Power Query

Level: Intermediate

Available Durations:

  • 50 minutes
  • 60 minutes
  • 75 minutes
  • 90 minutes
  • 100 minutes
  • 120 minutes

Description:

Power Query is a feature that is built into Excel 2016 and later and can be added for free to Excel 2010 and 2013. In this presentation Excel expert David H. Ringstrom, CPA helps you get started with this feature that enables you to create set-and-forget data extractions and reports. The presentation leads off with creating a list of worksheets in any Excel workbook. You’ll then see how to extract text from cells that even worksheet functions can’t handle. You’ll see how Power Query can wrestle even the most convoluted accounting report exports into in an analysis-ready format. You’ll also see how to unpivot any report that has separate columns by account, class, or other measure into a list that is far better suited to data analysis.

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.

Topics/Areas Typically Covered:

  • Appending data from two or more worksheets into a self-updating consolidated list with Power Query.
  • Consolidating financial statement exports from two or more entities by appending queries within Power Query.
  • Creating a self-updating list of worksheets in any workbook with Power Query.
  • Creating self-updating financial spreadsheets by using Power Query in Excel 2010 and later to pull data via automated queries that also overcome common issues in exported reports.
  • Extracting data from PDF files with Power Query in Microsoft 365.
  • Extracting text from the middle of a cell that has non-breaking spaces around it by way of Power Query (non-breaking spaces often appear in reports copied or generated from web pages).
  • Importing and cleaning up text files with Power Query in anticipation for data analysis.
  • Managing data security prompts that may appear when you link external data into Excel spreadsheets.

Learning Objectives/Why You Should Attend:

  • Demonstrate how to use Power Query to extract text from cells based on non-breaking spaces.
  • Identify the location of the Power Query commands within Microsoft Excel.
  • Recall how to unpivot a report into an analysis-ready format.

Target Industries:

  • Accounting and Finance
  • Business
  • Excel Users
  • Consulting
  • IT
  • Auditing
  • Human Resources
  • Marketing
  • Sales
  • Government
  • Tax

Target Job Title:

  • Accountants
  • CPAs
  • CFOs
  • Controllers
  • Income Tax Preparers
  • Enrolled Agents
  • Financial Consultants
  • IT Professionals
  • Auditors
  • Human Resource Personnel
  • Bookkeepers
  • Excel Users
  • Marketers
  • Government Personnel

About the Instructor:

David H. Ringstrom, CPA is the owner of Accounting Advisors, Inc., an Atlanta-based spreadsheet consulting firm that he started in 1991. Throughout his career David has spoken at conferences on Microsoft Excel, and written dozens of freelance articles about spreadsheets. He offers Excel and Access training and consulting services nationwide.

Pricing and Format Options:

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