Excel Learning Path

Microsoft Excel Logo

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 

What is Excel?

PC/Mac Differences Between Using a Workbook in the Browser and in Excel 

Web: Excel for the Web

This document defines the differences and limitations of Excel for the web compared to the Desktop versions 

PC: What’s New in Excel 

Web: What’s New in Excel for the Web 

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) 

PC: Create a New Workbook 

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 

Web: Overview of Formulas 

 

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 

Accessibility  at GW - Microsoft Documents 

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]

PC: Fetch Files on Your PC

PC: Save Documents Online

PC/Mac: Create a File and Save it to OneDrive for Business

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: Text Import Wizard

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)

Mac: Sort a List of Data

Mac: Filter a List of Data

 

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

Mac: Predict Data Trends

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

Web: Collaborate in Excel for the Web