Virtual

Virtual classes quickly became the “new normal” during 2020. My overriding concern before, during and after the storm that was 2020 is making sure that people have the information they need to do their job effectively. Though much of the material is re-used in virtual classes from in-person classes, the techniques and presentation are different as I adapt to the new presentation methods.

Introduction to Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams has taken the world by storm as we have all learned how to operate in the “new normal” of COVID-19. It’s an innovative tool that allows us to securely connect, meet, chat and share files from the comfort of our computer – whether in the office or in Read more…

Advanced Document Formatting and Lists

Legal documents are known for being boring and hard to style. Questions like “can we move this section to the front of the document” can destroy list numbering and throw staff into a frenzy of manual formatting. Learn how to let Microsoft Word handle all of the formatting work for Read more…

Navigation and References

Often the last thing people think of, a professional table of contents and other references are the lifeline that busy readers depend on to navigate your document. If you’ve ever stayed up late going back over a document to build a table of contents or an index, you’ll be glad Read more…

Headers & Footers

The bane of many an administrator or author, you’ll find that Headers and Footers are quite simple when you learn their secrets. Change page numbering easily with the secretive section breaks and build professional looking documents with the odd and even page numbering and different first page features. This class Read more…

Mail Merge Made Simple

In the beginning we were using mail merge to customize letters to hundreds of people at a time. The advantages of Mail Merge have grown in the interim to where we should probably be calling them data merges. Microsoft has also simplified the mail merge process so that anyone can Read more…

Quick Formatting with Styles

That bar of styles in your Ribbon is the least used tool in Microsoft Word, and perhaps the most important. You’ll learn that you can quickly turn boring blobs of text into attractive and legible documents that anyone would be proud of. Click a button and change the appearance of Read more…

Quick Tips for Mastering Word

If you learned how to type on a typewriter, then this class is for you. Power users know that there are shortcuts and tools that have been staring you in the face every time you sat down to use Microsoft Word. But you don’t know how to use them if Read more…

Animations, Transitions and Command Buttons

You cannot communicate a message if your audience is asleep. Learn how to put the WOW into your presentations with animations, transitions, and command buttons. If you’ve already discovered entrance effects, you’ll learn that there is so much more, as you guide your audience’s attention around a slide and through Read more…

Professional PowerPoint Skills

We all judge ourselves against our peers, and there’s nothing worse than having to follow a polished presentation when you’re not certain about your own skills. These ten steps will help you stand out from the crowd and become the presenter that everyone else looks up to. Avoiding Death by Read more…

The Data Model and DAX Formulas

Microsoft has created a special language to write formulas and measures for PivotTable and Power PivotTable data called DAX. Though remarkably similar to regular Excel formulas, these new functions include filtering in the function and bridging the gap between database languages like SQL and traditional Excel. If you are a Read more…

Dashboards with Pivot Charts, Power Query and Power Maps

A dashboard is the holy grail of data. You allow non-data users to interact with your data in a way that provides meaningful button-driven interfaces with visual Pivot Charts and Power Maps. Power Query is the behind the scenes beast that makes all of this possible, and even provides you Read more…

PivotTables for Data Geeks

When you’ve progressed beyond the bare basics of PivotTables you start to realize how much more is possible by linking information from disparate sets and formatting it for other users to understand. The world of data will open up as you learn about the 3-D data model and the building Read more…

Logical Functions in Excel

Microsoft Excel allows you to perform many amazing calculations by combining logical functions with operation functions. For example, “count how many projects were completed ahead of time,” can be restated as “if a project was completed ahead of time, then count it.” Once you understand the lingo, the world of Read more…

Lookup Functions in Excel

Matching data between two sets of information is one of the first tools that most advanced Microsoft Excel users learn. For example, it allows you to take an account number from one list and look up the payments from another list. It forever relieves you of manually filtering data and Read more…

Tables and PivotTables for Beginners

Many users assume that Microsoft Excel information is already in a Table. It has lines and rows and columns – oh my! Truthfully, the core power of Excel only comes out when you convert that information into Tables and PivotTables. It’s so easy to filter and sort your information that Read more…

Visualize Information with Charts

If a picture is worth a thousand words, why are you writing so much? Charts are a great way to convey complex data in a meaningful visual format. In fact, studies have proven conclusively that readers will look at a chart and trust it before they will the accompanying data. Read more…

Avoid Manual Formatting with Conditional Formatting

We’ve all seen the worksheet where someone painstakingly color-coded information based on its status, amount, or next steps. But what to do when the next set of data comes in? Why, re-do all that work, of course! But when you learn about Conditional Formatting, you’ll learn that all that work Read more…

Ten Must-Know Functions

There are almost 500 functions built into Microsoft Excel, but the vast majority of work is carried out by these top-ten powerhouses. Starting with the venerable Sum function, you’ll quickly move into Aggregate functions that will count how many, calculate the highest number and average large sums. But functions are Read more…

Quick Tips for Excel

People who can make Microsoft Excel dance are the envy of their co-workers. Truth be told, these 10 simple steps will propel you into their ranks as you learn that you don’t have to do everything the hard way. Come to the easy side of Excel and learn the secrets Read more…

Special Use Cases for PDFs

Almost the first question out of everyone’s mouth during accessibility is “but what about…?” and this session will answer those questions. You’ll learn how to work with special requirements of legal documents and how to deal with multi-lingual documents.