Stage 2 · Lesson 6 of 6
A workbook other people can trust
A spreadsheet is only useful if someone else can follow it. Keep the untouched raw data on one tab. Do cleaning and calculations on a second, tab, and put the summary or chart on a third, output tab.
Add a notes tab that says where the data came from and what each step does. Use , such as drop-down lists, for any cells people type into. Avoid typing fixed numbers inside formulas, and colour input cells the same way throughout.
This layout mirrors how Power Query, CTEs and organise work later in the roadmap.
Common trapa single tab where raw data, manual fixes and totals are mixed together, so no one, including you in three months, can say where a number came from.
A question to check yourself, an AI practice session and 2 cheat sheet entries come with the full roadmap. Unlock
Resources for this stage
Start with
- GuideFreeExcel help and learning
Microsoft · Beginner
Official, accurate guides to XLOOKUP, SUMIFS, PivotTables and cleaning functions, with examples you can paste