📘 Complete Advanced Excel Syllabus

🧱 MODULE 1: Excel Foundations & Spreadsheet Basics

Objective: Get comfortable with the Excel interface, workbook structure, formatting, and
basic formula logic.

🔍 Detailed Topics:

 Understanding the Excel Interface

o Ribbon, Tabs, Groups, Menus, Dialog Boxes
o Toolbar customization
o Sheet Tabs, Scroll Bars, Status Bar
 Basic File Operations
o Creating, Saving, Renaming, and Closing Workbooks
o Saving as Excel Workbook, CSV, PDF
o Print Preview, Page Setup, Page Breaks
 Basic Cell and Range Operations
o Copy, Paste, Cut, Paste Special
o Fill Handle, Autofill, Flash Fill
o Merge Cells, Wrap Text, Alignment Options
 Formatting Essentials
o Fonts, Font Sizes, Cell Borders, Cell Colors
o Number Formatting: Currency, Percentage, Date, Custom
o Use of Format Painter
 Working with Rows, Columns, and Worksheets
o Inserting, Deleting, Hiding, Grouping
o Naming Sheets, Color Coding Tabs, Moving/Copying Sheets
 Basic Formulas and Functions
o SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, COUNT
 Understanding Cell References
o Relative, Absolute ($A$1), and Mixed (A$1, $A1) references
o Use in copying formulas correctly
 Productivity Tools
o Keyboard Shortcuts for Navigation and Formatting
o Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) Customization
o Freeze Panes, Split View, Zoom Control
 Worksheet Protection
o Locking cells, password-protecting sheets
o Allowing selective editing in protected sheets

🔣 MODULE 2: Core Excel Formulas & Functions

Objective: Develop a strong formula foundation using logical, text, date, and numeric
functions for daily use.

🔍 Detailed Topics:

 Using the Function Wizard (fx)

o Formula helper and syntax builder
 Mathematical & Arithmetic Functions
o ROUND, ROUNDUP, ROUNDDOWN
o INT, TRUNC, MOD
o POWER, SQRT, RAND, RANDBETWEEN
 Logical Functions
o IF, NESTED IFs, IFS (multiple conditions)
o AND, OR, NOT for combining conditions
o Use with conditional formatting and dashboards
 Text Functions (Data Cleaning and Standardization)
o LEN: Count characters
o LEFT, RIGHT, MID: Extract portions of text
o TRIM: Remove extra spaces
o FIND/SEARCH: Locate substrings
o CONCAT, CONCATENATE, TEXTJOIN: Merge values
o UPPER, LOWER, PROPER: Case formatting
 Date & Time Functions
o TODAY, NOW, DATE, TIME
o DATEDIF: Calculate durations, age, service period
o DAY, MONTH, YEAR, WEEKNUM
o NETWORKDAYS, WORKDAY
 Named Ranges and Constants
o Naming single cells, entire ranges for reuse
o Dynamic named ranges
 Formula Comments
o Adding notes/explanations to complex formulas

🧠 MODULE 3: Data Analysis Functions & Conditional

Logic
Objective: Perform data analysis using conditional formulas, lookup tools, and logic-based
functions.

🔍 Detailed Topics:

 Lookup Functions
o VLOOKUP: Vertical search in tables
o HLOOKUP: Horizontal version
o LOOKUP: Legacy compatibility
o XLOOKUP (Dynamic replacement for VLOOKUP + HLOOKUP)
 o INDEX + MATCH Combo: More flexible lookups
 Conditional Functions
o SUMIF, COUNTIF, AVERAGEIF: Single condition
o SUMIFS, COUNTIFS, AVERAGEIFS: Multiple conditions
o IFERROR, IFNA: Handle errors gracefully
 Database Functions (Structured Data Filtering)
o DMAX, DMIN, DCOUNT, DCOUNTA, DAVERAGE
o Using criteria ranges for filtered aggregation
 Data Validation Tools
o Dropdown Lists (Static & Dynamic)
o Input message prompts
o Custom rules (e.g., allow only email format, dates > today)
o Error alerts with custom messages
 What-If Analysis Tools
o Goal Seek: Solve for input that hits a desired output
o Data Tables: One-variable and Two-variable scenarios
o Scenario Manager: Save and switch between input-output simulations

🧹 MODULE 4: Working with Large Datasets & Data

Cleaning
Objective: Prepare raw data by organizing, structuring, and cleaning for accurate analysis.

🔍 Detailed Topics:

 Sorting Techniques
o Single and multi-level sorts
o Custom lists, sorting by cell color, font color, icon
 Filtering Techniques
o Basic Filter, Text Filters, Number Filters
o Advanced Filter: Use of criteria ranges for complex filtering
 Subtotals and Grouping
o Auto-subtotals with change in category
o Manual grouping (outline view for printing & summaries)
 Flash Fill
o Auto-populate structured data (e.g., extract first name)
 Remove Duplicates Tool
o Selective column-wise de-duplication
 Consolidate Function
o Combine multiple ranges/sheets using summary functions
 Cross-Sheet Calculations
o 3D formulas, referencing across sheets or files
 Data Importing and Linking
o Import from CSV, Web, Text, XML
o Linking data between Excel workbooks
 SAP-Compatible Structures
 o Cleanly structuring .XLSX and .CSV for SAP extracts
o Avoiding merged cells and hidden formatting

📈 MODULE 5: Pivot Tables & Pivot Charts

Objective: Summarize, analyze, and visually represent complex data interactively.

🔍 Detailed Topics:

 Creating Pivot Tables

o Define data source, row/column/value fields
o Recommended PivotTables
 Updating & Refreshing Data
o Dynamic source ranges
o Refreshing from source (manual & auto-refresh)
 Slicers & Timeline Filters
o Add visual filters for better interactivity
 Grouping in Pivots
o Group by date, ranges, custom bins
 Calculated Fields
o Create custom metrics inside Pivot Tables
 Pivot Charts
o Create visuals from pivot data
o Interactive dashboards using filters
 Using Sparklines
o Tiny trend graphs inside cells (Line, Win/Loss, Column)
 Pivot Best Practices
o Sorting, collapsing, expanding groups
o Drill down to source data

📊 MODULE 6: Data Visualization & Reporting

Dashboards
Objective: Present business data effectively using visuals and layout design best practices.

🔍 Detailed Topics:

 Standard Charts
o Column, Bar, Line, Pie, Area
 Advanced Charts
o Combo Charts (e.g., Line + Bar)
o Waterfall, Doughnut, Funnel, Gauge (manual methods)
 Chart Customization
o Axes, Labels, Legends, Data Points, Series
 o Secondary axes, data callouts
 SmartArt & Shapes
o Flowcharts, Process Diagrams
 Infographic Principles
o Color schemes, hierarchy, chart types
 Interactive Elements
o Form Controls: Dropdown, Scroll Bar, Option Buttons
o Dynamic charts using named ranges + formulas
 Linking Visuals to Pivot Tables
 Embedding Charts into Reports
o Linking to Word & PowerPoint for live reporting
 Templates and Styles
o Reusable dashboard templates
o Conditional formatting with visual indicators

📄 MODULE 7: Reporting & Excel Integration

Objective: Build structured, professional, automated reports for business environments.

🔍 Detailed Topics:

 Excel Integration with Office

o Embed Excel tables/charts in Word or PowerPoint
o Linked updates for live reporting
 MIS Reporting
o Monthly, Quarterly, Annual reporting formats
o Performance dashboards
 Print Setup & Layouts
o Page setup, print area, headers/footers, scaling
 Outlining and Grouping
o Group rows/columns for clean reports
 Reusable Templates
o Creating and protecting standardized formats
 Conditional Formatting for Reporting
o Icon sets, data bars, traffic light rules
o Using formulas for advanced highlights
 Worksheet Protection & Sharing
o Locking structure, hiding formulas, shared workbooks

⚙️MODULE 8: Excel Macros & Introduction to VBA

Objective: Automate repetitive tasks and extend Excel’s capabilities using Macros and basic
VBA.
🔍 Detailed Topics:

 What Are Macros?

o Purpose, scenarios, limitations
 Recording Macros
o Using Macro Recorder for task automation
o Best practices during recording
 Running Macros
o Shortcut keys, Quick Access Toolbar, buttons
 VBA Editor (Alt + F11)
o Navigating the code window
 Basic VBA Scripting
o Variables, MsgBox, InputBox, If/Else, Loops
 Assigning Macros to Buttons
 Storing & Sharing Macros
o Personal Macro Workbook
 Practical Use Cases
o Cleaning data
o Generating PDF reports
o Formatting automation

💼 BONUS MODULE: SAP + Excel for Business Users

Objective: Learn how Excel can be used to extend, clean, and analyze SAP reports.

🔍 Detailed Topics:

 Exporting SAP Reports to Excel

o From FI, MM, HR, SD modules
 Cleaning SAP Data in Excel
o Fixing column breaks, date formats, headers
 Pivot Table Analysis
o Inventory reports
o Financial summaries
o Attendance and payroll data
 Monthly Consolidation Reporting
o Using Excel templates for SAP summary
 Importing to SAP from Excel (where applicable)
 Structuring Excel for SAP
o Avoiding formatting conflicts
o Use of clear headers, no merged cells