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Optimizing Excel: Beyond the Basics with Functions and Formatting (Excel Bootcamp Series)

Class Code Date Delivery Method Cost
ITS-1526
  • Tue May 14, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Ventura Hall (Room 1) - 1 session $300
ITS-1526
  • Thu Jun 13, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Ventura Hall (Room 1) - 1 session $300
ITS-1526
  • Mon Jul 1, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Live Online - 1 session $300

Most Technology Training classes will be delivered online until further notice.

Before each sesson, Tech Training will provide a Zoom link for live online classes, along with any required class materials.


This course will cover advanced formulas and functions including VLOOKUP, showcase the benefits and use of conditional formatting, and introduce the best practices for arranging the page layout and printer settings for various spreadsheets.

This is the second session of the Stanford University Technology Training Excel Proficiency Certificate program. The program includes four half-day training sessions and a final exam challenge. In order to obtain your certificate of completion, you must attend at least three of the four sessions and successfully pass the final exam challenge.

Note: It is not required to take the final exam challenge if you are just interested in the training session.

Prerequisite: Excel Bootcamp Series: Basics, or equivalent experience.

Learning Objectives 
During this course, you will have the opportunity to:
- Advance your knowledge of cell value formulas and functions
- Learn the use of the VLOOKUP function
- Set up conditional operations
- Determine the ideal print setting and page layout for various spreadsheets and desired data sets

Topic Outline
This session focuses on:
- Formulas and functions
- Use LEFT, RIGHT, MID, SEARCH, and FIND functions to parse cell values
- Combine values with CONCATENATE, CONCAT, and TEXTJOIN.
- Using the Text-to-columns
- Conditional operations with IF, SUMIF(S), AVERAGEIF(S), COUNTIF(S)
- Date and time functions (TODAY, NOW, MONTH, YEAR, DAY, DATEDIF)
- VLOOKUP function
- Page layout and print settings

Igor Ovchinnikov

Igor Ovchinnikov has been teaching software productivity classes for over 20 years. Stanford staff have enjoyed his training since around 2007. His training philosophy stems from a strong belief that learning is a perpetual cycle of new discoveries and improvement.

Custom training workshops are available for this program

Technology training sessions structured around individual or group learning objectives. Learn more about custom training


University IT Technology Training sessions are available to a wide range of participants, including Stanford University staff, faculty, students, and employees of Stanford Hospitals & Clinics, such as Stanford Health Care, Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley, Stanford Medicine Partners, and Stanford Medicine Children's Health.

Additionally, some of these programs are open to interested individuals not affiliated with Stanford, allowing for broader community engagement and learning opportunities.