

    Intermediate~30 min practice
    →

  3. Prepare a workbook for print and PDF

    Set the print area and inspect the PDF the recipient will read.

    Intermediate~30 min practice
    →

  4. Compare formula designs without losing records

    Check source coverage and use a fair calculation comparison.

    Intermediate~30 min practice
    →

Projects and next steps

Build a dashboard, diagnose a problem and choose the next skill for your work.

  1. Find why a total is wrong

    Separate a text amount from a missing row and fix them one at a time.

    Intermediate~30 min practice
    →

  2. Build a small shortcut routine that preserves accuracy

    Practice five keyboard actions and check their effect on the sheet.

    Beginner~30 min practice
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  3. Make a calculation readable with LET and LAMBDA

    Make a row calculation easier to read with LET and reuse it with LAMBDA.

    Advanced~40 min practice
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  4. Build a checked sales dashboard from source to handover

    Build a dashboard and check every summary against its source.

    Intermediate~60 min practice
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  5. Choose your next Excel task

    Compare a formula and a PivotTable, then choose what to learn next.

    Beginner~30 min practice
    →

  6. Choose functions and check their assumptions

    Compare counts, averages, workdays and repayment signs with small examples.

    Intermediate~40 min practice
    →