Course info

In this presentation, author and Excel expert David H. Ringstrom, CPA, will delve into a comprehensive exploration of Microsoft Excel's powerful text manipulation tools and functions. He'll cover a wide range of topics, from mastering the LEFT/MID/RIGHT functions for precise text extraction to transforming text case with the UPPER/LOWER/PROPER functions. Discover the time-saving capabilities of the new TEXTBEFORE/TEXTAFTER and TEXTSPLIT functions in Microsoft 365. Learn how to efficiently use unwanted characters by using the CLEAN and TRIM functions. Dive into the intricacies of the Text to Columns Feature, where you'll uncover techniques for handling addresses, dates, and names with ease. Additionally, explore advanced features like combining text with the CONCAT function and having Excel read text aloud to you by way of the Text to Speech Command. 

David is the author of “Microsoft Excel 365 for Dummies”, “Exploring Microsoft Excel’s Hidden Treasures”, and has written or co-authored six other books. He demonstrates every technique at least twice: first, on a PowerPoint slide with numbered steps, and second, in the subscription-based Excel for Microsoft 365. David draws your attention to any differences in Excel 2021, 2019 or 2016 during the presentation and in his detailed handouts. The handouts include an Excel workbook with most of the examples he uses during his demonstrations. 

Excel for Microsoft 365 is a subscription-based product that receives periodic feature updates. Conversely, perpetually licensed versions have year numbers in their names and do not receive any feature updates.

Who should attend:
Professionals seeking to use Microsoft Excel more effectively.

Topics typically covered: 

• Breaking names apart with the Text to Columns wizard. 
• Transforming dates and numbers into various formats without retyping by way of custom number formats. 
• Extracting data from pictures by way of the From Picture command. 
• Separating first/last names into two columns without using formulas or retyping. 
• Simplifying the Alt-E-S-V keyboard shortcut many users rely on to Paste Values. 
• Extracting targeted segments of text with the LEFT, MID, and RIGHT functions. 
• Using the CLEAN and TRIM functions to eliminate non-printing characters, such as tabs, carriage returns, and spaces. 
• Splitting text into multiple cells based up on a separator that you specify with the TEXTSPLIT function. 
• Navigating purposefully through worksheets by way of clickable hyperlinks. 
• Redacting portions of Social Security numbers by way of Excel’s TEXT worksheet function. 
• Fixing #N/A error values from mismatched number/text lookup types. 
• Transforming text by way of Excel’s UPPER, LOWER, PROPER, and TRIM functions.