Paths to becoming an Excel Expert

  • Thread starter Thread starter PBB
  • Start date Start date
P

PBB

Dear community

I am a retired accountant, and have used Excel for many years, including
power user, macro and VBA development.

I would like to specialise in this field + maybe delivering Excel training,
maybe offering my services as a freelance.

What is the best path to develop this expertise? Is there a worthwhile
Microsoft Certification route - which I find confusing? And finally is it
worth sticking with VBA which seems to be on the back burner now?

Thanks for any suggestions.
 
First, some links to several "Excel Experts"
www.chandoo.org
www.peltiertech.com
www.contextures.com
www.spreadsheetpage.com

Each has their own specialties, so that may determine what model you want to
follow. In basics, you need to get your name out there and become established
as someone that people can trust and know about.

These days, the goto method usually involves starting a blog where you
discuss XL topics, maybe offer a few free XL workbooks showing off some of
your stuff. Once traffic starts to build, you could get some advertisements
going on your site to generate revenue. Work at getting more people to notice
your site, and start offering your services (for $$$). All the experts I
listed are very approachable, and you could probably write to them for
further advice/detail. Chandoo's site is relatively new, so he would probably
have a lot of insight as to becoming recognized as an expert.

I'd hang onto the VBA knowledge. There's still a large amount of people
using it, and it provides so much more power to XL. Also, its one of the few
parts of XL that can be password protected for security, thus preserving your
intellectual property, if so desired.
 
Hi Again
If you're looking for just Excel certification, do a search for MOS
Certification.
"Microsoft Office Specialiste"
John
 
A simple search for "vba password hack" will have you rethinking the
idea that VBA password protection is safe for protecting intellectual
property.

--JP
 
Hi PBB,

A few thoughts - just my own opinion, you will have to make up your own
mind.

Developing an on-line presence helps, but it it not a prerequisite for doing
Excel consulting.

I would not reccomend Microsoft Certification for product technologies - you
should already know the product if you want to consult.

MCT seems to be well regarded if you wish to be a trainer, not something I
have done, but I have seen others do quite well.

If you wish to do Excel consulting, go see a few local businesses, leave a
one-page summary with them, be patient, get referrals.

You are an accountant, you know Excel, do not price yourself too cheap,
quote an hourly rate that is consistent with your market.

Be wary of clients who expect too much. Take small projects first where
deliverables are easily measured by you and your client. Take larger
projects when you are comfortable with the client. Have a graceful exit
strategy when you are not comfortable.

Always be prepared to learn from your clients, do not assume you know it
all.

Ed Ferrero
www.edferrero.com
 
Here's some information that Jan Karel Pierterse (http://www.jkp-ads.com)
provided about how to really lock-down/protect your VBA code
http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...97ca0d-da75-416e-8f1d-e9bfba487337&sloc=en-us

I'll save you a trip to the link, but wanted to give credit where it was
due, by posting the meat of it here:

1. Save the Excel workbook (.xls) file into an add-in (File > SaveAs.....)
2. After you have the saved add-in (.xla), close the Excel workbook (.xls)
3. Double click on the add-in to open it
4. Press Alt+F11 to access the add-in's vba project
5. Lock the vba-project with a password
6. Double-click on the "ThisWorkbook" code module
7. Press F4 to open the Properties window
8. Change the "IsAddin" status to FALSE
9. Return to Excel by Pressing Alt+Q (or close the vbe window)
10. Go to Tools > Share Workbook
11. When the dialogue appears, check the box for: (Allow changes by.....)
12. Press OK to close the Dialogue
13. When prompted to save, Press OK
14. Press Ok to accept that "macros cannot be accessed"
15. You should feel giddy at this point because you just realized what you
have
been missing right under your nose
16. Verify that the [SHARED] appears in the application title bar
17. Now save the workbook again as an Add-in (File > SaveAs...) overwriting
the
previous one
18. Close this Excel workbook without saving the changes (you don't need it)
19. Test out your newly saved add-in (open it, access the vbe, try to expand
the project window, you should get the new message "Project is Unviewable"
20. You're done
 
The MOS certification is 'ok', and relatively inexpensive to achieve. But it
really is a certificate more to certify an end-user's abilities. There is
nothing in the test about writing VBA code from scratch; it centers around
how to do things in Excel/on a worksheet. Of course, knowing that is crucial
to actually providing professional services. I say this from experience,
since I now hold Excel 97 cert along with full MOS Master cert for Office
2003.

I also agree with Luke M about VBA being a valuable tool. There simply are
many things that cannot be done with worksheet functions alone, especially
when it comes to building custom applications with lots of automation for
clients.
 
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