Microsoft Excel: Data Analysis with Functions, Dashboards and What-If Analysis Tools

Microsoft Excel Training Series | Level 3

Course Details

Duration: 2 days (9 am – 4 pm)

Microsoft^® Excel^® Versions: 2016 | 2019 | 2021 | 365 (Windows)

Delivery Methods (Instructor-led): In-person (Live classroom) | Online in virtual classroom

Course Dates: June 23/24, 2025 (Online in virtual classroom or In-person)  | August 25/26, 2025 (Online in virtual classroom or In-person) | View schedule 

Course Fee: $495 CAD per person + HST (Virtual classroom), $545 CAD per person + HST (Bring your own device for in-person courses) or $595 CAD per person + HST (Avantix Learning provides device for in-person courses)*

Timing: Public scheduled courses run from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (Eastern Time).

Virtual classroom courses: Our instructor-led virtual classroom courses are delivered in a virtual classroom environment. Students will be sent a virtual classroom invitation prior to the course.

In-person classroom courses: Our instructor-led, live classroom (in-person) courses are held in downtown Toronto at 18 King Street East, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Some courses are also held at an alternate downtown Toronto location.

Custom training: This course may be delivered at your site or ours as an instructor-led virtual classroom or in-person solution. Contact us at info@avantixlearning.ca for more information including savings for custom group training.

Some public courses and / or formats and may be subject to a minimum enrollment requirement.

Course Overview

This Microsoft Excel course (formerly Microsoft Excel: Intermediate / Advanced Part 2) is designed for the user who wants to learn to use more advanced Excel features and functions including text functions, date functions, time functions, lookup functions, logical functions, information functions, trend functions, and forecast functions. While working on hands-on examples, students will also learn to use advanced pivot table techniques, create dashboards and use what-if analysis tools including Goal Seek, Scenario Manager, and one and two input Data Tables. During this hands-on course, students will practice their skills and have the opportunity to ask questions and interact with the instructor. Each student will also receive a full course manual with tips, tricks and shortcuts as well as sample and exercise files.

Prerequisite: Microsoft Excel: Intermediate / Advanced or equivalent knowledge and skills.

Next course(s) in this series: Microsoft Excel: Introduction to Power Query to Get and Transform Data, Microsoft Excel: New and Essential Features and Functions in Excel 365 or Microsoft Excel: Introduction to VBA (Visual Basic for Applications).

Related training: View all Microsoft Excel courses >

INCLUDED IN THIS COURSE

• Comprehensive course manual or published book
• Keyboard shortcuts quick reference
• Sample and exercise files
• Refreshments (for classes conducted in Avantix Learning classrooms)
• Certificate of completion
• Follow-up email support

Course Topics

Using INDEX and MATCH vs VLOOKUP vs XLOOKUP

• Combining INDEX and MATCH functions as an alternative to VLOOKUP
• Benefits of INDEX and MATCH
• Using the CHOOSE function vs VLOOKUP
• Using XLOOKUP (available in newer versions)

Using Logical Functions in Formulas and Conditional Formatting

• Using AND and OR functions in formulas and conditional formatting
• Using IS functions to test for cell values

Dealing with Errors

• Dealing with errors using the IFERROR or ISERROR functions

Finding Top Values

• Calculating top values such as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd highest values
• Highlighting top values using conditional formatting

Summarizing Data with SUMIFS, COUNTIFS and AVERAGEIFS

• Using multiple criteria with SUMIFS, COUNTIFS and AVERAGEIFS
• Referencing table fields

Creating Dependent or Cascading Drop-Down Lists

• Creating dependent or cascading drop-down lists that change depending on another value

Using Text Functions to Combine, Extract or Format Text

• Using text functions to manipulate text strings (8+ text functions)
• Extracting text strings from the left, middle or right of cells
• Finding and replacing text using functions
• Joining strings of text from two or more cells
• Separating data into multiple columns using text functions
• Changing case using text functions
• Removing extra characters from data

Using Date Functions to Convert, Extract or Format Dates

• Understanding how Excel interprets dates
• Entering valid dates in Excel
• Converting invalid dates into valid dates
• Using date functions to manipulate dates (10+ date functions)
• Extracting date increments from cells such as year, month and day
• Calculating the number of days or working days between two dates
• Calculating the date a specific number of working days from a date
• Finding the last day in the current month or a future month
• Creating calculations for fiscal months and quarters
• Using conditional formatting to highlight data within specific date periods

Performing Time Calculations

• Entering valid times in Excel
• Understanding how Excel interprets times
• Calculating the difference between times
• Working with hours and minutes

Creating Array Formulas

• Advantages of traditional array formulas
• Recognizing traditional array formulas
• Creating and editing array formulas
• Getting started with dynamic arrays

Using Trend and Forecast Functions

• TREND vs FORECAST functions
• Using the TREND function
• Using different FORECAST functions

Using What-If Analysis Tools

• Using Goal Seek to change cells to achieve a result
• Creating one and two-input data tables
• Adding and saving scenarios to test different possible outcomes such as best case and worst case
• Generating a summary of scenarios for comparison
• Tips when working with the Scenario Manager in Excel

Creating Advanced Table Calculations

• Adding running totals in a table
• Calculating percent of total in a table

Using Advanced Pivot Table Techniques

• Creating and editing calculated fields in pivot tables
• Calculating percent totals in pivot tables
• Summarizing pivot table data by groups (number or date)
• Moving pivot tables and charts to other sheets
• Generating pivot charts quickly using keyboard shortcuts

Combining data from multiple worksheets

• Creating pivot tables from related data on different sheets using the Data Model
• Loading data from multiple worksheets into Power Query
• Combining or appending data from multiple sheets
• Loading combined data into Excel
• Creating a pivot table from the combined data

Creating and Formatting Dashboards

• Common components and functions used in dashboards
• Creating dashboards that include multiple pivot tables and pivot charts
• Setting dashboard components to consistent sizes
• Connecting slicers to multiple pivot tables and pivot charts
• Alternatives to pivot tables to create dashboards
• Tips for formatting dashboards

*Prices subject to change

Our instructor-led courses are delivered in virtual classroom format or at our downtown Toronto location at 18 King Street East, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (some in-person classroom courses may also be delivered at an alternate downtown Toronto location). Contact us at info@avantixlearning.ca if you'd like to arrange custom instructor-led virtual classroom or onsite training on a date that's convenient for you.

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