For the user unfamiliar with the application, Microsoft Excel often seems to be a daunting proposition with no obvious practical functions that cannot be recreated using other Microsoft tools such as Word. A little time invested in learning the ins and outs of Excel will, however, enable the user to discover a wide range of useful tools, functions and operations offering practical solutions to diverse, everyday problems.

A basic understanding of Excel will prove to be extremely beneficial whether at home, at work, at school or at university. These benefits will prove to be more than worth the effort expended in acquiring a working knowledge of this powerful software.

Excel is an application that allows the user to create and edit spreadsheets containing either numeric, alphabetic or alphanumeric data. Whilst the ability to build simple data tables is not a unique feature to Excel, it is specifically designed for this purpose, making it a formidable tool that is both flexible and efficient compared to the alternatives.

Where Excel really begins to demonstrate its effectiveness is the ease with which it facilitates the collation, manipulation, analysis and presentation of data.

A variety of convenient and time saving features await discovery by the user, who will soon learn to appreciate their usefulness and put the newly found knowledge confidently into practice. The appearance of cells, entire columns and or rows containing data can be easily customised, changing not only the font, borders and background colour but also the format of data such as currency, decimal places or negative values along with a whole host of other options.

Simple calculations can be performed with a single click of a button using preset formulas, allowing data in a range of cells to be added, subtracted, multiplied or divided. Columns can be sorted by header in either ascending or descending order. The find function allows the user to easily locate information within the spreadsheet and replace this if necessary.

Graphical representations of data can be quickly produced and then integrated within the worksheet or spreadsheet by using the chart wizard.

An Excel training course is an excellent means for the novice user to gain a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of the program and to familiarise themselves with the associated terminology.

Having mastered the creation of new workbooks and spreadsheets, Excel training courses allow the user to explore the hidden abilities of Excel, to start to draw on its potential and give them the confidence and desire to take their knowledge of the software to another level.