**Prerequisite - Introduction to Computers

Topics:

* Entering & Selecting Data
* Navigating in Excel
* Move, Cut, Copy and Paste Data
* Auto fill
* Insert and Delete Rows and Columns
* Find and Replace
* Intro to Basic Formulas
* Formatting the worksheet
* Using Multiple Sheets in a Workbook
* Printing Workbooks
* Freezing and Splitting Worksheets
* Hide and Unhide Worksheets

FUNCTION INTRODUCTION
Have you ever tried to set up formulas in a worksheet and just can't get past using AutoSum? Come learn the process of setting up formulas in MS Excel. We will review the basics of how math is done in Excel and how to develop spreadsheets with formulas that give us the information we need. A strong foundation in working with functions will greatly increase you ability to work with Excel! We will look at several construction applications involving functions.

This course is a prerequisite to all the Excel Shorts, including Estimating with Excel.

**Prerequisite - Introduction to Computers and Excel Basics

Topics:

* Math Review
* AutoSum
* Relative & Absolute Reference
* Name Box
* Payment, If and Lookup Functions
* Multi-sheet Functions
* Creating a Numerical Summary Worksheet
* Build a Budget
* Scenarios & Goal Seek
* Excel Problem Solving Skills

ESTIMATING WITH EXCEL: LET EXCEL DO THE WORK!
Let Excel do more of the work for you! Excel is able to do calculations and formatting based on the criteria that you set. In this course, we will learn how to generate a take-off list that minimizes the amount of data entry, looks up appropriate information from a price list, creates totals of similar type items, automatically highlights totals that exceed a certain limit, and summarizes your totals into an estimate. This course brings together the Excel tools for math, logic, formatting and automation in a practical application.

**Absolute Prerequisite - Excel Basics and Function Introduction

Topics:

* Functions/Formulas
* Entering Info from a Drop Down List
* Lookup Info from a Price List (or any other list of Info)
* Create Sums based on a certain criteria
* Count Entries based on a certain criteria
* Automatically format info based on certain criteria
* Exporting/Importing from Other Estimating Software
* Problem Solving Skills

SUBMITTAL LOGS: TRACKING TIME SENSITIVE INFORMATION
Not only do we just track lists of information with our Submittals Logs, but we also have to manage our time requirements for the various submittals. Excel supplies numerous tools which can make it easier to keep track of our submittals and their associated time constraints. Learn how to create a trigger that will automatically highlight those submittals which are nearing or have passed their due date. We will also review some basic sorting and filtering techniques and learn how to summarize our information according to certain criteria (i.e. which submittals are overdue, etc.).

**Prerequisite - Excel Basics and Function Introduction

Topics:

* Time Triggers: Today, Now, If Days360
* Conditional Formatting
* Sort/Filter
* Summarizing Information

MANAGING INFORMATION LOGS
With all of the change orders, RFI's and other information that we track on our jobs, we end up creating numerous logs. Excel provides an excellent tool for managing and tracking these logs of information. Learn how to locate the information you need by using various sorting and filtering techniques. We will also look at a variety of other tools to identify and summarize your information. We will use CO Logs and RFI Logs as our examples for the class.

**Prerequisite - Excel Basics and Function introduction

Topics:

* Sorting, Filtering and Adv. Filters
* Conditional Formatting
* Subtotals
* Text Functions: Right, Left, Mid, etc.
* Reviewing Toolbar (Comments)
* Hyperlinks

TIME CARDS: PROTECTING AND REUSING YOUR SPREADSHEETS
Protecting our formulas and workbooks is crucial to working with Excel. Time cards are a common example of a spreadsheet that is used repetitively and contains information that we need to protect. Learn how to track your formulas, set up look up functions and to protect your information. Also, learn how to reuse a spreadsheet without losing the old information (i.e. don't lose last week's time card info).

**Prerequisite - Excel Basics and What's Your Function?

Topics:

* Templates
* Review of Basic Formulas (AutoSum)
* Formula Auditing
* Protecting Workbooks
* Indirect, If, IsError, and Days360 Functions
* Exporting to CSV and Text files

**Prerequisite - Excel Basics and Function Introduction

Topics:

* Creating Charts
* Modifying Chart Data
* Formatting Charts
* Forecasting
* Creating Pivot Tables
* Modifying Pivot Tables
* Generating Pivot Table Reports

ADVANCED TOPICS IN EXCEL
Learn to use some time-saving and analysis features in Excel. This course brings together several tools that aid in automating and reviewing our work. We will also cover various methods of importing and exporting information.

**Prerequisite - Excel Basics and Function Introduction

Topics:

* Macros
* Tracking Changes - Revisions
* Scenarios, Goal Seek, and Trend-lines
* Outlining
* Find and Replace Formats
* Import form Web
* Web Queries
* Export to CSV and Text files

**Prerequisite - Excel Basics

Topics:

* Basic MS Project environment
* Setting/Changing the Start Date
* Changing the Work Calendar
* Tasks and Summary Tasks
* Outlining Features
* Basic link types
* Intro to Logic Driven schedules
* Difference between the Gantt View and the Tracking Gantt
* Critical Path
* Three Week Look-Aheads (filtering the schedule)
* Different views
* Intro to Viewing and Assigning Resources
* Creating Notes within the schedule

BUILDING A PROJECT SCHEDULE
Learn how to build a basic construction project schedule. In planning for a job to start, we need to create a project schedule. Ideally, this initial schedule becomes a benchmark for us to measure progress and costs on our jobs. This course walks through the process of building that basic schedule and preparing it to be used during the job. We will also cover some introductory issues on tracking a job in progress. This course assumes the user will be proficient with standard computer skills - we will not review how to open or save files.

**Prerequisite - Excel Basics and Reading a Project

Topics:

* Setting Project Start Date
* Creating a "reusable" Work Calendars
* Reusing Calendars - Learn not to redo work that you have already done!
* Understand Duration vs. Work
* Create different Tasks: Project Summary, Recurring, Summary and Sub-tasks
* Outlining and the Work Breakdown Structure
* Linking Tasks
* Introductory Logic issues
* Creating and Using Resources
* Critical Path & Saving the baseline
* Updating a schedule in Progress

LINKING AND LOGIC IN MS PROJECT
While tracking a construction job with MS Project, have you ever had the schedule adjust in unexpected ways? This course focuses on using logic in MS Project. If we want our schedules to be useful beyond the first day of a job, we need to understand how the schedule will adjust once we start making changes. We will also address how to include submittal items on the schedule. This course assumes the user will be familiar with the MS Project environment and standard computer skills - we will not review how to open or save files.

**Absolute Prerequisite - Excel Basics, Reading a Project, and Building a Project

Topics:

* Review of creating a "reusable" Work Calendars
* Reusing Calendars - Learn not to redo work that you have already done!
* Linking Tasks
* Link Types
* Lag and Lead
* Constraints vs. Deadlines
* Updating a schedule w/Tracking Gantt
* Examining how various logic types effect the schedule
* Using Resources to manipulate the schedule
* Resource Leveling
* Setting an Interim Plan

MASTER SCHEDULING WITH MS PROJECT
With MS Project, we can manage multiple schedules at once. The Master Scheduling course covers how to use MS Project to view and link together multiple schedules, how to share resources between schedules and other advanced topics. We will also look at time saving techniques, including customizing MS Project to view your work the way you like without having to recustomize each individual schedule. This course assumes the user will be familiar with the Project environment and standard computer skills - we will not review how to open or save files.

**Absolute Prerequisite - Excel Basics, Reading a Project, Building a Project

**Recommended Prerequisite - Linking and Logic

Topics:

* Review of Updating Schedules
* Master Schedules
* Linking different schedules
* Sharing Resources and Resource Pools
* Creating Custom Views
* Using the Organizer
* Hyperlinks
* Reports
* Creating and Using a Template Schedule
* Importing Info - from Excel, estimating software, etc.
* Exporting

MS PROJECT FAST TRAX
Are you required to build and manage your own schedules? Are you familiar with project management and ready for a thorough understanding of what MS Project offers? The MS Project Fast Trax series offers comprehensive instruction on building and managing a project schedule for construction. This is a two-day course which will incorporate all the information from the MS Project series. Please see the other course descriptions for more detailed information. This class is intended for users who are proficient with general computer skills and have a basic working knowledge of Excel.

**Absolute Prerequisite - Standard computer skills and Excel Basics