Excel Tables: Converting data to tables, structured references, table styles, slicers for interactive filtering.

Named Ranges: Defining, managing, and using named ranges in formulas for readability and efficiency.

Advanced Sorting & Filtering: Multi-level sorting, custom lists, advanced filters with complex criteria.

Data Validation: Creating dropdown lists, restricting data entry, input messages, and error alerts.

Conditional Formatting: Advanced rules, icon sets, data bars, color scales for visual insights.

Logical Functions: Nested IF, IFS, AND, OR, NOT for complex decision-making logic.

XLOOKUP (Primary Focus): Versatile lookup for exact, approximate, and multiple matches, wildcards, and search modes.

INDEX & MATCH: Understanding its power for complex lookups (as an alternative/complement to XLOOKUP).

VLOOKUP & HLOOKUP: Review of limitations and appropriate use cases.

Text Functions: CONCAT, TEXTJOIN, LEFT, RIGHT, MID, FIND, SEARCH, LEN, TRIM, CLEAN, SUBSTITUTE, REPLACE for text manipulation.

Date & Time Functions: DATEDIF, EOMONTH, WORKDAY, NETWORKDAYS, YEARFRAC for time-based calculations.

Statistical & Aggregation Functions: SUMIFS, COUNTIFS, AVERAGEIFS (multiple criteria).

Error Handling Functions: IFERROR, ISNA for robust formula design.

Advanced PivotTable features: Calculated Fields & Items, Grouping data (dates, numbers), Slicers, Timelines.

Pivot Charts: Creating dynamic charts from PivotTables.

Connecting multiple PivotTables with Slicers.

Goal Seek: Finding input values to achieve a target output.

Scenario Manager: Comparing different sets of input values and their impact on outcomes.

Data Tables: Analyzing the impact of one or two variables on formulas.

Solver: Introduction to optimization problems, solving for maximums, minimums, and specific values with constraints.

Data Consolidation: Combining data from multiple worksheets or workbooks.

Chart Types: Choosing the right chart for your data (e.g., Waterfall, Combo, Sparklines, Scatter Plots for correlation).

Customizing Charts: Advanced formatting, dynamic chart titles, adding trendlines, error bars.

Dashboard Design Principles: Best practices for creating clear, concise, and impactful dashboards.

Interactive Dashboards: Combining charts, slicers, and formulas to create dynamic reports.

Introduction to Power Query (Get & Transform Data)

What is Power Query? Overview of its capabilities for data import, cleaning, and transformation.

Connecting to Various Data Sources: Files (CSV, Excel), Folders, Databases, Web.

Basic Transformations in Power Query Editor: Unpivoting, Merging Queries, Appending Queries.

Automating Data Refresh: Refreshing data with a single click.

Introduction to Macros (VBA Basics)

Understanding Macros: What are macros and when to use them.

Recording Macros: Automating repetitive tasks (e.g., formatting, data manipulation).

Editing Recorded Macros: Basic understanding of VBA code for simple modifications.

Assigning Macros: To buttons, shapes, or keyboard shortcuts.

Security Considerations for Macros.

Sharing Workbooks: Co-authoring in Excel Online/Microsoft 365.

Track Changes: Reviewing and accepting/rejecting changes.

Workbook Protection: Protecting sheets, cells, and workbook structure with passwords.

Document Inspector: Removing personal information and hidden content.

Trace Precedents/Dependents: Understanding formula relationships.

Show Formulas: Quickly reviewing formulas in a sheet.

Error Checking: Identifying and resolving common formula errors.

Watch Window: Monitoring cell values while working.

Employee Data Analysis: Attrition rate calculation, salary distribution analysis, tenure analysis using DATEDIF, PivotTables.

Performance Tracking: Using conditional formatting for performance ratings, creating interactive dashboards for HR metrics (e.g., headcount, recruitment efficiency).

Leave Management: Calculating leave balances, tracking absenteeism using NETWORKDAYS.

Payroll Reconciliation: Using VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP and SUMIFS for comparing payroll data.

Campaign Performance Tracking: Analyzing ad spend vs. conversion rates, A/B testing analysis using statistical functions.

Customer Segmentation: Using filters, conditional formatting, and COUNTIFS/SUMIFS to identify customer groups.

Sales Funnel Analysis: Creating dashboards to visualize lead conversion stages.

Market Research Data Analysis: Summarizing survey responses with PivotTables, identifying trends with charts.

Financial Modeling: Building basic income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow forecasts using financial functions (e.g., FV, PV, PMT, NPV, IRR).

Budgeting & Forecasting: Using What-If Analysis (Scenario Manager, Goal Seek, Data Tables) for budget variations.

Variance Analysis: Comparing actual vs. budget figures using formulas and conditional formatting.

Investment Analysis: Calculating ROI, payback period, and discounted cash flows.

Reconciliation: Bank statements, inter-company accounts using advanced lookups and conditional formatting.

Production Planning: Using Solver for optimizing production schedules and resource allocation.

Inventory Management: Tracking stock levels, calculating reorder points, analyzing lead times.

Quality Control: Creating control charts, tracking defects using conditional formatting and statistical functions.

Maintenance Scheduling: Using date functions to plan preventative maintenance.

Logistics & Route Optimization: Basic route planning scenarios with Solver.

Supplier Performance Analysis: Tracking delivery times, quality, and costs using conditional formatting and Pivot Tables.

Demand Forecasting: Simple forecasting models using trend functions or historical data analysis.

Warehouse Management: Inventory tracking and space utilization.

Resource Scheduling: Managing meeting rooms, equipment, or shared resources.

Event Planning & Budgeting: Tracking expenses, guest lists, and timelines.

Reporting & MIS: Generating automated reports for management, consolidating data from various sources.

Data Cleaning & Standardization: Using Power Query and text functions for routine data hygiene.