JUST SIMPLE WORK / WORKPLACE GUIDES
Excel & Spreadsheet Guides for Everyday Office Work
Learn practical Excel formulas, lookups, data cleaning and reliable shared-workbook practices. Start with the task you need to finish, use the relevant example, and check the result against your own data.
Quick start
- Use an exact-match lookup with a unique key.
- Record material spreadsheet changes and retain a versioned source file.
- Use a consistent naming convention for shared reports.
Practical example
If order IDs are in column A and customer names in B, =XLOOKUP("SO-004",A2:A100,B2:B100,"Not found",0) returns the customer for the exact order ID. Check for duplicate keys; XLOOKUP returns a match, not proof that the key is unique. Older Excel versions may require INDEX/MATCH.
This is an illustrative example, not a screenshot or claim of software testing. Check application versions and workplace policies.
Read the guides
- Excel XLOOKUP: five practical office examples
- Keep a spreadsheet change log
- Shared folder file naming rules
- Build a pivot table from messy office data
- Prevent entry errors with an Excel drop-down list
- Five Excel formulas for routine data entry
Frequently asked questions
Should I use XLOOKUP or INDEX/MATCH?
XLOOKUP is straightforward where available. INDEX/MATCH supports older versions; check your Excel edition and test formulas with real data.
How do teams keep reports traceable?
Agree on one source of truth, save versioned reports and document changes to formulas, assumptions and data sources.
Will Excel files work in Google Sheets?
Many XLSX files can be imported, but formulas, validation, formatting and protections should be checked after conversion.
Related practical toolkit
Excel Formula Troubleshooter is available now for US$9. Explore the 14 practice exercises, 20 formula patterns and PDF guide on its product page, then continue to Gumroad for secure checkout and download.
Browse all workplace guides, or visit Templates & Tools for resources currently available.