| Excel users may already realize how recorded | | | | enter the invoice date correctly but that date will |
| macros can streamline redundant actions and | | | | be dynamic. That means that every time the |
| boost their productivity. However many macro | | | | invoice is loaded, the invoice date will change to |
| users don't realize that they can further refine | | | | the current date. |
| their macros by editing them directly. Microsoft | | | | MS Excel courses can show you how to alter a |
| Excel courses can illustrate advanced techniques | | | | recorded macro so that it calculates the correct |
| to take macros to the next level. | | | | invoice date as the date the invoice is created, |
| When a user records a macro, it creates a list of | | | | then enters it as a static cell so that date will not |
| instructions that Excel can use to repeat the | | | | change when the invoice is loaded later. |
| exact same actions. These instructions are | | | | Create new commands |
| written in a computer language called Visual Basic | | | | Although Excel contains a wide variety of built-in |
| for Applications (VBA). VBA is designed to | | | | commands, you may have unique needs. Excel |
| combine powerful programming commands with | | | | courses teach you how to build macros from |
| simple syntax that makes it easier to learn than | | | | scratch rather than by recording them, and how |
| most other computer languages. | | | | to make those macros available as new functions |
| Optimize recorded macros | | | | in formulas. |
| Recording actions is a simple and powerful way to | | | | Consider the "Average()" command. It takes a |
| create macros but the method has limitations. | | | | group of values and displays their average. This is |
| Excel courses teach students how to open up the | | | | fine if you have clean data but outliers can |
| macro code, read it, and change it to refine its | | | | invalidate the mean. "TrimMean()" can help, but it |
| operation. Consider a macro used in creating | | | | cuts off data whether they are outliers or not. |
| invoices. The user wants it to enter the current | | | | MS courses can show you how to create a new |
| date into the "Invoice Date" cell. There are two | | | | command that can analyze each data point to see |
| ways to do this with a recorded macro and | | | | if it is an outlier or not and average only the |
| neither of them will produce the desired result. | | | | sensible data to produce a more useful mean. |
| If you enter the current date, such as January 15, | | | | Find the right Microsoft courses |
| when recording the macro, it will always use that | | | | The power of macros can make them seem |
| date as the invoice date even when entered on a | | | | overwhelming even to experienced Excel users. |
| different day. You'll have to manually change the | | | | Look into the MS Excel courses offered and find |
| invoice date every time. | | | | the one appropriate to your level. You will learn a |
| However, if you enter a formula such as | | | | host of new techniques that will open up a |
| "Today()" to try and avoid the problem, that will | | | | universe of possibilities for Excel workbooks. |