Excel Pranks

Course Description

In this somewhat whimsical online CPE presentation Excel expert David H. Ringstrom, CPA will share with you several Excel features that can be used for good or bad. The more that we understand what's possible in Excel, the easier it become to learn ever more about spreadsheets. Techniques range from two different ways to set the default font for spreadsheets, hiding portions—or even the entire—Excel menu, randomizing the months of the year, and temporarily making workbooks invisible. The goal of this presentation is to spark thoughts along the lines of "Well, if Excel can do that, how do I do this?" You'll also have a better sense of how to recover from situations Excel exhibits odd behavior when certain settings get changed inadvertently.

David demonstrates every technique at least twice: first, on a PowerPoint slide with numbered steps, and second, in the subscription-based Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 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.

In this online continuing education program following major topics are covered:  

• Adding as many as 255 blank worksheets to new workbooks.
• Disabling the ability to edit worksheet cells by double-clicking, which also unlocks two hidden features.
• Enabling the R1C1 reference style in Excel so that column letters are replaced with column numbers in the worksheet frame.
• Exploring the nuance of the 1904 date system and how it can cause dates to shift by 4 years.
• Hiding selected menu tabs in Excel’s ribbon interface.
• Making Excel’s menu vanish when a workbook is activated and return when the user switches to another workbook.
• Preventing users from overwriting key workbooks by way of the Read Only setting.
• Reversing the column order for selected worksheets.
• Setting the default font for all future new workbooks.
• Setting workbooks to remain invisible while open in Excel.
• Triggering the arrow keys to scroll the worksheet instead of navigating to an adjacent cell.
• Using the Zoom feature to purposefully zoom an Excel spreadsheet to a particular size, especially after accidentally altering the zoom level.

Learning Objectives

• To identify how to specify the number of worksheets that appear when a new workbook is created.
• To State the location of the Custom Lists feature within Excel's menu interface.
• To discuss how to enable or disable the R1C1 reference style in Excel.

Recommended For

• The Online Continuing Education session is recommended for CPAs, CMAs, Accountants, Cloud Accountants, CPA in Business, Tax Prepares and other Professionals interested in learning unique excel prank techniques.

Who Should Attend?

Webinar Qualifies For

• 1 CPE Credit of Computer Software and Applications for Certified Public Accountants (CPA-US)
• 1 CPD Credit of Computer Software and Applications for Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA Canada)
• 1 CPE Credit of Information Technology for Certified Internal Auditors (CIA)
• 1 CPE Credit of Computer Software and Applications for Certified Management Accountants (CMA)
• 1 CE Credit for Certified Fiduciary & Investment Risk Specialist (CFIRS)
• 1 CE Credit for Certified Wealth Strategist (CWS)
• 1 General Credit of Computer Software and Applications for Accountant/Bookkeeper/Tax Professionals
• 1 CPD Credit for CA - ICAEW
• 1 CPD Credit for Chartered Accountants - Ireland (CAI)
• 1 CPD Credit for Chartered Accountants - Scotland
• 1 CPD Credit for CPA - Ireland
• 1 CPD Credit for Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
• 1 CPE Credit of Computer Software and Applications for Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
• 1 CPE Credit of Compliance with laws and regulations for Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM)
• 1 CPD Credit of Software and other process controls for Certified Information Technology Professionals (CITP)
• 1 CRE Credit of Information Technology (inc. Excel) for Certified Corporate FP&A Professional (FPAC)
• 1 CE Credit of Computer technology for Maryland Tax Preparer (MRTP) (Approval No. GEHNZ-T-01260-22-S)

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