| In this class, we will be learning
about Named Cells and Named Ranges, Nested IF Functions,
and the very powerful VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP functions. These
new functions will allow us to look up a value in a subtable.
We will begin this class by quickly reconstructing
our student gradebook from previous classes. I'll spend just a few
minutes touching on the major concepts from Excel 201, such as the IF
function and relative v. absolute references. You'll need to
know them well for today's class.
Next, we'll learn how to make named cells
in our sheets. Named cells make it easier to jump to different locations
in our sheets, and make it much easier to create formulas. Here's a
named cell called PassingGrade which points to cell A9.
We'll see how it's much easier to use those named
cells and ranges in our formulas, than remembering all of those long
cell references.
You will learn how to create, edit, delete, and
work with multiple named cells.
Next we'll work with named ranges - which
like named cells allow you to specify names for entire blocks of cells
(ranges of cells). You can use this technique to make it easier to work
with functions and formulas. Here, for example, we'll assign a name to
the entire range of cells that identify this test's grades:
Next, we'll set up a sheet to track business
income and expenses. We'll again use named ranges to make it easier
to work with the sheet.
Then, we'll use these ranges to calculate values
based on where they intersect. These are called Range Intersections.
We can use them, for example, to calculate January's rent...
You'll learn how to paste in a list of all of your
cell and range names. You'll also learn how to have Excel automatically
create cell and range names based on the column and row headers in your
sheet (saves you a lot of work).
Excel can also take any existing ranges you have
defined in your sheet and retroactively apply new named ranges to them.
Next, we'll learn about Nested IF Functions.
This is where you take one IF function and "nest" it inside of another
one... so instead of only being able to have two possible outcomes (true
or false) you can now have three or more! Here for example, we'll create
a nested IF function that can first check to see if the student has
taken all of his tests - if not, give him an incomplete - if yes, then
use another IF branch to calculate their pass/fail grade.
Then I'll show you another example of how to
calculate letter grades with nested IF functions - although we'll learn
a better way to do this later with the VLOOKUP function.
What's VLOOKUP? It's a Vertical LOOKUP. In
other words, we're looking up a value in a little sub-table (lookup
table). Here, for example, we'll create a little lookup table that has
the letter grades in them and what their values are...
Then the VLOOKUP function can tell you what
each student's letter grade is based on their test averages.
Just to make sure you've got it, we'll do another
VLOOKUP example using commission rates. This time, the sales rep's
commission rate is based on his overall sales.
I'll teach you how you can use VLOOKUP to return
values from multiple columns - not just one. Here, for example, we want
to be able to get the sales reps' commision rates plus their
bonus values.
Now, I've avoided using the Function Wizard
up until now - because I really don't like it - but I'll show you how to
use the function wizard quickly for one example... just so I can say we
covered it... even though I still don't like it. :)
We'll use the HLOOKUP function (a close
relative of VLOOKUP) to calculate both the discount and the sales tax
rate for a basic Invoice form we'll create.
This class is a lot of fun! We'll learn a bunch of
very powerful features: named cells, ranges, nested IF functions,
VLOOKUP, and HLOOKUP. These are all power user features that you
don't want to miss out on!
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