Common Excel Problems And Methods For Resolving

By Author: Ed Bolton
Total Articles: 17
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Microsoft Excel is an incredible piece of software. The same package that lets you create a simple table directly into a grid can also be used as a complex database, albeit one with a user-friendly interface.



However, you have to learn a lot in order to do the latter and, although generally intuitive, you will get stuck at various points in the learning process. The question is, how do you solve problems as and when they arise?



The good news is that problems can generally be subdivided into four distinct categories, and each can be resolved by taking a different approach:

Problems with an Excel function. These are the most basic queries; things like "how do I change the color of a cell?" The answers to these questions can be found in Excel's own help file. If you are struggling with performing a certain type of calculation, you should perform a simple web search and see what function is recommended for solving it. Then you can refer back to Excel's own help file
Problems with an Excel file. These can be more awkward. Let's say you are trying to ...
... create a chart and can't display the correct amount of data. The first port of call should always be a colleague because, although they may not know the solution, they may be able to act as a consultant and identify an alternative approach. If you need to solve a specific problem, you can either perform a web search to see what experts suggest or ask an expert for assistance yourself
Training. Again, you can either approach a colleague or a full-time expert on the worldwide web. I would not recommend trying to read a book! However, if you are attempting to learn Visual Basic, Excel itself can provide some assistance by allowing you to record macros. This means Excel can create the script you want by encoding your mouse clicks and keystrokes. Then you can train yourself in what the code means by stepping through the Visual Basic line-by-line. More details can be found by searching online
Creating a spreadsheet to solve a specific problem. If you're stuck on this but know what outcome you want to achieve then the best option is simply to do a search for Excel consulting, talk to a few, and contract their services. The business case is often clear cut for adopting such an approach

A good enterprise support package should be able to provide a single port of call for employees wrestling with all the above issues.



Perhaps the most important lesson of all is that Excel can do pretty much anything. The biggest barrier to using Excel effectively is a belief that it has to be slow and repetitive, simply because an employee has never seen it used in any other way. Unfortunately this "failure of imagination" is the most common problem encountered by Excel users. The good news is that the fact you've found this article means you aren't suffering from it. Hopefully the above advice will help you in your quest to improve your skills.



About the Author: Ed Bolton is the founder of Excel4Business, providers of Excel Consulting.