Blog - The Excel Lady

Here you can read my blogs and video tutorials covering all aspects of using Excel. If you are looking for a specific topic, use the search bar below to find the relevant blog post.

Tracking Training Records in Excel

Tracking mandatory training and identifying who is compliant, overdue and due for training

3 August 2026

In this tutorial I am going to show you how to set up a database that allows you to track mandatory training. If you

Summarize results for training courses – Part Three

28 April 2025

This is part three of a three part tutorial on analysing training records This is a three part tutorial on analysing training records. This

Summarize results for training courses – Part Two

19 April 2025

You can view Part One of this case study here. This is where I have a set of results from training courses and I

Pivot Tables

How to colour code your pivot table with Conditional Formatting

12 February 2024

In this tutorial I want to show you how to apply Conditional Formatting to your pivot table. It is a quick and easy way

06 – Pivot Tables – How to show % breakdown with Show Values As

7 February 2024

Another one in the pivot table series. In this one I show you how to use the Show Values As feature to show %

05 – Pivot table – Grouping my data by dates and in bins (grouping in quantities)

7 February 2024

In this tutorial what I want to show you how to group your dates together. Excel usually does this automatically in later versions. It

Case Studies - How to

Using Switch() as an alternative to the nested If function

3 August 2026

If you have a scenario where you have very clearly defined values e.g. a questionnaire where you have options for a scale. You can

Calculating Growth/Change %

20 April 2026

I have used the example of a pre and post assessment around training. There are four questions with a pre and post score. The

Xlookup on two identifiers – Payment type and employee rate combined

11 August 2025

I recently had a question from a customer about a payroll situation. Basically she had a list of names/payment types and had to assign

Excel Path - Step by Step

Using the IFS() function to work with multiple conditions

29 August 2024

IFS() function In this tutorial I want to show you how to use the IFS() function to do a nested if. It has always

How to link files and change the file

3 August 2023

How to link external files into an Excel file and then change if required A common requirement is to pull data from one Excel

02 – Recommended Pivot Tables and Analyze data – Let Excel help you get started

7 February 2024

One of the most common questions I get asked in class about pivot tables is “Well, how do I know what goes where?” .

Excel - General

Shortcuts and Templates – speed up your work

3 August 2026

A question I get asked regularly in class is about shortcuts. If you want to up your shortcut game – I would suggest identifying

Keeping your formatting consistent – use a theme

20 April 2026

If your organisation has a house style i.e. a preferred set of fonts/colours etc, this is something you can create in Excel. If on

How to do an Xlookup in Excel

20 May 2024

If you have Office 365 and you need to use the Vlookup() function, you should really consider using the Xlookup function, which I like

Random

Experimenting with Excel and AI – Part One – Co-Pilot

1 September 2025

One of the big current changes in our world at the moment is the upsurge in AI (Artificial Intelligence). I think we are still

10 – 10 tips to help you work faster in Excel

27 September 2023

Table it! If you have large data sets, convert them to a table. This means that if you scroll down to the bottom, the

5 ideas to help with your Excel learning plan – “September is the new January”

15 August 2017

September can be described as the new January and it’s often a time when people decide to start something new or get stuck into

Personal

Thirty years married – some observations

29 July 2024

This week, my hubby and I celebrated thirty years of marriage. We still like each other (most of the time) and have good craic

Reflecting on 2022 – Failures & Disappointments, what went well and lessons learned.

2 March 2023

Failures and disappointments.. I have tried for the last couple of years to really lose weight – I have failed dismally. After two years

What I learned from the 2022 Tour de France

2 March 2023

For the last couple of years I have gone into Low Power Mode for the Tour de France – which is three weeks in

Tracking Training Records in Excel

Tracking mandatory training and identifying who is compliant, overdue and due for training

3 August 2026

In this tutorial I am going to show you how to set up a database that allows you to track mandatory training. If you

Summarize results for training courses – Part Three

28 April 2025

This is part three of a three part tutorial on analysing training records This is a three part tutorial on analysing training records. This

Summarize results for training courses – Part Two

19 April 2025

You can view Part One of this case study here. This is where I have a set of results from training courses and I

Excel Path – Step by Step

Using the IFS() function to work with multiple conditions

29 August 2024

IFS() function In this tutorial I want to show you how to use the IFS() function to do a nested if. It has always

How to link files and change the file

3 August 2023

How to link external files into an Excel file and then change if required A common requirement is to pull data from one Excel

02 – Recommended Pivot Tables and Analyze data – Let Excel help you get started

7 February 2024

One of the most common questions I get asked in class about pivot tables is “Well, how do I know what goes where?” .

Case Studies - How to

Using Switch() as an alternative to the nested If function

3 August 2026

If you have a scenario where you have very clearly defined values e.g. a questionnaire where you have options for a scale. You can

Calculating Growth/Change %

20 April 2026

I have used the example of a pre and post assessment around training. There are four questions with a pre and post score. The

Xlookup on two identifiers – Payment type and employee rate combined

11 August 2025

I recently had a question from a customer about a payroll situation. Basically she had a list of names/payment types and had to assign

Excel - General

Shortcuts and Templates – speed up your work

3 August 2026

A question I get asked regularly in class is about shortcuts. If you want to up your shortcut game – I would suggest identifying

Keeping your formatting consistent – use a theme

20 April 2026

If your organisation has a house style i.e. a preferred set of fonts/colours etc, this is something you can create in Excel. If on

How to do an Xlookup in Excel

20 May 2024

If you have Office 365 and you need to use the Vlookup() function, you should really consider using the Xlookup function, which I like

Pivot Tables

How to colour code your pivot table with Conditional Formatting

12 February 2024

In this tutorial I want to show you how to apply Conditional Formatting to your pivot table. It is a quick and easy way

06 – Pivot Tables – How to show % breakdown with Show Values As

7 February 2024

Another one in the pivot table series. In this one I show you how to use the Show Values As feature to show %

05 – Pivot table – Grouping my data by dates and in bins (grouping in quantities)

7 February 2024

In this tutorial what I want to show you how to group your dates together. Excel usually does this automatically in later versions. It

Personal

Thirty years married – some observations

29 July 2024

This week, my hubby and I celebrated thirty years of marriage. We still like each other (most of the time) and have good craic

Reflecting on 2022 – Failures & Disappointments, what went well and lessons learned.

2 March 2023

Failures and disappointments.. I have tried for the last couple of years to really lose weight – I have failed dismally. After two years

What I learned from the 2022 Tour de France

2 March 2023

For the last couple of years I have gone into Low Power Mode for the Tour de France – which is three weeks in

Random

Experimenting with Excel and AI – Part One – Co-Pilot

1 September 2025

One of the big current changes in our world at the moment is the upsurge in AI (Artificial Intelligence). I think we are still

10 – 10 tips to help you work faster in Excel

27 September 2023

Table it! If you have large data sets, convert them to a table. This means that if you scroll down to the bottom, the

5 ideas to help with your Excel learning plan – “September is the new January”

15 August 2017

September can be described as the new January and it’s often a time when people decide to start something new or get stuck into

Tracking Training Records in Excel

Tracking mandatory training and identifying who is compliant, overdue and due for training

Summarize results for training courses – Part Three

Summarize results for training courses – Part Two

Pivot Tables

How to colour code your pivot table with Conditional Formatting

06 – Pivot Tables – How to show % breakdown with Show Values As

05 – Pivot table – Grouping my data by dates and in bins (grouping in quantities)

Case Studies - How to

Using Switch() as an alternative to the nested If function

Calculating Growth/Change %

Xlookup on two identifiers – Payment type and employee rate combined

Excel Path - Step by Step

Using the IFS() function to work with multiple conditions

How to link files and change the file

02 – Recommended Pivot Tables and Analyze data – Let Excel help you get started

Excel - General

Shortcuts and Templates – speed up your work

Keeping your formatting consistent – use a theme

How to do an Xlookup in Excel

Random

Experimenting with Excel and AI – Part One – Co-Pilot

10 – 10 tips to help you work faster in Excel

5 ideas to help with your Excel learning plan – “September is the new January”

Personal

Thirty years married – some observations

Reflecting on 2022 – Failures & Disappointments, what went well and lessons learned.

What I learned from the 2022 Tour de France

Tracking Training Records in Excel

Tracking mandatory training and identifying who is compliant, overdue and due for training

Summarize results for training courses – Part Three

Summarize results for training courses – Part Two

Excel Path – Step by Step

Using the IFS() function to work with multiple conditions

How to link files and change the file

02 – Recommended Pivot Tables and Analyze data – Let Excel help you get started

Case Studies - How to

Using Switch() as an alternative to the nested If function

Calculating Growth/Change %

Xlookup on two identifiers – Payment type and employee rate combined

Excel - General

Shortcuts and Templates – speed up your work

Keeping your formatting consistent – use a theme

How to do an Xlookup in Excel

Pivot Tables

How to colour code your pivot table with Conditional Formatting

06 – Pivot Tables – How to show % breakdown with Show Values As

05 – Pivot table – Grouping my data by dates and in bins (grouping in quantities)

Personal

Thirty years married – some observations

Reflecting on 2022 – Failures & Disappointments, what went well and lessons learned.

What I learned from the 2022 Tour de France

Random

Experimenting with Excel and AI – Part One – Co-Pilot

10 – 10 tips to help you work faster in Excel

5 ideas to help with your Excel learning plan – “September is the new January”

Filter and separate

How to fill in different repeating entries in Excel

Shortcuts and Templates – speed up your work

Using Switch() as an alternative to the nested If function

Cleaning up a messy PDF file… everyone’s favourite job..