Basic Excel Training for Beginners: Excel Foundation Course

What is Excel?
Discover what Microsoft Excel is, its real-world applications, and why it’s essential for data management. 

 Master Excel’s interface to create, save, and organize workbooks efficiently. 

•  Navigating the Excel Ribbon, Quick Access Toolbar, and Mini Toolbar.
• Creating your first workbook for budgets, lists, or reports.
• Understanding Excel’s role in personal and professional tasks.

 How to Customize Excel
Adjust Excel’s layout, themes, and settings to suit your workflow. 

Save time with a workspace tailored to your needs. 

•  Adding/removing tools from the Ribbon and Quick Access Toolbar.
• Setting default fonts, auto-save intervals, and formula calculations.
• Exploring Excel Options for advanced preferences.

 What Are Excel Shortcuts?
Learn keyboard commands to work faster in Excel. 

 Cut repetitive tasks and focus on critical work. 

•  Essential shortcuts: Copy (Ctrl+C), Paste (Ctrl+V), Undo (Ctrl+Z).
• Navigation shortcuts (Ctrl+Arrow Keys, Ctrl+Home) and more.
• Using a printable shortcut cheat sheet for quick reference.

Excel Structure Basics
Understand how Excel organizes data into worksheets, rows, and columns. 

 Avoid errors by organizing data correctly from the start. 

•  Adding, renaming, and managing worksheets.
• Adjusting row heights and column widths.
• Formatting text, numbers, and dates accurately.

 What Are Excel Design Principles?
Learn to structure data for readability and efficiency. 

 Create spreadsheets that are easy to update and share. 

•  Organizing data with headers and color coding.
• Using tables and cell styles for consistency.
• Avoiding common design mistakes (e.g., merged cells).

 What Are Excel Operators?
Use +, -, *, /, and % for basic calculations. 

 Automate tasks like budgeting or inventory tracking. 

•  Building formulas for addition, subtraction, and percentages.
• Using IF statements for decision-making.
• Fixing formula errors (#VALUE!, #DIV/0!).

 How to Format Data in Excel
Turn raw data into polished reports with formatting tools. 

 Improve readability and highlight key insights. 

•  Formatting cells (currency, dates, conditional formatting).
• Hiding/unhiding rows, columns, and sheets.
• Removing duplicates for clean datasets.

 How to Manage Data in Excel
Master techniques to duplicate, move, and link data. 

 Automate updates and reduce manual work. 

•  Using Paste Special for formulas, values, and formats.
• Linking data between sheets for dynamic reports.
• Transposing rows into columns.

 How to Secure Excel Workbooks
Prevent unauthorized access or edits to sensitive data. 

 Safeguard financial reports, client data, or proprietary information. 

•  Password-protecting workbooks and sheets.
• Locking specific cells or formulas.
• Recovering lost passwords (if possible).

How to Print Excel Sheets
Configure settings for polished, branded reports. 

 Avoid wasted paper and deliver client-ready documents. 

•  Adding logos to headers/footers.
• Adjusting margins, orientation, and page breaks.
• Printing gridlines and headings for clarity.

 What is Paste Special in Excel?
Go beyond basic copy-paste with advanced operations. 

 Save time on complex tasks like data transformation. 

•  Pasting values without formulas.
• Transposing rows/columns.
• Skipping blanks during pasting.

 How to Apply Excel Skills
Design a complete workbook (e.g., budget, inventory tracker). 

 Showcase your skills with a portfolio-ready template. 

•  Linking data across multiple sheets.
• Protecting and printing your final workbook.
• Receiving a course completion certificate.