Excel Accountant: Dynamic Arrays

Learning Objectives

• To recognize a dynamic array function from a list of worksheet functions.
• To identify the function that returns the principal portion of a single loan payment based on a constant interest rate and constant payments.
• To explore data validation/filter function in MS Excel. 
• To recognize the character that represents the Spilled Range Operator.

Course Description

Since its inception, Excel’s recalculation engine has never been revamped. Excel expert David Ringstrom, CPA, introduces webcast participants to an entirely new class of worksheet functions known as dynamic arrays. Available only to Microsoft 365 subscribers, dynamic arrays recalculate traditional formulas faster. They also eliminate the need to use menu commands to sort, filter, and/or remove duplicates from a list of data. You can create formulas that resize themselves automatically, including an amortization table that expands into additional rows when a loan term increases or contracts when a loan term is shortened.

David demonstrates every technique at least twice: first, on a PowerPoint slide with numbered steps, and second, in the subscription-based Microsoft 365 version of Excel. David draws your attention to any differences in the older versions of Excel (2019, 2016, 2013, and earlier) during the presentation as well as in his detailed handouts. David also provides an Excel workbook that includes most of the examples he uses during the webcast.

Microsoft 365 is a subscription-based product that provides new feature updates as often as monthly. Conversely, the perpetual licensed versions of Excel have feature sets that don’t change. Perpetual licensed versions have year numbers, such as Excel 2019, Excel 2016, and so on.

This Online CPE webinar on Excel typically covers the following Key Topics:

• Displaying subsets of data dynamically by way of the new FILTER worksheet function.
• Matching the IPMT and SEQUENCE functions to create a dynamic column of interest-paid amounts.
• Filtering based upon two or more conditions with the FILTER function in Microsoft 365.
• Creating an in-cell list by way of Excel’s Data Validation feature.
• Utilizing the PPMT and SEQUENCE functions together to return a dynamic column of principal paid amounts.
• Preventing dynamic arrays from resizing by using wrapper functions.
• Nesting dynamic array functions such as SORT and UNIQUE together.
• Locating documentation and example workbooks to use while exploring dynamic arrays in Microsoft 365.
• Assigning random numbers to a block of cells by way of the new RANDARRAY function.
• Crafting self-resizing formulas with the new Spilled Range Operator in Microsoft 365.
• Sorting lists of data dynamically from elsewhere in a spreadsheet with the new SORT function.
• Troubleshooting the new #SPILL! the error that can arise in certain circumstances concerning dynamic array formulas in Microsoft 365.

Overview

• Office Insider Program

  5 mins
• SORT Function (Office 365 Only)

  8 mins
• #SPILL! Error (Office 365 Only)

  17 mins
• FILTER Function (Office 365 Only)

  23 mins
• #CALC! Error (Office 365 Only)

  30 mins
• UNIQUE Function (Office 365 Only)

  37 mins
• Data Validation/FILTER Function

  45 mins
• Dynamic Data Validation Lists

  49 mins
• SEQUENCE Function

  55 mins
• Undoing the Table Feature

  66 mins
• Spilled Range Operator

  80 mins
• Dynamic PPMT Function

  93 mins