Minimizing Data Entry in Excel (Completed)

Spreadsheet work can present what seems like unavoidable data entry tasks, but thankfully there are often ways to avoid or at least minimize drudgery. In this presentation author and Excel expert David H. Ringstrom, CPA, empowers you to work smarter rather than harder. You'll learn how to use AI in Excel to convert pictures or PDF into editable data, and to combine or separate data into columns. David will show how to use worksheet functions to transform text, as well as how to use the Text to Speech command to have Excel read your data entry aloud to you so that you can cross-check it efficiently back to the original source.

David H. Ringstrom, CPA, has more than 30 years of experience as a spreadsheet and accounting software consultant and speaker. He has presented over 2,500 live webinars and is the author or co-author of ten books, including “Microsoft 365 Excel All-in-One for Dummies”, “Microsoft 365 Excel for Dummies”, “Exploring Microsoft Excel’s Hidden Treasures”, and “QuickBooks Online for Dummies”.

In his webinars, David encourages questions throughout the presentation and demonstrates every technique twice: first on a PowerPoint slide with numbered steps and then live in Excel for Microsoft 365 for Windows. He highlights any differences in Excel 2024, 2021, or 2019 during the session and in his detailed handouts. Attendees also receive an Excel workbook containing most of the examples he uses, making it easy to follow along and apply the techniques later. David additionally supports Excel for Mac users by answering their follow-up questions via email.

Who Should Attend
Professionals seeking to use Microsoft Excel more effectively.

Topics Covered

• Transforming text by way of Excel’s UPPER, LOWER, PROPER, and TRIM functions
• Separating first/last names into two columns without using formulas or retyping
• Merging columns within an Excel worksheet together with Power Query
• Double-checking manual inputs easily by having Excel read numbers aloud to you
• Splitting text into multiple cells based up on a separator that you specify with the TEXTSPLIT function
• Adding totals and filters that automatically adjust based on which rows are visible
• Storing frequently used lists in Excel’s Custom Lists feature
• Extracting targeted segments of text with the LEFT, MID, and RIGHT functions
• Using Text to Columns to quickly separate cities, states, and ZIP codes into separate columns
• Improving the user experience by adding input messages and custom error prompts to Data Validation drop-down lists
• Removing Table formatting or feature when no longer needed
• Merging text from two or more columns without using formulas or repetitive retyping with Flash Fill

Learning Objectives

• Recall the character that you place between a list that you type in the Source field of the Data Validation dialog box
• State which ribbon tab the Flash Fill command appears on in Excel
• Identify the Excel for Microsoft 365 function that enables you to separate text into two or more cells

Level
Basic

Instructional Method
Group: Internet-based

NASBA Field of Study
Computer Software & Applications (2 hours)

Program Prerequisites
None

Advance Preparation
None