Home Archives for What-if Analysis
March 20, 2013 4 Comments

2.9 Million Views for My YouTube Channel – DannyRocksExcels

2.9 million viewsThis morning, I passed the 2.9 Million views milestone for my DannyRocksExcel’s YouTube Channel!

Thank you to all who have supported my Excel tutorials since I began posting them in August, 2008.

Top 10 Excel YouTube Videos Year-to-Date in 2013

Here are the Top 10 Videos that have been viewed so far (January 1 – March 21) in 2013. Click on the hyperlink to watch the video(s) on YouTube:

  1. How to Create an Interactive Pivot Table Chart – 65,095 Lifetime views
  2. How to Use Advanced Filters in Excel – 84,557 Lifetime views
  3. How to Add a Check Box Control to an Excel Form – 87,327 Lifetime views
  4. Compare 2 Excel Lists to Spot the Differences – 84,325 Lifetime Views
  5. Use Excel’s Built-in Data Form to Edit & Filter Records – 65,325 Lifetime views
  6. Use the Solver Tool in Excel – 46,035 Lifetime views
  7. How to Use an Excel Data Table for “What-if” Analysis – 72,694 Lifetime views
  8. How to Merge Multiple Excel Workbooks to a Master Budget – 104,376 Lifetime views
  9. How to Create a Summary Report from an Excel Table – 38,502 Lifetime views
  10. Import Excel Data into Microsoft Access – 54,601 Lifetime views

Quickly Improve Your Excel Skills

I have created many Video Tutorial Packages that I offer for sale at my secure online shopping website – http://shop.thecompanyrocks.com I invite you to visit and preview my training resources for MS Excel and the other programs in the Microsoft Office Suite.

The “Special Bundles” of videos are very attractively priced!

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Access Tips and Timesavers, Conditional Formatting, Excel Data Tables and Lists, Excel Forms, Excel Training, Most Viewed Excel Videos, Pivot Tables, What-if Analysis, Work with Multiple Worksheets, YouTube Videos by Danny Rocks Tagged: , , , , , , ,
September 20, 2012 Leave a Comment

Instructional Guide “9 Essential Excel 2010 Skills” – Download for Free

Instructional Guide "9 Essential Excel 2010 Skills"

Instructional Guide “9 Essential Excel 2010 Skills”

I want you to discover the scope of the Excel Training that I offer on my new video tutorial, “9 Essential Excel 2010 Skills.” So, I am offering the PDF of the Step-by-Step Instructional Guide that accompanies the video tutorial.

Link to The Company Rocks Free Resources Page

Click on this link to begin the download process for the Instructional Guide.

Instructions for Downloading the Free Instructional Guide

  1. Add this product to your secure shopping cart at my website.
  2. During Checkout, you can choose to either Register or Shop as a Guest
  3. You will need to provide a valid email address in order to receive the actual link to download my Instructional Guide.
  4. Even though you will be downloading this product, I had to set it up as a physical product with “Free Shipping.”
  5. Shortly after you complete the checkout process you will receive an email that contains a hyperlink to the file that you will download.
  6. You will be downloading a “zipped” file. So, once the download is completed, be sure to “unzip” this file!
  7. I created my Instructional Guide using the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Read the Instructional Guide and then Purchase my Video!

I am convinced that once you see the scope of the training in Excel 2010 that I offer, you will want to purchase the video tutorial. I offer my video in tow versions:

List of the “9 Essential Excel 2010 Skills”

9 Essential Skills for Excel 2010

9 Essential Skills for Excel 2010 Video Tutorial

These are the 9 Essential Skills that I have identified for my video tutorial:

  1. Entering Data Efficiently in Excel 2010
  2. Selecting Cell Ranges Efficiently in Excel 2010
  3. Creating and Using Named Cell Ranges in Excel 2010
  4. Applying Styles and Formatting to Excel 2010 Worksheets
  5. Working with Structured Data Sets in Excel 2010
  6. Working with Excel 2010 Formulas and Functions
  7. Using Paste Special Options in Excel 2010
  8. Using Data Validation in Excel 2010
  9. Using Excel 2010 “What-if” Analysis Tools

Excel 2010 Practice Files Included

When you purchase my video tutorial, you receive the same Excel 2010 Worksheets that I used while filming each of the 25 video tutorials. Using the same files as you view my videos, you will be able to practice your new skills. And, of course, you also receive the same Instructional Guide that I am offering for free!

I welcome your feedback! Please send me your comments via email – danny@thecompanyrocks.com – or by adding a comment below.

Thank you!

 

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Filed Under: COUNTIF and SUMIF Functions, Data Validation, Everyday Calculations in Excel, Excel Basics, Excel Data Tables and Lists, Excel Formulas, Excel Functions, Excel Training, Format Cells in Excel, Goal Seek in Excel, MS Excel Tips, MS Excel Training, Names for Cells and Ranges, New in Excel 2010, Online Store for The Company Rocks, Subtotals and Outlines in Excel, SUMIF and SUMIFS Functions, Video Training Courses, What-if Analysis Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
September 23, 2011 1 Comment

How to Use the Solver Add-in for Excel – Part 2

Solver Parameters

Solver Parameters

This is Part 2 of my series of video tutorials where I demonstrate how to use the SOLVER Add-in Tool in Excel to produce a specific result for a formula.  Remember that SOLVER is an Add-in program that you must activate before you can use it. Watch Part 1 in this series to learn how to activate SOLVER.

In this tutorial, I work with the same data set that I used in Part 1. This time, I want to achieve a specific amount of Gross Profit Sales Dollars. First, however, I must determine what is a reasonable amount to set as the Target for Solver to return.

Use SUMPRODUCT Function in Excel

I use the SUMPRODUCT Function to quickly determine my possible Revenue, Cost of Goods Sold and Gross Profit is I sell all of the Units that I have in stock. Now, I have a reasonable Target for SOLVER to reach. SUMPRODUCT is a very efficient Function that, unfortunately, very feel Excel users – in my experience – know about. Follow this link to my Index of Excel Video Lessons to find additional tutorials for SUMPRODUCT.

Best Practice Tips for Solver

  • Work with a copy of your worksheet. This is always a good idea, and it is most important when you are beginning to learn how to work with SOLVER.
  • Write out your Goal for SOLVER.
  • Do you want SOLVER to Maximize the Formula? For example, to Maximize your potential profit?
  • Do you want SOLVER to Minimize the Formula? For example, to Minimize your costs?
  • Do you want SOLVER to return a Specific Number? If so, what is that number?
  • Determine your “Variable Cells.” SOLVER calls them the “By Changing Cells.” These are the cells that SOLVER will automatically adjust.
  • The Variable Cells must “feed int” the formula in your Target Cell – This is the key to making SOLVER work!
  • Write out your “Constraints.” These are the “real-world” conditions that you want SOLVER to operate under. This is the real power in SOLVER.
  • Do not treat the SOLVER results as “the Gospel.” SOLVER is a powerful Business Intelligence Tool. You, however, know your own business or industry. Use SOLVER as a tool to help you to make informed business decisions.

 

Watch Part 1 in SOLVER Series of Video Tutorials

Watch Tutorial in High Definition

Follow this link to view this Excel Tutorial in High Definition on my YouTube Channel – DannyRocksExcels.

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How to Use Solver Add-in for Excel - Part 2 [ 11:48 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2137)
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Filed Under: Excel Financial Tools, Excel Functions, Excel Training, What-if Analysis, YouTube Videos by Danny Rocks Tagged: , , , , , , , ,
September 21, 2011 4 Comments

How to Use the SOLVER Tool in Excel to Produce the Optimal Result for a Formula

Key Points for SOLVER

SOLVER in Excel – Key Points

I am responding to a “flurry” of requests to produce an Excel Video Tutorial that demonstrates how to use the SOLVER TOOL in Excel. Here are the key points to remember when you want to use the SOLVER Tool:

Activate the SOLVER Tool

SOLVER is an “Add-in” tool that needs to be “activated” before you can use it. In Excel 2007 / 2010, you do this via Excel Options – Addi-Ins – Excel Options. In Excel 2003, you do this via the Tools Menu – Add-ins – Solver.

Prepare Data for Solver

In order to use the SOLVER Tool, you must:

  • Establish the “Target Cell.” This cell must contain a formula. This is the cell that you want to “optimize” by using SOLVER.
  • Determine the “By Changing” Cells. These are the cells that SOLVER will change in order to deliver the optimized result in the Target Cell. The “By Changing” cells MUST “Feed Into” the Target Cell.
  • Establish the CONSTRAINTS for SOLVER. This is the “key’ element that gives SOLVER its power. You can add as many constraints as needed. My recommendation is that you “write them out” before you start  to use the SOLVER Tool.

SOLVER is very powerful. However, you MUST “think it through” before you apply it. It will take lots of practice for you to understand how to properly set up your data to produce appropriate SOLVER results.

Part 2 in this Series of Tutorials for Solver in Excel

Here is the link to watch Part 2 in this Series of Tutorials about the SOLVER Add-in Tool in Excel

Download Excel Workbook for this Lesson

Follow this link to download the Excel Workbook that I used for this lesson. I store my uploaded Excel workbooks on my SkyDrive at www.office.live.com

View this Tutorial in High Definition

Click on this link to watch this Excel Tutorial in High definition / Full Screen Mode – on my YouTube Channel, DannyRocksExcels

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How to Use the Solver Tool in Excel [ 10:20 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1570)
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Filed Under: Download Files from Video Lessons, Excel Training, Most Viewed Excel Videos, Podcast Tips & Timesavers, What-if Analysis Tagged: , , , ,
November 29, 2010 1 Comment

My Most Viewed and Downloaded Videos for Excel and PowerPoint

My iTunes Podcast

Danny on iTunes

I began to post my videos as podcasts at the iTunes store this past summer. Since then, my video lessons for Excel and PowerPoint have been viewed and downloaded many times. I am thirlled. And, I thank you for your support and encouragement.

Here are the links – on my website – to the most popular video episodes. I have organized them by category in the order of their popularity. You can click on any link to view or download that video from my website. Or, you can go to my video Podcast by clicking on this link – “Danny Rocks Tips and Timesavers” Podcast on iTunes.

Merging and Consolidating Excel Worksheets

 PowerPoint Presentations

Data Visualizations

What-If Analysis in Excel

Importing Data From Other Programs

Pivot Tables

Excel Tables

Social Media

Formula Errors

Please add your comments below – or on my iTunes Channel. I welcome your feedback.

You can learn how to “Master Excel in Minutes – Not Months!”

Sincerely,

Danny Rocks

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Filed Under: Consolidate Excel Data, Excel Data Tables and Lists, Excel Functions, Excel Training, Goal Seek in Excel, Import Data into Excel, Integrating MS Office Programs, Most Viewed Excel Videos, MS Excel Training, New in Excel 2007, Pivot Tables, Podcast Tips & Timesavers, Powerpoint Techniques, Presentations, Public Speaking, What-if Analysis Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
October 10, 2010 1 Comment

Use an Excel Data Table to See Effect on Multiple Formulas

Excel Data Tables are part of the “What-if” Analysis group of tools and commands. In this lesson, I demonstrate how to use a one-input Data Table to show how substituting a series of inputs effects three separate formulas. This is a powerful – and easy – way to get answers to a series of “What-if” questions.

Data Table

2-Input Data Table

Two-Input Data Table

I know that as I learned how to construct Data Tables, it was a lot easier for me to “see” how to set them up rather than to “read about” how they are set up. You can put your series of substitute values in either the “Column running down” or the “row going across” in the data table. To include the three formulas in the Data Table, I simply included “Links” to the formulas in the original assumptions table.

Learn More About “What-if Analysis Tools in Excel

I have identified “What-if” Analysis as one of my “Nine Essential Skills for Excel.” You can learn more about my 4 hour video tutorial package by clicking on either of these links:

 

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Use an Excel Data Table to See Effect on Multiple Formulas [ 4:29 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (839)
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Filed Under: Excel Data Tables and Lists, Excel Formulas, Excel Training, Podcast Tips & Timesavers, What-if Analysis Tagged: , , , ,
September 14, 2010 Leave a Comment

How to Use an Excel Data Table for “What-if” Analysis

Excel has many tools that give you answers to “What-if” questions. An Excel Data Table allows you to feed a series of “substitute values” into two arguments in a formula. For example, with a Data Table you can:

  • See a table of monthly payments on a loan by substituting both the “Interest Rate” and the “Amount Borrowed” simultaneously.
  • See a table of “Net Payments” by changing both the “Sales Price” and the “Quantity” simultaneously.
  • See the amount that you “tip” a service professional by changing both the “Tip Percentage” and the “Food Total” simultaneously.

As you will see in this Excel Video Lesson, the trick is to understand which series of values are the “Row Inputs” and which series of substitute values are the “Column Inputs.”

Trust me on this: It is easier to “see” how to set up a Data Table than it is to “write a description” of a Data Table. So, I invite you to “see for yourself” how easy it is to set up an Excel Data Table and get answers to two simultaneous “What-if” questions!

Click here to see a Listing of “The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007.”

Learn how to “Master Excel in Minutes – Not Months!”

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How to Set up Excel Data Tables for "What-if" Analysis [ 6:43 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (617)
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Filed Under: Excel Formulas, Excel Functions, Excel Training, Podcast Tips & Timesavers, What-if Analysis Tagged: , , , , , , ,
July 28, 2010 3 Comments

Perform Break Even Analysis with Excel’s Goal Seek Tool

As a small business owner or investor, you ask many“what-if?” questions. In preparing to present your business plan to an investor you want to know your “break even” point. Fortunately, Excel has a great tool – Goal Seek – that can save you time by creating multiple scenarios to help you determine your goal – to break even!

You can watch this Excel Video Lesson here – online – or you can download it to watch later, at your convenience. I invite you to subscribe to my podcast, “Danny Rocks Tips and Timesavers” at the iTunes store by clicking this link – this is a free subscription.

Click here to see a listing of “The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007.”

Learn how you can “Master Excel in Minutes – Not Months!”

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Perform Break Even Analysis with Excel's Goal Seek Took [ 4:00 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1352)
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Filed Under: Excel Financial Tools, Excel Formulas, Excel Training, Goal Seek in Excel, Podcast Tips & Timesavers, Small Business, Tips and Time Savers, What-if Analysis Tagged: , , , , ,
July 9, 2010 Leave a Comment

Use Excel’s Goal Seek to Find Formula Error

A viewer wrote me seeking help with a formula. He was calculating a monthly payment for a loan using Excel’s PMT() Function and he was surprised at the result of the formula. I reviewed his formula and discovered that it was not a “formula problem.” Rather, it was a “results problem!” Watch this short video to see how I solved this problem for my viewer by using Excel’s “Goal Seek” tool. So now, instead of a monthly payment of $10,666.67, the result is $501.38 – a very different result!

You can download this video – for free – here on my website. Just click the button below the video image.

You can also subscribe to my Podcast, “Danny Rocks Tips and Timesavers” at the iTunes Store.

You can “Master Excel in Minutes – Not Months!”

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Use Goal Seek to Find Formula Error Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (755)
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Filed Under: Excel Formulas, Excel Functions, Excel Training, Goal Seek in Excel, Podcast Tips & Timesavers, What-if Analysis Tagged: , , , , , , ,
May 15, 2010 Leave a Comment

I Have Updated My Index of Excel Video Lessons

As part of the process of reorganizing my website, I have updated my “Index of Excel Video Lessons” page. The content of this page will be updated as I add each new Excel Video Training Lesson. So, I suggest that you click here to go to the Video Index and then save the page as one of your “Favorites” if you want to learn how to really get the most out of Excel or to find a quick answer when you are using Excel.

On the Index Page you can see an organized listing of my Excel Videos by Category – e.g. Formulas, Formatting, Pivot Tables “What-if” Analysis, etc. Each lesson is “hyperlinked” so that you can just click on the topic to go directly to the lesson that you are interested in.

I indicate in the title if the lesson is specific to Excel 2007.  All my new Excel video lessons are created using Excel 2007.

If there is a topic that you would like me to cover, send me an e-mail message – danny@thecompanyrocks.com

If you enjoy my video instruction, I encourage you to purchase my DVD, “The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007.” The DVD contains over 5 1/2 hours of Tips, Tricks & Techniques to help you to master the program – and to save a considerable amount of time while working in Excel! Click here to enter my secure shopping site.

Thank you for your support and encouragement!

Danny Rocks

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Filed Under: COUNTIF and SUMIF Functions, Everyday Calculations in Excel, Excel Basics, Excel Data Tables and Lists, Excel Date and Time Functions, Excel Financial Tools, Excel Formulas, Excel Functions, Excel Training, Import Data into Excel, Lookup Functions in Excel, MS Excel 2007 DVD, MS Excel Tips, MS Excel Training, Online Store for The Company Rocks, Pivot Tables, Text Functions, Tips and Time Savers, Training, Video Training Courses, What-if Analysis Tagged: , , ,
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