Access comprehensive training and resources for mastering various Microsoft Office applications to boost productivity.
Working in business today means keeping up with demands that never seem to slow down. What if there was a way to finish reports faster, make sense of meetings without endless notes, or spark new ideas when time is tight? That’s where Microsoft 365 Copilot comes in—a clever assistant built into tools like Word, Excel, […]
In today’s fast-paced business world, the ability to think creatively and work efficiently is more important than ever. Enter Copilot, an AI-powered assistant designed to enhance your creative thinking and streamline productivity. But how exactly does Copilot achieve this, and what practical benefits can it bring to your business? Let’s dive in and explore the […]
Data can be a powerful tool for driving business decisions, but a ‘sea of totally unrelated data’, when presented, can confuse your audience. However, you can make a huge impact by presenting that data clearly, using captivating visuals that tell a compelling story. This guide will equip you with the skills to leverage the data […]
Ever feel limited by traditional Excel PivotTables? Microsoft Power Pivot offers a revolutionary solution, empowering you to analyse vast amounts of data from diverse sources, all within the familiar Excel environment. Break Free from Limitations Say goodbye to the constraints of single-table analysis! Power Pivot empowers you to: Consolidate Data: Effortlessly integrate information from various sources, […]
Microsoft Access is a powerful database management system that offers numerous benefits for businesses of all sizes. One of the primary advantages is its ability to streamline data management processes. With Access, users can easily create, manage, and manipulate databases, which helps in organising large volumes of data efficiently. This capability is particularly useful for […]
In Excel 365 and Excel 2021 Microsoft has provided Excel users with some new features which will fundamentally change the way worksheets are designed. Dynamic array formulas allow you to work with multiple values at the same time in a formula. Dynamic arrays solve some challenging difficulties in Excel and will be a feature which […]
Visualising data is crucial for decision making in any industry. Power BI reports are a brilliantly efficient way to achieve this, as users have several useful visual options. In this blog post you will learn how Power BI can display dynamic text for more detailed reports. We will be using examples of sales data and […]
Data visualisation is a powerful tool that allows you to view data more clearly. This is vitally important for businesses to help them with crucial decision making. What is data visualisation? Data visualisation is the process of turning raw data into graphical representations. It works by taking selected data in Excel and then choosing from […]
Sparklines are a powerful tool in Excel that allow you to visualise data trends in a condensed chart format. Unlike normal Excel charts, Sparklines are embedded in a single cell, making them ideal for displaying trends in sales figures, website hits, and other data over a period of time. In this blog post, we’ll show […]
Excel is a brilliant tool for data analysis. A useful function or two can help, as several factors can impact your data. Weather, conflicts around the world, inflation, the interest rate, currency rates, subcontractors, number of customers, competitors, special offers, market size etc. Trend Function and Regression Tool In this blog post, we’ll be […]
Excel has some powerful tools that you can use to carry out a What-if analysis. We sat down with one of our Excel Experts, Jens, to ask him about three particular data analysis tools and to see whether he would demonstrate how to use them for us. Good morning Jens, you talk a lot about […]
here we share the much-overlooked Excel Macro feature – and how it can save you considerable time every day. How do Macros Work? The Macro Recorder in Excel is a useful tool that allows users to automate repetitive tasks by recording the steps. The Macro Recorder generates Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) code. It […]
This blog is part 4 of a series that explores the amazingly useful functionality of some of the most popular Office 365 Excel functions. In the previous blog, the focus was on the UNIQUE function. Building on this, we will explore how useful the MAXIFS and MINIFS functions are in finding the highest or lowest […]
This blog is part 3 of a series that looks at the amazing functionality of some of the most popular Office 365 Excel functions. In parts 1 and 2 the focus was on the FILTER and SORT functions. Building on this, we will explore how useful the UNIQUE function is in creating unique lists more […]
Most Excel users do not know the power of custom formatting. They know how the currency or accounting format. In this article you will find some useful information which can display your data in different ways, and more clearly. I got the inspiration to write this blog post from a client question on one of […]
This blog is part 2 of a series that looks at the amazing functionality of some of the most popular Office 365 Excel functions. In part 1 the focus was on the FILTER function. Building on this, we will explore how useful the SORT function is in arranging data more efficiently. What is the SORT […]
How often have you found when you filter Excel data, problems arise in getting it to work? This can happen when you are sharing workbooks or the source data changes frequently. The solution lies in Office 365’s FILTER function. This blog is part 1 of a series that explores the amazing functionality of some of […]
. Power BI Desktop tool The Power BI desktop is a tool which Microsoft created as part of its BI (Business Intelligence) toolset. Other tools include Excel, SQL, SharePoint, and various reporting services. Power BI Desktop is an analysis and reporting tool designed to connect to data, transform it, analyse it, and then create an […]
Finally, there are new advanced options to create forecasting models in Power BI. Microsoft introduced the LINEST function and LINESTX function in the Power BI desktop February 2023 version. The LINEST function in Excel has always been an important tool for perform linear regression, leveraging the Least Squares method, to calculate a straight line that […]
How often when using Excel have you had to scroll down to find what you’re looking for in a huge spreadsheet only to find your top headings disappear off the screen? Well worry no more. The solution lies in using an incredibly handy tool called Freeze Panes. This tool ‘freezes’ the top row and left […]
Microsoft has prepared Power BI to make it easier for users to perform DAX measures without a lot of DAX knowledge. To access the Quick Measures, click QUICK MEASURES on the Home tab. You will see a list of options to choose from. On the right side of the Quick Measure dialog box, you will […]
Conditional Formatting is one of the most powerful tools in Excel. It can do so much to help you track data with relatively little time and effort. This ‘Quick Win’ tool can be mastered in a few simple steps. The blog will look at what Conditional Formatting is, how to apply it to data and […]
We can use LOOKUPSs in Excel to search for a value in a column or row, and return a value from a matching column or row. We look at them in a lot of depth on both our Excel Advanced and Excel Advanced Formulas and Functions courses. There are a number of lookup and reference functions […]
Tired of interrupting your PowerPoint presentation just so that you can show the live version of your report in Power BI? You can now create interactive PowerPoint presentations which connect live to your Power BI reports! This blog will show how you can let your data tell the story with Power BI. Imagine that you […]
Today I’m asking Jens, one of STL’s top Excel trainers, if there is a quick way to fix date issues in Excel. Can I solve date problems in Excel with Power Query? Hi Jens, do you have advice for me on how to handle date issues in Excel? Jens: I cannot count how many times […]
Today, I’m talking with Martin, one of STL‘s outstanding Power BI trainers, about the importance of Data Modelling. I’m asking Martin how I can maximise my data’s performance with data modelling in Power BI. Hi Martin, thanks for taking the time to have a chat with me. My Power BI Reports often take ages to […]
Microsoft has created interesting and engaging AI (Artificial Intelligence) visuals for Power BI. The desktop app offers four AI visuals – Q&A, Key Influencers, Decomposition Tree, and Smart Narrative. This is Power BI AI Visuals Part 3 – Decomposition Tree, the third in a series which looks at all four AI visuals. AI visuals are […]
Microsoft has created some very interesting AI (Artificial Intelligence) visuals for Power BI. Power BI offers four AI visuals – Q&A, Key Influencers, Decomposition Tree, and Smart Narrative. This article is Power BI Artificial Intelligence Visuals Part 1 – Q&A. It is the first in a series of 4 which will go through all four […]
This blog is for both Power BI and Excel users. In it, we demonstrate how you can automate reports with Power Query M coding What is Power Query? The Power Query tool in Excel and the Query Editor in Power BI are identical. They are important tools for both applications. In Excel, many tasks can […]
The different versions and configurations of Power BI can be confusing. In this blog, we are comparing Power BI Desktop to Power BI Service. This will shed light on how to use each of these apps. Power BI Desktop Power BI Desktop is a free application you can download and install on your local PC. […]
Why is Power BI taking over the world? Why are so many organisations currently implementing Power BI? Power BI is the most efficient tool to manage business intelligence in a world where the data sets are getting bigger and bigger. The importance of making quick and correct decisions is a key factor in running a […]
You can improve efficiency and accuracy when pulling and transforming data from various sources by using the Query Editor Tool in Power BI. It’s a marked improvement on using macros in Excel for this function. Read on to see why. Why use the Query Editor The Query Editor is where data sourced from a variety […]
In conversation with one of our Excel / Power BI trainers. In this post, we sit down with one of our training delivery team to look at the pros and cons of Power Query in Excel, as a new way of working with data. Jens, how would you describe Power Query in Excel in one […]
In this article we will introduce you to Power BI’s new Navigator tools used to enhance the functionality and appearance of your multi-page reports. If you use the app, this will help you increase productivity with Power BI’s new navigator tools. The scenario So, you’ve got your data all ready to be made into visuals […]
Whether you are hosting a PowerPoint presentation in person face to face, or for an online audience using Teams or Zoom, nerves can get the better of you and cause you to forget important points or even to seem unprepared. In this article, you will learn how to improve PowerPoint presentations with Presenter View. In […]
Power BI is an ever evolving app with Microsoft releasing new features on a monthly basis as voted for by users. It’s almost a fulltime job just keeping on top of all these new developments, not to mention sifting out which features are going to be most beneficial. Well fear not, our dedicated Power BI […]
Working days are usually very full and busy. Most of us do not always complete all the tasks we set for ourselves every day, so we end up with a backlog while feeling bad about it. Many people use PowerPoint to create presentations for business purposes, but wish they knew quicker ways. In fact, some […]
(In conversation with Jens, one of our Excel/Power BI trainers) In this post we sit down with one of our training delivery team, Jens, to look at the pros and cons of Excel and Power BI when considering which reporting path is best for you and your organisation. Jens, you mentioned a frequently occurring question […]
One word That describes Power Query in Excel – MAGIC! Power Query will completely change the way you work in Excel! For most Excel users, Power Query could be the tool that reduces time spent in Excel dramatically. Power Query could also minimise the use of VBA coding in Excel. It can be seen as a […]
When managing a project using Microsoft Project, stakeholders often need to receive progress updates. Because not everyone can read a Gantt chart, MS Project comes with a set of pre-designed reports and dashboards to help you better understand your data. You can easily create amazing reports with Microsoft Project. Below is an explanation of the […]
What is Power BI? Perhaps you have heard it said that everybody should be using Power BI. But what is it, exactly? Power BI is a collection of software services, apps, and connectors. These work together to turn unrelated data sources into coherent, visually immersive, and interactive insights. The application consists of several elements that […]
Changing to Office 365 Office 365 has more applications, as well as faster and more collaborative ways to work and communicate than ever before. There are both online and desktop versions available for most of the apps. Office 365 also offers amazing new tools and features. Are you upgrading to Office 365 but finding that […]
The Secret to High Performing Teams: Do I have a High Performing Team? The aim of any manager should be to create an effective team, also known as an HPT (High Performing Team). After all, the performance of a team reflects upon whom? Technically, everyone, but the manager or leader of the team in particular! […]
A lot of people out there think that the story of Power BI is too good to be true. Here is a list of the reasons that we think you should consider Power BI as a self-service and/or Enterprise Business Intelligence Solution. It’s like the new Microsoft Microsoft have not been the best at listening […]
Emails, emails and more emails – we’re bombarded by them almost constantly! We waste so much effort in Outlook taking time to read, time to organise, time to process and time to action. Follow the quick steps below to embrace some of the fantastic features of Microsoft Outlook and learn to manage your email time […]
Employees in the UK are struggling to deal with a major IT skills gap, with the average UK office worker spending more than half an hour a day struggling to figure out how to work their tech or IT systems. For most office workers in the United Kingdom, dealing with things like spreadsheets, presentations and […]
There’s a reason why firms spend millions investing in data sets or in curating their own data recovery and organisation methods. Maximising the use of collected business data is an important proofing system required at every stage of your decision-making process . Statistics and an informed look at results will always be your friends. If […]
OneDrive for Business is a place where you can store, share and sync your work files. It is an amazing way to make your digital life more efficient and productive, with very little effort. Your files can be updated from any device with OneDrive for Business installed, and OneDrive also allows you to work on […]
A lot of people out there think that the story of Power BI is too good to be true. Here is a list of the reasons that wE think you should consider Power BI as a self-service and/or Enterprise Business Intelligence Solution. Power BI has mobile apps Microsoft have released mobile applications that are […]
For many years, Microsoft Excel has been the tried and tested reporting tool for many businesses. In 2019. more and more organisations are turning to Power BI as an alternative with its strong analytics and reporting functions. With faster visualisations, statistical functions and calculations across broad datasets, it’s obvious that Power BI can […]