Teach on Udemy

Turn what you know into an opportunity and reach millions around the world.

Learn More

Your cart is empty.

Keep shopping

Microsoft Excel: Excel Data Analysis: Excel for Beginners

Name: Microsoft Excel: Excel Data Analysis: Excel for Beginners
Rating: 4.5 (61 reviews)

Excel data analysis for beginners: Excel data analysis formulas, functions, charts and graphs: Excel for data analysis

Created byBrian Jackson

Last updated 5/2026

English

What you'll learn

Learn how to start, open, save, and manage Microsoft Excel workbooks so you can begin creating simple spreadsheets with confidence.
Understand Excel windows, menus, worksheets, rows, columns, cells, and ranges so the basic spreadsheet layout makes sense.
Enter values into Excel cells, edit spreadsheet content, and organize information clearly for simple personal or business use.
Perform basic arithmetic operations in Excel so you can add, subtract, multiply, and divide numbers directly inside your spreadsheets.
Use relative and absolute cell references so formulas behave correctly when copied across rows, columns, and spreadsheet ranges.
Apply common Excel functions including SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, and COUNT to calculate useful results from spreadsheet data.
Edit and format rows, columns, and cells so your spreadsheets are easier to read, understand, present, and print professionally.
Work with multiple worksheets and workbooks so you can organize related spreadsheet information across separate Excel tabs and files.
Freeze rows and columns in Excel so important headings stay visible while scrolling through larger spreadsheets and reports.
Use Excel date functions to create simple monthly projections and better understand how dates can support spreadsheet planning.
Sort spreadsheet data and apply conditional formatting so important values, patterns, and results are easier to identify.
Create charts and graphs from Excel data so you can turn spreadsheet numbers into clear visual reports for easier analysis.

Course content

6 sections • 33 lectures • 3h 30m total length

Course Overview2:31
This is an introduction to the course providing details on each of the lectures.
About Your Instructor5:55
In the Life and Times of Brian Jackson I provide an overview of my life so far.
Sample Excel Workbook0:13
This is a downloadable Excel 2013 Workbook containing multiple worksheet examples taken from the course. Use this material to review course product results.

Starting, Stopping, Saving, Windows and Menus8:09
In this lecture you'll learn to start and stop Excel and how to configure your Windows 8.1 environment for easy access to Excel. You'll also learn the elements of the Excel Window and Menus.
Assigning Values to Cells & Performing Arithmetic Operations5:52
In this lecture you'll begin entering values into the cells of a spreadsheet and enter arithmetic values.
Relative and Absolute Cell References and Ranges5:52
In this lecture you'll learn how to refer to relative and absolute cell references and ranges in arithmetic operations and function calls.
Common Math Functions: SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX & COUNT6:01
In this lecture you'll learn to use the most common Excel functions required to perform everyday operations.
Editing Columns, Rows and Cells8:19
In this section you'll learn to copy, cut and paste cell contents in addition to inserting and deleting columns and rows.
Formatting Columns, Rows and Cells5:15
In this lecture you'll learn to format Excel spreadsheets to enhance their visual appeal and performance.
Simple Sample Baseball Spreadsheet8:37
In this lecture you'll apply everything we've learned in this section to produce a simple baseball run tracker. Note that the spreadsheet created in this lecture is available for download as part of the Sample Excel Workbook referenced in the introduction.

Working with Worksheets and Workbooks3:23
In this lecture you'll learn how to add multiple worksheets (spreadsheets) to a single Excel workbook and how to reference cells in one spreadsheet from another.
Freezing Rows and Columns2:43
In this lecture you'll learn how to freeze columns and rows on the screen so that they do not scroll while the data of the spreadsheet does.
Functions3:16
In this lecture you'll learn how to find functions to perform virtually any arithmetic calculation.
Using Date Functions to Make Monthly Projections11:53
In this lecture I divolge my formula for projecting monthly sales figures for the month in progress.
Sorting1:20
In this lecture you'll learn how to sort the contents of a spreadsheet.
Conditional Formatting3:03
In this lecture you'll learn to use conditional formatting to applying colors to cells to highlight the relative magnitude of related values.
Charts and Graphs8:34
In this lecture you'll learn the basics of producing charts and graphs for inclusion in reports including Excel data.
Formatting and Printing Reports9:40
In this lecture you'll learn to beautify and print your Excel reports.
IF and IFS Functions7:46

Book Revenue Tracker19:56
In this lecture you'll produce a spreadsheet which can be used to track Amazon book sales while projecting monthly sales. Note that the spreadsheet created in this lecture is available for download as part of the Sample Excel Workbook referenced in the introduction.
Udemy Review Tracker11:01
In this lecture you'll see how to create a Udemy review tracking tool as a further demonstration of the techniques contained in this course. Note that the spreadsheet created in this lecture is available for download as part of the Sample Excel Workbook referenced in the introduction.
Overview of my Udemy Review Tracker - 1/8/201611:53
Udemy Review Tracker - 1/8/20160:24
Overview of My Udemy Course Progress Tracker4:58
Udemy Course Progress Tracker Excel Spreadsheet0:03
How to Find Your Best Udemy Reviewer16:59
This is a demonstration of how to export Udemy data as a CSV file, load that file into Excel and analyze that data to determine your best Udemy reviewers. Use the techniques as demonstrated or to produce your own unique data analysis.
Udemy Course Length Tracking Worksheet7:25
A simple example of using an Excel worksheet to track and project course in progress information.

Introduction0:13
In this lecture, I provide an introduction and overview of this section on using Excel to perform complex decision analysis.
Manual Decision Analysis Using a Text File11:50
In this lecture, I explain decision analysis and provide a demonstration using a simple text file. This lecture is provided in preparation for the next lecture in which I build a decision analysis Excel spreadsheet.
Building an Excel Decision Analysis Spreadsheet0:03
In this lecture, I build an Excel spreadsheet that can easily be used to perform complex decision analysis.

Requirements

You should already have licensed and installed Microsoft Excel on your computer.

Description

Want to learn Microsoft Excel but feel like you do not have the time?

Worried that Excel data analysis might be too complicated, too technical, or too overwhelming?

Maybe you have already tried to learn Excel before, only to get bogged down in long, detailed training that covered far more than you needed.

This course is designed to teach you Excel quickly and simply by focusing on the practical features beginners are most likely to use in real spreadsheets.

Instead of trying to teach every Excel feature, this course focuses on the essentials: formulas, functions, formatting, worksheets, charts, graphs, and basic data analysis.

Learn Excel the Practical Way

In this course, you will learn how to create, edit, format, and analyze simple spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel.

You will begin with the basics, including:

Starting, stopping, saving, and opening Excel files
Understanding Excel windows and menus
Entering values into cells
Performing basic arithmetic operations
Working with cell references and ranges
Editing and formatting rows, columns, and cells

You will also learn important Excel functions such as SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, and COUNT.

These simple functions are the foundation for many everyday spreadsheets and will help you calculate totals, averages, minimums, maximums, and counts with confidence.

Go Beyond the Basics

After learning the fundamentals, you will move into practical Excel data analysis skills that help make your spreadsheets more useful and professional.

You will learn how to:

Work with worksheets and workbooks
Freeze rows and columns
Use date functions for monthly projections
Sort spreadsheet data
Apply conditional formatting
Create charts and graphs
Format and print reports

The course also includes practical sample projects, such as a simple baseball spreadsheet, a book revenue-tracking spreadsheet, and a Udemy review-tracking spreadsheet.

Who This Course Is For

This course is for complete beginners and anyone who wants a simple, practical introduction to Excel data analysis.

It is especially useful for students, office workers, small business owners, writers, authors, course creators, and anyone who wants to become more comfortable working with spreadsheet data.

You do not need to be technical. You do not need advanced math skills. You do not need previous Excel experience.

By the End of This Course

By the end of this course, you should be able to create basic Excel spreadsheets, enter and format data, use common formulas and functions, organize information, create charts and graphs, and perform simple Excel data analysis tasks.

If you are ready to stop feeling intimidated by spreadsheets, this course will help you learn Microsoft Excel the fast and simple way.

I'll see you in the classroom,

—Brian Jackson

Who this course is for:

Complete Excel beginners who want a simple, step-by-step introduction without getting overwhelmed.
Students who need to create spreadsheets, organize data, use formulas, and build basic charts for school projects.
Office workers who want to become more confident using Excel for everyday tasks, reports, lists, and simple calculations.
Small business owners who need to track sales, expenses, revenue, inventory, or basic business data.
Writers, authors, and course creators who want to track book revenue, reviews, students, sales, or marketing results in Excel.

Microsoft Excel: Excel Data Analysis: Excel for Beginners

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction3 lectures • 9min

Basic Functionality7 lectures • 48min

More Advanced Functionality9 lectures • 52min

Sample Projects8 lectures • 1hr 13min

Decision Analysis Using Excel3 lectures • 12min

Conclusion3 lectures • 17min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: