Data model

Data model is used to add and connect tables in a whole, in order to retrieve the data needed for reporting. This is a pseudo-base, part of Excel document. By adding a table into the Model data are automatically compressed; later, when we need them for reporting, they are decompressed and used as a reporting dimension in the pivot table. Data model is basis for use of “Power” technologies, i.e. “self-service” business intelligence tools.

Sales funnel

In addition to my passion for Excel my great love, and partly my job, is Customer Relationship Management (CRM). One of the most important CRM charts for tracking sales is the Sales funnel. Every salesman likes to see it on his dashboard at the beginning of working day, because with one look he can conclude whether the sale is standing or advancing. Funnel does not exist as a standard chart. It is created by modifying the 3D Column chart, and how to do it you will find out in the text that follows …

Formatting objects

Since version 2007, Excel has been enriched with a wealth of options for “beautifying” reports, and from version to version it offers more of these functionalities that can be applied to the formatting of all graphic objects, whether these are charts or their elements, images, shapes, schemes … The following text will show how the appearance of the graphic object can change: its body, frames, the use of special formatting styles …

Interactive filters

Filtering the Pivot table report can also be done with the help of interactive filters, which are: slicers timeline. These are graphics objects that can be used, both with Pivot tables and structured tables. Slicers are made on the basis of the specified reporting dimension, and can be interlinked, according to the principle of subordinates and superiors. Timeline filters are made exclusively based on time-related reporting dimensions.

Ribbons and shortcuts

Excel 2007 brought a new work environment based on ribbons. This novelty was annoyed by many experienced users (who were able to set shortcuts to the most commonly used options) and delighted new users (who saw some options they did not even suspect that existed). In order to “calm down passions,” Office programmers first added the Quick Access Toolbar and the ability to adjust the toolbar content (Office 2010).