Posted on 19 May 2009
How do I create a dashboard in Excel?
To create a dashboard in Excel you organize the data used by the dashboard in an excel workbook, create flexible models out of the data and then finally present the data as a properly formatted report or a dashboard. Before we begin, always keep in mind that if the dashboard you are creating is going to be used (and oftentimes maintained) by other ...
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Posted on 06 September 2008
One of the easiest ways to add interactivity to your spreadsheets and dashboard is to use the data validation feature in excel. Data validation allows you specify a list of options that you want a cell to display as a drop-down.
You may want to download the sample sheet
here before we begin.
To being creating a dropdown for a particular cell, select the cell and click Data -> Validation. In ...
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Posted on 23 August 2008
60 useful excel formulas that are a good to know
DATE = Returns the serial number of a particular date
DATEVALUE = Converts a date in the form of text to a serial number
DAY = Converts a serial number to a day of the month
EOMONTH = Returns the serial number of the last day of the month before or after a specified number of months
MONTH = Converts a serial number to a month
NOW = ...
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Posted on 23 August 2008
20 Excel formulas you should know
DATEVALUE = Converts a date in the form of text to a serial number
DAY = Converts a serial number to a day of the month
MONTH = Converts a serial number to a month
YEAR = Converts a serial number to a year
LEFT = Returns the leftmost characters from a text value
LEN = Returns the number of characters in a text string
RIGHT = Returns the rightmost characters from ...
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Posted on 23 August 2008
Having our first view of the data
More often that not, dashboards get prepared with a large amount of data. Even if that’s not the case, it always makes send to have your data nicely laid out. That way, whenever you have to go back and check the accuracy of the data, it becomes so much easier.
Let’s work with an example. Suppose we've just been provided with one year’s worth of sales and target numbers for the regional and ...
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Posted on 22 August 2008
Also useful would be to arm yourself with some shortcuts, they can be a ton of help when working with large amounts of data. The idea is to just work with the keyboard without having to use the mouse....things work much faster that way.
Basic (and necessary)
Cut Ctrl + x
Copy = Ctrl + c
Paste = Ctrl + v
Minimize all = WinKey + m
Move to first row = Home
Move to last row = End
Ctrl + ...
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Posted on 22 August 2008
I'll be using excel 2002 and 2003 for most of this so many of the things that work on these versions may not work on some of the earlier ones.
There are certin excel "add-ins" that allow excel to do more things when they are turned-on when they are turned-off ! (Isn't that the case with everythign else though in life :-)) Please be sure to click on Tools -> Add-Ins... and in the add-ins box that appears, check/turn-on "Analysis ToolPak". ...
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Posted on 22 August 2008
"A dasboard is a collection of data and/or graphic elements that allow the reader to make better sense of what's taking place."
That's my definition and I'm sticking to it!!!
Often times authors will make this definition more complex. A dashboard no matter how complicated or sophisticated, is in the end, just a compilation of data and possibly, graphics. What they do......well they allow the reader "to make more sense of what's taking place". Special emphasis on "more sense". A dashboard will ...
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