PerfectXL Microsoft Excel Course

Lesson 1 • Creating and Managing Workbooks

Teaches file creation, saving formats, and version control basics. Connects to professional workflows requiring reliable file management.

Lesson 2 • Basic Cell Formatting

Applies fonts, colours, borders, and number formats to cells. Proper formatting improves readability and sets professional presentation standards.

Lesson 3 • Navigating the Excel Environment

Covers the Ribbon, Quick Access Toolbar, and worksheet tabs. Establishes spatial awareness of the interface as the foundation for all subsequent tasks.

Lesson 1 • Text and Date Functions

Applies functions for string manipulation and date arithmetic. These skills support data cleaning and time-based reporting tasks.

Lesson 2 • Formula Syntax and Operators

Explains formula structure, arithmetic operators, and operator precedence. Correct syntax is the prerequisite for every function introduced later.

Lesson 3 • Essential Math and Statistical Functions

Covers SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, MIN, MAX, and ROUND. These functions handle the majority of quantitative analysis in professional spreadsheets.

Lesson 4 • Logical and Conditional Functions

Introduces IF, AND, OR, and NOT for decision-based calculations. Conditional logic enables dynamic outputs that respond to changing data.

Lesson 1 • Structuring Data as Excel Tables

Converts ranges to structured Excel Tables with headers and auto-expansion. Tables enforce consistency and simplify formula references.

Lesson 2 • Data Validation Rules

Restricts cell input using validation rules, drop-down lists, and custom formulas. Validation prevents entry errors before they reach calculations.

Lesson 3 • Removing Duplicates and Cleaning Data

Identifies and removes duplicate records and corrects inconsistent entries. Clean data is the prerequisite for trustworthy analysis results.

Lesson 4 • Sorting Data Effectively

Applies single-level and multi-level sorting by value, colour, or custom list. Correct sort order is essential before filtering or summarising data.

Lesson 1 • VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP Fundamentals

Builds vertical and horizontal lookup formulas with exact and approximate matching. These functions are the entry point for cross-table data retrieval.

Lesson 2 • XLOOKUP for Modern Lookups

Applies XLOOKUP for flexible, readable lookup formulas with built-in error handling. XLOOKUP supersedes VLOOKUP in supported Excel versions.

Lesson 3 • Reference Functions and Named Ranges

Uses OFFSET, INDIRECT, and named ranges to build dynamic references. Dynamic references make models adaptable to changing data sizes.

Lesson 1 • Sparklines and Conditional Formatting

Embeds sparklines in cells and applies conditional formatting rules for visual cues. These tools highlight patterns directly within the data table.

Lesson 2 • Advanced Chart Techniques

Builds dynamic charts with named ranges and adds error bars and trendlines. Advanced techniques make charts self-updating and analytically richer.

Lesson 3 • Building and Editing Charts

Creates charts from selected data and modifies source ranges, series, and axes. Editing skills allow charts to adapt as underlying data changes.

Lesson 4 • Formatting Charts Professionally

Applies titles, legends, data labels, and colour schemes for polished output. Professional formatting ensures charts meet presentation and reporting standards.

Lesson 1 • Building Your First PivotTable

Creates PivotTables from structured data and configures rows, columns, and values. Understanding the field list is the gateway to all summarisation tasks.

Lesson 2 • Value Field Settings and Calculations

Changes summary functions and adds calculated fields for custom metrics. Custom calculations extend PivotTables beyond simple sums and counts.

Lesson 3 • PivotCharts and Dashboard Basics

Links PivotCharts to PivotTables and arranges them into a basic dashboard layout. Visual summaries communicate findings faster than raw tables.

Lesson 4 • Grouping, Filtering, and Slicers

Groups dates and numbers, applies report filters, and adds slicers for visual filtering. These tools make PivotTables interactive for stakeholder reporting.

Lesson 1 • FILTER, SORT, and UNIQUE Functions

Extracts, sorts, and deduplicates data with single formulas replacing manual steps. These functions automate tasks previously requiring helper columns or macros.

Lesson 2 • LET, LAMBDA, and Custom Functions

Defines reusable variables with LET and creates custom functions with LAMBDA. These tools reduce formula repetition and enable function libraries.

Lesson 3 • Dynamic Array Functions Overview

Introduces spill behaviour and the dynamic array engine in modern Excel. Understanding spill ranges is required before using any dynamic array function.

Lesson 4 • SEQUENCE, RANDARRAY, and Array Math

Generates number sequences and random arrays for modelling and simulation. Array math enables calculations across entire ranges in one formula.

Lesson 1 • Documentation and Version Control

Adds comments, notes, and a change log to document model assumptions. Documentation enables handover and supports collaborative review processes.

Lesson 2 • Formula Auditing Tools

Uses Trace Precedents, Trace Dependents, and the Watch Window to inspect formulas. Auditing tools expose hidden dependencies and logic errors.

Lesson 3 • Understanding Spreadsheet Risk

Identifies common spreadsheet errors and their business impact. Awareness of risk categories motivates disciplined model-building habits.

Lesson 4 • Handling Excel Error Values

Diagnoses and resolves error values including #REF!, #DIV/0!, #VALUE!, and #N/A. Resolving errors ensures formulas return correct results consistently.