Spreadsheet Models for Managers

Getting Access to Spreadsheet Models for Managers

f you use Excel to model businesses, business processes, or business transactions, this course will change your life. You'll learn how to create tools for yourself that will amaze even you. Unrestricted use of this material is available in two ways.

As a stand-alone Web site: It resides on your computer, and you can use it anywhere. No need for Internet access.
At this Web site: If you have access to the Internet whenever you want to view this material, you can purchase on-line access. Unlimited usage. I'm constantly making improvements and you'll get them as soon as they're available.

To Order On Line

Order "Spreadsheet Models for Managers, on-line edition, one month" by credit card, for USD 69.95 each, using our secure server, and receive download instructions by return email.

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Order "Spreadsheet Models for Managers, on-line edition, three months" by credit card, for USD 199.00 each, using our secure server, and receive download instructions by return email.

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Order "Spreadsheet Models for Managers, downloadable hyperbook edition" by credit card, for USD 199.00 each, using our secure server, and receive download instructions by return email.

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To Order by Mail

Make your check payable to Chaco Canyon Consulting, for the amount indicated:

For the download: USD 199.00
For access online for three months: USD 199.00
For access online for one month: USD 69.95

And send it to:
Chaco Canyon Consulting
700 Huron Avenue, Suite 11J
Cambridge, MA 02138

To use the course software you'll need some other applications, which you very probably already have. By placing your order, you're confirming that you have the software you need, as described on this site.

Spreadsheet Models for Managers

How Excel's Cells Work

Users of spreadsheets like Excel are familiar with cells seeming to "round" the values they enter. That isn't what happens. This page explains a model of how Excel's cells work.

hen you enter 123456.7890123 into a cell, Excel displays 123456.789 if the cell is wide enough. When you enter 123456.789999, Excel displays 123456.79. It appears to be rounding off what you enter. But it isn't. To see that, format both cells to show more decimals, using the Increase Decimal tool. Increase the decimals until you can see the number you entered. You might have to widen the column(s) the cells are in.

What's going on?

Excel does not automatically round off numbers you enter. It also doesn't automatically round off numeric results of calculations. It never rounds anything automatically. But it does display numbers according to the number of decimals you request, and it displays a rounded value to accomplish that.

You can understand this easily if you keep in mind a simple model of how cells work: the Formula/Value/Format model. In this model, you think of a cell as a three-layer device..

Formula layer: The formula layer stores the formula that the cell uses to compute its value when the sheet is recalculated. Most formulas start with an equal sign (=). But some don't. For instance, when you enter text, you can think of the text as a formula that just returns itself. Similarly, numbers are just formulas that return themselves. By the way, if you want to enter text that starts with an equal sign, start with a single-quote (').
Value layer: The value layer stores the value of the cell as of the latest recalculation. When you reclaculate the cell, the sheet, or the workbook, Excel runs the formula that's stored in the formula layer and inserts the result into the value layer. The contents of the value layer do not affect the contents of the formula layer.
Format layer: The format layer contains instructions for creating a displayed representation of the contents of the value layer. These instructions might control the type face, type size, type color, cell color, cell borders, number of decimal places, whether or not to insert commas between powers of 1000, and so on. The format instructions do not affect the contents of the value layer.

With this model, it's easy to understand why Excel displays what it displays when we enter numeric data.

For more about my spreadsheet consulting and training services, visit SpreadsheetAce.com.

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Feeling queasy about spreadsheets?

We run our companies, in part, based on spreadsheets, yet we often wonder if they're really right. Learn more about improving the reliability and effectiveness of your financial models.

With dozens of solved problems and special course tools, this course can dramatically increase your spreadsheet skills. For just USD 199.00 you receive three months of access with unlimited email support. Learn more about improving your spreadsheet sophistication and effectiveness.

Get the Hyperbook Edition of This Course

Identical to the edition you're viewing, but with dozens of solved problems and special course tools, and it stands alone — no Internet connection required. For just USD 199.00, it includes three months of unlimited email support. Learn more about improving your spreadsheet sophistication and effectiveness.

Spreadsheet Models for Managers

Getting Access to Spreadsheet Models for Managers

Spreadsheet Models for Managers

How Excel's Cells Work

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