Excel Essentials: Navigating and Customizing File Options
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Speaker : BOB UMLAS
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When : Thursday, April 10, 2025
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Time : 01 : 00 PM EST
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Bob Umlas worked for a major tax and accounting firm, using Microsoft Excel® 8 hours a day, writing custom applications for staff and clients from 1998 to 2018.
He has been using Excel since 1986 - version 0.99 (on the Macintosh)! He was a contributing editor to Inside Microsoft Excel for many years, a magazine devoted exclusively to Microsoft Excel and published by The Cobb Group and later Ziff-Davis. At the time, most issues contain either an article by Mr. Umlas on using VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) or some tip or technique from him on using Excel. He has had more than 300 articles published on subjects ranging from beginner to advanced macros, and on tips, shortcuts, and general techniques using virtually all aspects of Excel.
Mr. Umlas was voted an “MVP” (Most Valuable Professional) by Microsoft each year from 1994-2018 (25 years!) for his contributions to the various online Forums about Excel and is known world-wide for his contributions in Excel. As an MVP, he met yearly with his fellow-MVPs at Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond, where he had access to the product developers. He has been a beta tester for new versions of Excel since version 1.5, and was asked by Microsoft for his input for newer versions of Excel. In 1995 he led a session called "Maximizing Excel Development Using Array Formulas" at Microsoft's Tech Ed Conference in New Orleans, and he led a session called Tips and Tricks at a Microsoft convention in New York City. He has hosted London’s Global Excel Summit each year since 2021, and in person in 2024, as well as led a session on tips and tricks. He also led a session on tips and tricks at the Las Vegas’ Financial Modeling World Championship in December, 2023. He has led online sessions all over the world including Africa, India, England, Canada and of course, the USA.
He is also the author of “This isn’t Excel, it’s Magic!” which is available from http://www.iil.com/publishing as well as from Amazon.com. Another book, “Excel Outside the Box” is available from http://www.mrexcel.com and is for the very advanced Excel user. Another book, “More Excel Outside the Box” is also available from mrexcel.com. One more, “Cool Excel Sh*t” is more tips & tricks. Lastly, published for Kindle, is “Excel Preschool: Understanding Microsoft Excel, finally!” – a book for the very beginner!
He is also the technical editor of many of Bill Jelen’s books.
Mr. Umlas used to co-lead the New York PC User's group on Excel every month for about 20 years. He started leading this group again in 2018. He has been teaching Excel to individuals and corporations for several years.
At the completion of the 2013 world Excel Modeloff competition on 12/8/13, this was noted (see the last sentence): “The winners were announced at Microsoft’s Manhattan offices Sunday afternoon. Four teams of finalists competed in four rounds of Excel Golf, trying to get the shortest formula to solve four particular problems. The Australia/New Zealand team won this event, sharing a $4000 prize. I’ll note that Excel MVP Bob Umlas was in the audience and twice offered formulas that were shorter than the winning formula”
Excel's File/Options menu provides a wealth of customization and control features, organized into categories that allow users to tailor their Excel experience to their specific needs. The General category contains options for setting the default font, number of sheets in new workbooks, and user interface elements like the theme (e.g., light or dark mode). The Formulas category focuses on managing calculation settings, including enabling iterative calculations, customizing error-checking rules, and configuring automatic or manual recalculations.
In the Data category, users can control settings related to external data sources, such as enabling automatic updates for linked data and managing data connections. The Proofing section provides tools for enhancing accuracy in workbooks, including spelling and grammar check settings, custom dictionaries, and AutoCorrect options to quickly fix common typing errors.
The Save category is designed to prevent data loss and optimize file management. It allows users to configure the AutoSave and AutoRecover features, set default file save locations, and choose default file formats, such as XLSX or CSV.
The Advanced section offers an extensive range of settings that allow users to fine-tune their Excel environment, including editing options, display preferences, chart settings, and advanced calculations for power users.
Customization is made easy through the Customizing the Ribbon and Quick Access Toolbar sections. Here, users can personalize their interface by adding or removing commands, creating custom tabs, or reordering tools to match their workflow preferences. The Add-ins category provides a centralized location to manage extensions and integrations that enhance Excel’s capabilities, such as analysis tools or third-party applications.
Lastly, the Trust Center focuses on security and privacy. It includes settings for managing macro security, protecting against malicious files, and controlling the handling of external content like linked files or embedded objects. Together, these categories make Excel's File/Options menu a powerful tool for enhancing efficiency, customizing the interface, and ensuring a secure working environment.
Areas Covered
- General Options: Customizing default font, workbook settings, and user interface themes
- Formulas: Managing calculation settings, iterative calculations, and error-checking rules
- Data: Configuring external data connections and enabling automatic updates for linked data
- Proofing: Setting up spelling and grammar check, AutoCorrect, and custom dictionaries
- Save Options: Configuring AutoSave and AutoRecover, setting default save locations, and selecting default file formats
- Advanced Settings: Fine-tuning editing, display, chart, and calculation preferences
- Customizing the Ribbon and Quick Access Toolbar: Personalizing the interface by adding, removing, or reordering commands
- Add-ins: Managing extensions to enhance Excel’s functionality
- Trust Center: Configuring security settings, macro handling, and external content management
Who Should Attend
Anyone using Excel
Why Should You Attend
Learning about the features in Excel's File/Options menu is essential for anyone looking to maximize their productivity and customize their experience with the software. These settings allow users to tailor Excel to their specific needs, making it easier and more efficient to complete tasks. By understanding categories like General, Save, and Advanced, users can optimize default behaviors, streamline workflows, and avoid repetitive setup processes for new workbooks. Features in the Proofing and Data sections ensure higher accuracy and better management of data, which is crucial for producing reliable results. Customization options, such as those in the Ribbon and Quick Access Toolbar sections, allow users to design an interface that prioritizes their most-used tools, saving time and reducing frustration. Exploring Add-ins can help users unlock additional capabilities, while the Trust Center provides critical controls for ensuring data security and protecting against external threats. Ultimately, learning about these features empowers users to work smarter, improve performance, and maintain a secure and personalized Excel environment.
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$160.00
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