How to Fix other people's Microsoft Excel spreadsheets

Whether you're interested in learning Microsoft Excel from the bottom up or just looking to pick up a few tips and tricks, you're in the right place. In this tutorial from everyone's favorite digital spreadsheet guru, ExcelIsFun, the 26th installment in his "Highline Excel Class" series of free video Excel lessons, you'll learn how to use spreadsheet construction guidelines to fix common problems:

1) Center across selection instead of Merge and Center

2) Formulas instead of text

3) Do not hard-code variable numbers in formulas but instead use formula inputs in an assumption area

4) When to use ROUND function

5) When to use mixed cell references instead of absolute or relative cell references

6) Use SUM instead of plus sign

7) Indicate units with Currency format

8) Show decimals with Currency format

9) Show decimals with Percentage format

10) Change dates as text to dates as serial numbers

11) Change column width

12) Format table