You'll not only learn how to control a user's actions, but you'll also learn how to make your spreadsheets as future-proof as possible. You'll also learn techniques that can significantly save you time when making a spreadsheet as "user-proof" as possible

The session will lead off with a discussion of look-up formulas in Excel. Spreadsheet-based data is often dynamic, so functions such as VLOOKUP help spreadsheet stay resilient and minimize future maintenance. However, VLOOKUP can easily trigger errors such as #N/A or #REF!, so you’ll see how to contain these errors to avoid ripple effects through your entire workbook. One of the biggest risks within spreadsheets is the need to circle back and rewrite formulas because an unexpected amount of additional data was added to a spreadsheet. You’ll see how the Table feature in Excel can future-proof Excel spreadsheets so that you can create resilient set-and-forget formulas in Excel. Documenting proper use of spreadsheets can be tedious, and most users don’t have the time to reference external instructions. Instead you’ll see how to use Data Validation to control a user’s actions and document the spreadsheet all at once. Crafty users can by-pass Data Validation but Excel has a hidden audit step you can apply to easily determine when someone has “colored outside the lines” in your spreadsheet.

Locking spreadsheets down is often a tedious and frustrating exercise, because it’s important to lock all formulas and cells that you don’t want the user to change, but also be sure to unlock any cells you do want the user to be able to modify. You’ll learn now to toggle the locked/unlocked status of cells with a keystroke, and then see how to use Conditional Formatting in Excel to determine the locked/unlocked status of your entire spreadsheet at a glance.