Home Archives for “What-if” Analysis in Excel
February 11, 2010 2 Comments

Video Tour My DVD – The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007

I invite you to join me on a four minute, seven second video tour of my new instructional DVD, “The 50 Best Tips, Tricks & Techniques for Excel 2007.”

This DVD is different. If you want to learn Excel and you are pressed for time (and who isn’t these days?) this is the DVD for you. I give you over 5 1/2 hours of focused video instruction. The average length of each video lesson is 6 1/2 minutes! So you can find the topic that you want, learn it, and put it into practice at home or at work in under 10 minutes!

As a bonus, I include the 50 Excel worksheets that I used to create and film the video lessons. Now you can practice the tips to master your new Excel skills!

Follow this link if  you want to see the complete list of the 50 video lessons on my DVD.

Are you ready to purchase “The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007?” Follow this link to enter the online bookstore for The Company Rocks. This is a secure shopping site. And, I guarantee that you will be satisfied with your purchase. If you are not satisfied with your purchase, I will refund you money – no questions asked!

Sincerely,

Danny Rocks

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Filed Under: Excel Training, MS Excel 2007 DVD, MS Excel Tips, Online Store for The Company Rocks, Tips and Time Savers, Video Training Courses Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,
December 30, 2009 Leave a Comment

Announcing the Online Store for The Company Rocks

Danny's DVDs "The 50 Best Tips" Series Available in Online StoreToday, I launched my new online bookstore for The Company Rocks. I am offering my Instructional DVDs for sale individually or as a set at attractive prices. Follow this link to enter the store to learn more about the DVDs in “The 50 Best Tips for …” Series.

“The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007” contains over 5 1/2 hours of training. Each video lesson lasts @ 6 – 7 minutes. Each lesson focuses on one productivity tip. So you can get an answer quickly when you need it. I follow a step-by-step approach to teach you how to be more productive when you use Excel 2007. You can see how to enter and edit the formulas because I use an innovative “pan-in / pan-out” camera technique to focus your attention.

And, as a bonus: The actual spreadsheets that I use for each lesson are included on the DVD!

“The 50 Best Tips for PowerPoint 2007” packs over seven hours of training onto two DVDs! Unlike many instructional packages the teach you PowerPoint from a technical angle, I teach you how to incorporate PowerPoint into your total presentation. I am a professional speaker and trainer. I am not a “techie.” You will learn the technical side of PowerPoint 2007 – but only as it helps you to be more effective in presenting your ideas or products. I think that you will enjoy this difference!

The focus of each DVD is on the Intermediate to Advanced user of Excel or PowerPoint. The focus is on helping you to save time and take advantage of the great presentation elements in both programs. There are 10 videos each at the Beginning Level and at the Advanced Level. There are 30 videos for the Intermediate Level user.

Please visit my new online bookstore to learn more about each DVD. I welcome your feedback!

Thank you for your kind words of support as I have built my business these past three years. I wish you a very happy new year in 2010!

Danny Rocks

danny@thecompanyrocks.com

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June 7, 2009 2 Comments

My New DVD – The 50 Best Tips for MS Excel 2007 is now on sale

50 Best Tips fo MS Excel

New! Now available from the online store at www.thecompanyrocks.com

Do you ever have one of those “A-ha” moments? You know – those moments when everything falls into place. When everything becomes crystal clear. When you finally “get it!”

Well, here is your opportunity to experience 50  “A-ha” moments. Here is a great way for you to learn “The 50 Best TIps, Tricks, and Techniques for Microsoft Excel 2007.”

I spent almost three months filming these short Excel training videos. I worked hard to create this DVD in order to make it easy for you to learn how to remain productive at work while learning to use the new Excel 2007 interface.

And, the Excel 2007 interface is really quite different.

So different, that many long-time Excel users just give up on it and return to the tried and true Excel 2003 program.

And that is too bad. Because, Excel 2007 allows you to perform so many business tasks faster and better. But … first, you must get over “the initial learning curve” to understand how to navigate in Excel 2007.

This DVD makes it easy for you to learn how to use Microsoft Excel 2007 – guaranteed!

In selecting the 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007, I wanted to include tricks that all Excel users could put to use – now! I include tips at the Introductory, Intermediate and Advanced levels.

Each lesson is short – five to six minutes on average – and focused on just one topic. Each lesson on the DVD is self-contained – I teach you how to solve one problem per lesson.Overall, the DVD contains 5 1/2 hours of training on Excel 2007!

This DVD is available exclusively from the SkillPath Seminars bookstore. They are offering it for sale at the introductory price of $49.95 Here is a link to the demonstration / order now page.

I am proud of this product. I know that you will gain some new insights into how to get the most out of Excel 2007. I welcome  your feedback. Please drop me a note  – danny@thecompanyrocks.com Or … add your comments below for all readers to share.

Thank you for your support!

Danny Rocks

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March 29, 2009 Leave a Comment

How to Create Scenarios in Excel

Scenarios are part of Excel’s “What-If” Analysis tool set – aka Data Analysis. Use Scenarios when you need to know what the result will be when you change one or more variables in one or more  situations (scenarios).

Frequently, I create Scenarios to define  a “Good, Better, Best” or “Worst Case, Best Case, Case Most Likely” outcome.

In this short Excel Training Video, I demonstrate how to create, edit,  and report four Scenarios for a Monthly Office Expense Budget.

These are the steps used in this Excel Video Lesson:

  • Create (or open) an Excel worksheet that contains a formula. Identify the formula and the precedent  cells that feed into the formula.
  • Select the “target cell” – the cell that contains the formula whose result will change with each Scenario.
  • Choose TOOLS – SCENARIOS and follow the directions in the Create Scenario dialog box.
  • First, click ADD. Name the Scenario. Click OK. Confirm that you have selected the “Target Cell” and then click / type in the “Changing cells.” The Changing cells should be either direct or indirect precedents to the Target cell formula. Click Add. Add additional Scenarios as desired.
  • Click on the name of your Scenario and select SHOW to display the changing cell values and the new result in your target cell.
  • If you wish, choose SUMMARY to create a summary report in a separate worksheet.
  • I strongly recommend that you create named cells and use them in the formulas and changing cells of your Scenario.

NEW! Download the Excel Practice file used in this lesson:

Use my Index to search for the free Excel Training Video that you want to view.

New! Danny’s DVD Training Series, “The 50 Best Tips …” is now available at the online store for The Company Rocks

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October 24, 2008 1 Comment

Click & Drag a Data Series to Goal Seek in Excel

Did you know that you can click on a Data Series in an Excel Chart and “drag it to reach a new value?” You can!

Changing the data value in your chart brings up the Goal Seek Dialog Box. Now, it is a simple matter to confirm your new value and tell Excel which cell reference to change in your formula. Instantly, your chart redraws and your data and formula are updated with the substitute value – and your NEW GOAL!

Here are the steps to follow in this Excel Video Lesson:

  1. I use the =FV() Function to show the future value of my investment for each year that we invest. The =FV() Function requires a “fixed” interest rate and a constant investment value contributed each period.
  2. I inserted a “Line” type chart onto my worksheet – i.e. I “embedded” the chart on the sheet.
  3. I used a “Custom Format” on the Value Axis for our numbers (#,##0,K) to show the numbers as thousands ($80K)
  4. For this chart, I also changed the “Maximum Value” of the Value Series by typing in a new (higher) number.
  5. To reach a “new goal” on our chart, first click to select the data series. Then click again and drag the data line to a new point on the chart.
  6. This brings up the “Goal Seek” Dialog Box. Edit your new goal if necessary. Then click on the cell that you want to change in order reach your goal. That cell must be referenced in your formula. The chart redraws and your formula results are updated.

Find the Excel Video Lesson that you want – Index of all Excel Topics

News! My DVD, “The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007” is now available to purchase. I invite you to visit my online bookstore for more details.

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Filed Under: Excel Charts, Excel Functions, Excel Training, What-if Analysis Tagged: , , , , ,
October 18, 2008 2 Comments

Excel Tells You the Future Value of Your Investment

Hey, want to know what your investment will be worth in 5 years? 10 years? Want a sure thing? Excel correctly calculates the future value of any investment! Provided …

  • You make a series of regular investments – even if it is just one “lump sum.”
  • The interest rate that you earn is “constant” – that is a “fixed annual interest rate.”

OK, so now you understand that neither I nor Excel are “touting sure thing” winners in the stock market. No one can do that. But, you can’t beat Excel when it comes to accurate – and easy to use – financial calculations.

In this video lesson, I demonstrate how to use both the =FV() and =PMT() Functions to calculate Future Values. I also show you how to perform “What-If” Analysis using a One-Input Data Table.

Here are the steps to follow in this Excel Video Lesson:

  1. Input values for Interest Rate (RATE), Number of Periods (NPER) and your Investment (PMT). These are the three required arguments for the =FV() Function. Use the Function Argument Dialog Box to ensure that you use the correct syntax for this function.
  2. One of the “optional” arguments is “Type.” If you omit this, Excel defaults to a “0” which means that you will make your investment contribution at the end of each period. A “1” means that the contribution is made at the beginning of each period. Over a number of years, this can make a significant difference in the “Future Value” of your investment.
  3. FV is also an “argument” in the =PMT() Function. If you want to calculate how much you need to contribute each month to reach a Savings Goal, use the =PMT() Function. However, in this case, the FV – while showing as an “Optional Argument” will refer to the cell containing your Savings Goal.
  4. Create a One-Input Data Table to perform “What-if” Analysis – e.g. to substitute a series of different interest rates in your =PMT() – or =FV() Function.

NEW! Download the Practice File for this Excel Video Lesson:

Find the Excel Video Lesson you want – Index of all Excel Topics

News! My DVD, “The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007” is now available to purchase. I invite you to visit my online bookstore for more details.

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August 1, 2008 4 Comments

Goal Seek to optimize the results of the =PMT() function

Here are the steps to follow in this video lesson:

  1. Calculate your monthly payment on a loan using =PMT() function
  2. =PMT() requires three arguments: “Interest Rate” / # of payments per year, “# of payments” over the course of your loan, the “Amount Borrowed.”
  3. For Goal Seek: Select the cell that contains your formula and then choose Tools – Goal Seek.
  4. In the “To Value:” box type in your GOAL – e.g. The amount that you want your =PMT() to return.
  5. In the “By Changing Cell:” select a cell that is referenced in your =PMT() formula.

Find the video lesson that you want – Index to all Excel Video Lessons

“The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007” DVD is now available to purchase. I invite you to visit my online bookstore for more details.

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