Excel Learning Path
This Excel Learning Path supports GW faculty, staff, and students who use Microsoft Excel and guides you how to use it within Microsoft 365. Follow this learning path in the order of the modules or choose topics to review.
Excel is a program for creating and editing electronic worksheets. Excel’s features include adding, editing, and formatting data, creating tables and charts and visualizing data trends.
NOTE: Prior to storing data in Excel, please refer to the GW’s Information Storage Guide. If you have questions on data categorization and security, contact the IT Support Center at [email protected].
Get to Know Excel
PC/Mac Differences Between Using a Workbook in the Browser and in Excel
This document defines the differences and limitations of Excel for the web compared to the Desktop versions
Create a Basic Excel Workbook
An Excel workbook is an Excel file that contains one or more worksheets.
NOTE: To get assistance logging into GW’s LinkedIn Learning contact the IT Support Center at [email protected].
PC: Learning Excel Desktop (video, 1h 16m)
Mac: Excel for Mac Essential Training (video, 4h, 36m)
Web: Excel Online Quick Start Guide
PC/Mac: Excel Training: Basic Tasks
Web: Available Number Formats in Excel Online
Use Formulas and Functions
The power of Excel comes in its ability to quickly and efficiently perform calculations. Learn how to write formulas or use Excel functions to perform these calculations.
PC and Mac: Overview of Formulas in Excel
PC and Mac: Excel Functions by Category
Format Your Worksheet
Use Excel’s formatting capabilities to make your worksheets easier to read, understand, and visually more interesting.
PC and Mac: Ways to Format a Worksheet
PC and Mac: Format Numbers in a Worksheet
Web: Format Numbers in Excel Online
Optimize your Excel Files for Accessibility Using Excel Features
An online document or tool is accessible when it can be easily understood by everyone, regardless of what browser or adaptive equipment he or she is using.
PC, Mac and Web: Use the Accessibility Checker to Find Accessibility Issues
Make your Excel Documents Accessible to People with Disabilities
PC, Mac, and Web: Improve accessibility with the Accessibility Checker
Ensuring your Excel Documents Meet GW Accessibility Guidelines
GW Information Storage Guidance
Prior to storing data in OneDrive, please refer to the GW’s Information Storage Guide. If you have questions on data categorization and security, contact the IT Support Center at [email protected].
Excel’s data management capabilities allow you to import data from external sources, sort and filter data, apply data validation rules, analyze data, and create reports and pivot tables.
NOTE: To get assistance logging into GW’s LinkedIn Learning contact the IT Support Center at [email protected].
Manage Your Data in Excel
PC/Mac: Overview of Excel Tables
PC/Mac/Web: Create and Format Tables (video, 30s)
PC/Mac/Web: Sort Data in a Table (video, 1m 2s)
PC/Mac/Web: Create a PivotTable to Analyze Worksheet Data (video, 45s)
Import Data from External Sources
PC/Mac: Tutorial: Import Data into Excel, and Create a Data Model
PC: Import Data into Excel (video, 4m 15s)
Mac: Importing Data from Comma-Separated Value (CSV) or Text Files (video, 3m 53s)
Locating Data in Excel with VLOOKUP
PC: Exploring VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP Functions (Video, 3m 41s)
PC: Finding Approximate Matches with VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP (Video, 5m 2s)
PC: Using VLOOKUP to Find Exact Matches and Search Large Tables (Video, 5m 5s)
Mac: Look Up Information with VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP (Video, 4m 25s)
Mac: Finding Approximate Matches with VLOOKUP (Video, 8m 30s)
Mac: Finding Exact Matches with VLOOKUP (Video, 6m 17s)
Mac: Using VLOOKUP with Large Tables (Video, 3m 13s)
Sort and Filter Your Excel Data
Excel’s sort and filter functions are useful when working with large amounts of data by allowing you to select and work with a subset of your data.
PC/Mac: Quick Start: Sort Data in an Excel Worksheet
PC/Mac/Web: Sort Data in a Table (video, 1m 2s)
PC/Mac/Web: Create and Format Tables (video, 30s)
Apply Data Validation Rules to Your Data
Data validation allows you to define what type of data should be entered into a cell and to prevent invalid data from being entered.
PC/Mac: Apply Data Validation to Cells
Analyze Data with Excel
Excel’s data analysis tools allow you to perform simple to very complex data analysis.
PC/Mac: Analyze Your Data Instantly
PC/Mac: Use the Analysis ToolPak to Perform Complex Data Analysis
Explore Excel's Data Visualization Tools
Excel’s data visualization tools, which includes tables, charts, and pivot tables will help you understand the significance of your data by placing it in a visual context.
PC/Mac: Create a Chart from Start to Finish (video, 2 m 21 s)
PC/Mac: Create a PivotTable to Analyze Worksheet Data
Web: Add a Chart in Excel Online Not all chart types are available in Excel Online.
PC: Copy and Link Charts with Word and PowerPoint (video, 3m 43s)
Mac: Copy and Link Charts with Word and PowerPoint (video, 6m 4s)
Microsoft 365 allows you to share Excel files with others to view as well as to collaborate on common documents. Get acquainted with some options for sharing and collaborating with others on Excel files.
Share Files Created in Microsoft 365
PC/Mac: Share Your Excel Workbook with Others
This resource applies to PC/Mac versions of Excel. Choose from Windows (PC) or Mac.
PC/Mac: See Files Shared with You in OneDrive
Collaborate on Files Created in Microsoft 365
PC/Mac: Collaborate on Excel Workbooks at the Same Time with Co-authoring
