Learn tips for optimizing many frequently occurring performance obstructions in Microsoft Excel. At the end of this course, you'll be able to articulate tactics for data validation, error checking and reporting. You learn the following:
Build Your Own Date with DATE
This online Excel course explores the DATE function. We walk through the function's syntax, illustrate how to use it through practical examples, and provide homework activities that allow you to work hands-on.
Concatenation Basics
This online Excel course digs into concatenation which is the joining of text strings. This Excel lesson reviews the CONCATENATE worksheet function and the concatenation operator. It provides hands-on exercises so you can work along.
Improve SUMIFS with CONCATENATE
In the previous chapters in this volume, we've only been able to get partial utility out of the SUMIFS function. This online Excel course demonstrates how to improve our SUMIFS formulas by using concatenation. This Excel lesson includes a sample Excel file so you can work hands-on.
Dynamic Headers
This online Excel course discusses the power of dynamic headers, and how they are a critical concept in recurring-use reporting workbooks. This Excel lesson includes a sample Excel file so you can work hands-on.
Horizontal Reports
Accountants often prepare reports that have a horizontal orientation, for example, when report values are placed into monthly columns. This online Excel course demonstrates how to build such reports and provides a sample Excel file so you can work along.
Mapping Tables
This online Excel course covers the concept of mapping tables and demonstrates how they are used to automate recurring-use reports. A common issue encountered by accountants is that the account names, such as Cash, are different than the report labels, such as Cash and Cash Equivalents. This lesson explores the mapping table, and illustrates how they solve this issue and provide Excel with the translation needed to automate the data flow.
Data Validation and Reporting
This online Excel course explores the utility of data validation when preparing and delivering digital reports. This Excel lesson demonstrates several ways to implement data validation into your reporting workbooks.
Improve Error Check
This online Excel course further improves the ErrorCk sheet originally discussed in Volume 1 Chapter 15. This Excel lesson demonstrates how to use Boolean values, comparison formulas, the logical AND function, and conditional formatting to build a reliable error check sheet.
Prerequisites
No Advanced Preparation or Prerequisites are needed for this course. However, it is recommended to take the other courses in the series prior to completing this one.
Learning Objective
- Articulate tactics for Excel data validation and reporting
- Improve error checking
- Implement concatenation basics
- Build your own Date with the Date function
Last updated/reviewed: July 16, 2025
(74) Reviews
(32 rating)
This was a good review of the Control Environment. It provided great explanations and examples.
The course did a nice job and explained important, relevant information in a manageable and easy-to- digest manner.
Excellent course i learned today about the best Wild, then you.com, and all other claude. I can see is a new world we are in and happy to be part of this transformational Journey. This course opened my eyes
Ethical issues are sometimes downrated, what is not correct. Great presentation.
Virginia ethics course, it's required for CPAs and this format works
I found the course to be very high level and basic. The content covered material that would be found in a principles or intermediate accounting class. The references to using manual or paper ledgers seems outdated.
Honestly, I got more out of watching Ted Talks and YouTube videos ...
I especially appreciated the David Foster Wallace commencement speech at the end.
This course provides some great information. The topics covered are very helpful as well.
Good material and overview of SAAS metrics. Sound was a little low could be increased but otherwise good
Helpful information about automating reports in Excel. Recommend.
Great deal of practical solutions to enhancing executive presence. Solid examples by the instructors.
The topics were discussed with excellent examples and concisely.
Very good information given in this course, and given in a way that was very informative, not too wordy, and easy to understand.
I loved the fact there was no instructor and I was able to work thru the material at my own pace with the excellent instructions and tools provided.
Another amazing course of the spreadsheet Jedi Lenny Wu. Thanks for sharing your valuable knowledge!
now that I WFH full time because of the pandemic, this was SO helpful!
It was great to review and/or learn anew these important topics.
Excellent way of presenting the course in an effective way
I really enjoyed this course, examples were practical and realistic.
The course is great for refreshing the skills in Pivot Tables. It is very informative and detailed. The presenter discusses the topic in a step-by-step procedure making it very clear and easy to understand.
Excellent course lead by an effective instructor. Great content.
The instructor makes the material easy to understand and remember.
Insightful commentary with real world, attainable, objectives
The hands-on application of regression analysis, though simplified, was helpful in understanding how to interpret the results
Helpful information on those pesky error messages that we tend to live with rather than fix.
Really helpful to see the side-by-side presentation with Formula based reports vs Pivot table reports
Good concepts, but he goes very fast when working in excel.
great overview. educational Bruce obviously speaks from experience.
The course was easy to read and understand which lead to passing the final exam.
Good discussion on recognizing revenue under the new revenue standard.
Lynn's slides were well designed and effective. She knows this topic well.
Appreciate the thorough review, especially the foray into graphics.
Comprehensive overview with detailed steps to a good fraud mitigation program. Instructor laid out what was to be covered and then covered it.
If I could have given 6 stars, it mightn't have been enough. He provided a very practical roadway to finance excellence. Great enthusiastic and knowledgeable presenter.
The text in the spreadsheet was too small to follow the instructor on a 17 inch monitor
The training was well organized and was probably the best Ethics course i have taken.
Excellent course!! Definitely one of the best offers for it value and how is explained each of these courses.
Lots of great ideas for someone who is good at Excel but wants guidance on automated dashboard reporting.
Awesome
Good information. Would like to have more detail on slides so that can use later when setting up spreadsheets.
Very informative.
Great and informative course! Thanks
Kind of slow moving
Nice
very good ideas for excel efficiency.
i like this format, i am able to stop, execute the steps or review the material over again. Thanks for putting this together. If you add a document with relevant links that might be a good add.
I would like to know what I got right and wrong on the exam.
Excellent!
Very Useful
Great, thorough explanations and examples
Quick guide to organise and stop distractions
Excellent course
A bit dry but did have some useful material.
Thank you!! Really useful info. I have not used Match/Index before but now find a lot of ways to use them in my spreadsheet.
It will be great to include all worksheets for all examples.
Mr. Turner demonstrated a comprehensive budgeting solution in Excel which could work well if it is monitored and managed carefully.
It was suggested that I take this course, but after completing it, I don't think I was the intended audience.
l like learn about this course and subject We will follow full courses for an intense love thank you very much
It would be better if the items were shown in motion (vs. the slide with numbers). Also the sound quality was a bit poor.
End of automating center across selection sound is the beginning, not what the screen is showng
Another excellent course from David Ringstrom.
This is a great course and a great speaker. There is so much to learn about Excel and this is one of many steps to get there.
Thanks a lot. I found it helpful and relevant.
It is hard to follow to what tabs are being referenced.
The course was excellent. It met my expectations.
Very informative
Expert instructor with excellent presentation flow and engaging style.
Excellent review material. Thoroughly explained and easily understood.
Once again Mr. Lenning provides clear understanding.
Every company out there should make the effort to do a Fraud Assessment as it is not a matter of IF Fraud will happen at your company - but when (or has it already happened?). Lynn provided a great background on what companies should do to get the ball rolling.
Great course and very relevant to email / org / management of time
Had a hard timing hearing this. It seemed as if the volume went in and out.
Very helpful.
Lesson Questions and Answers0 Questions
INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
Training
- Build Your Own Date with DATE 5:17
- Concatenation Basics 7:42
- Improve SUMIFS with CONCATENATE 9:59
- Dynamic Headers 6:44
- Horizontal Reports 4:40
- Mapping Tables 5:02
- Data Validation and Reporting 7:19
- Improve Error Check 9:57
- Concepts Used 4:58
CONTINUOUS PLAY
SUPPORTING MATERIALS
REVIEW & TEST
- REVIEW QUESTIONS quiz
- FINAL EXAM exam
Ask the instructor a question about this lesson