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Versions Available for both Classic and New ExcelMy Excel Reports Are Easy
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by Charley Kyd,
MBA
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Click here to see a brief video of an Excel dashboard in action. |
You Can Create Reports of This Quality
The video at the link above demonstrates the dashboard report that my e-book shows you how to create from scratch. Thousands of Excel users have already created their own dashboards using this book.
And you can too.
Do you doubt it? Just glance through the testimonials on this page. You'll find enthusiastic notes from Excel users working...
| "...the use of dashboards saved me hours & hours of time every month." |
...on at least four continents.
...in very large and very small companies.
...in Finance, of course, but also in marketing, support areas, operations, executive offices, and engineering.
...in many industries, including pharmaceuticals, banking, health care, transportation, consulting, wood products, airlines, universities, communications, travel, oil, automotive, newspapers, and even a ministry.
...at all levels, from presidents and owners of companies, to Excel users just out of school.
If they can create Excel dashboards, you can too!
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How I Invented Spreadsheet Dashboards...And Why!
When I worked as a management accountant I used to print tall stacks of spreadsheet reports like the ugly ones at the top of this page. I worked hard on those reports.
But my audience usually didn't appreciate my hard work. In fact, they often groaned when they got my reports.
The reason was obvious. Those stacks of pages were filled with long columns of tiny numbers. My reports were too much work for busy managers to read and understand. My reports provided facts, but no insight.
And that wasn't my only reporting problem.
| "It has saved me vast amounts of time." |
Each period, I worked long hours to prepare those reports. I had to import the data, sort it, merge it, rearrange it, error-check it, and print it. I had to do the same thing for the next report, and the next. Then, in a week or a month, I had to do that same work all over again.
I spent too much time processing the data, and too little time using it to improve company performance. I spent too much time in spreadsheet hell!
Then I discovered two articles from the Harvard Business Review.
A 1978 article was titled "Graphic shorthand as an aid to managers." It was written by the VP Finance of one of Mexico's largest companies at the time. It showed how the author's company reported performance using many small charts on one page.
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| These Excel dashboard reports are based on examples and figures from the Harvard Business Review, Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, and Business Week. |
A 1980 article was titled "Graphic indicators of operations." Written by a manager at one of the Big Eight accounting firms, it showed how to use many small charts and tables on a page to serve as a business early warning system.
I looked at the easy-to-read examples in those articles. Then I thought of the dreck that I was producing. And I was shamed by the comparison.
So I grew determined to create easy-to-read reports in my spreadsheets.
I began the work about 1980, using VisiCalc. When Lotus 1-2-3 was introduced I switched to that program. In my first book, Financial Modeling Using Lotus 1-2-3, which I wrote for McGraw-Hill, I devoted a chapter to the "mini-chart" techniques that I had developed.
Then, after Excel hit the market, I figured out how to convert my Lotus mini-graphs into magazine-quality dashboards like those above. I've been doing this a long time!
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Here's a brief video that demonstrates an Excel traffic light in action. |
The Advantages of Excel Dashboards
With the help of just a few simple techniques, Excel can offer significant power to generate high-quality, low-cost, low-maintenance dashboards. Here are some specific reasons that using Excel dashboards is a good idea for any business:
Because Excel dashboard reports require no software other than Excel, this method
is free. "Real" dashboard software can cost many thousands of
dollars.
Excel can generate "magazine-quality" reports, as shown in the
videos.
Excel can display data from any number of sources, of any kind, using
virtually any design...all in one report.
Excel users can update their reports in seconds...reducing Spreadsheet Hell significantly.
(The second video above illustrates this point.)
| "...have learnt more from your publication than from any of the courses that I have attended." |
Excel users can create magazine-quality Excel reports on their own.
Excel developers aren't needed. Nor is the IT department.
Because we can change our Excel reports quickly, we can respond quickly
to our companies' changing information needs. We don't need to wait for help
from programmers and consultants.
Excel's reports can trap errors that standard reports ignore.
The techniques you learn for Excel dashboard reporting can improve your
other Excel reports and analyses.
There's only one book that explains how to use Excel for such powerful reporting: Dashboard Reporting With Excel.
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What Kind of Data Can Your Excel Dashboards Display?
Excel dashboards can display virtually any business data. Although the book's examples typically use financial information, you easily can substitute your own data.
To illustrate, you can find a note at the bottom of this page from an engineer who uses his Excel dashboards for energy savings analyses.
"I still think that dashboard reports are one of the neatest things I've ever done in Excel," he writes.
"Initially, I was using a dashboard to report energy usage for monthly management meetings. I followed on from that by using them to create PPM & TPM summary reports. In all these areas the use of dashboards saved me hours & hours of time every month."
We're not sure what PPM and TPM reports are, but we're pretty sure that they have nothing to do with Finance.
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Do You Need the Excel Files With the Book?
I want to make sure that you have everything you need to create your own Excel dashboard reports. So in addition to the e-book, I've assembled many accompanying workbooks to help you.
The order form refers to "21 Excel files." But at last count, there were 23 of them.
If you plan to connect your dashboard reports to an Excel database, these files provide a significant benefit: They provide many examples of the formulas needed to connect your dashboard workbook to your database.
Here's a summary of the files:
The dashboard report shown in the first video, which the book shows you how
to create.
Four Excel database workbooks that supply data to the dashboard
report.
| "...made a big splash here at the office." |
The
three working dashboards shown in the second video, and the "Acme" database
they link to.
Databases of actual public financial data for Microsoft, General
Motors, and Procter & Gamble. The three dashboards can link easily to any of this data.
Six Excel workbooks that show
Excel versions of figures from business magazines.
The traffic-light workbook demonstrated in a video above.
An Excel workbook that uses the ExcelUser color scheme,
which helps to illustrate the section in the e-book that explains
how to set up your own colors in Excel.
The special
Postage Stamp report that can display 110
charts on one printed page. It includes a well-documented macro that
populates the page.
The workbook shown in the trio of videos that demonstrate Excel's
hidden power.
These files normally are priced at $29.95. But if you buy them bundled with the book, you pay only $19.95, a 33% savings.
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Frequently Asked Questions about the Book
How soon will the book arrive?
Almost immediately. Within minutes after you place your order you'll receive an email message with download links. Just click the links to download your book and files.
What if I don't like the book?
No problem. We offer a one-year money-back guarantee.
I'm an Excel expert, but my co-worker can hardly spell the word. Won't
one of us be disappointed?
Probably not. Less than 1% of our readers have asked for their money back. Of these, about 40% thought the book was too simple and 60% thought it was too advanced. So both of you probably will benefit from it.
| "...I have really ramped up my Excel skills and made some tricky reports a breeze!" |
If my hard drive crashes can I get another copy?
No problem. This happens all the time, unfortunately. Just send me an email message and I'll send you another download link.
Can I buy your book without giving you my credit card information?
Certainly! You can send us a check or even a wire transfer. Just email me for further instructions. However, I will say that we've sold thousands of books by credit card and haven't had one security problem.
Can I get a receipt so my company will reimburse me for the book?
No problem. You'll receive one type of receipt within minutes of
purchase. If its format doesn't meet your needs, just
email me. I'll send you another version with more complete
information. And if that doesn't work let me know. One way or
the other, I'll get you what you need.
Important...1. We offer a one-year, unconditional money-back guarantee. 2. We send a receipt automatically. If your company needs a different format to reimburse you for your purchase, we'll work to get you what you need. 3. We respect your email
privacy. |
Download Dashboard Reporting With Excel immediately...
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...or, download our bundle with Dashboard Reporting With Excel, plus the 21 sample files, plus our Plug-N-Play #1 dashboard kit...
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 If
you don't already have Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader, you can
download a FREE copy here. You'll probably use it a lot.To open the Zipped version, you'll need to install a program like WinZip. You can download a free copy here. |
We
accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and PayPal.
Here's some additional information about ordering:
- Secure transaction protects you.
- Privacy protection against identity theft.
- About the author.
- How does an "e-book" differ from a printed book?
- Satisfaction guarantee and refund policy.
If you need a receipt so that your company can reimburse you for your purchase, please let me know after you've purchased the kit.
If you have any problems downloading or un-zipping the file, contact me immediately. I'll make sure to get you what you need.
Download Dashboard Reporting With Excel immediately...
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...or, download our bundle with Dashboard Reporting With Excel, plus the 21 sample files, plus our Plug-N-Play #1 dashboard kit...
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"Your E-Book is amazing. I consider myself an Excel expert, but I have already picked up a few items I was not aware of and I have only read the first three chapters. I expect to purchase more of your e-books for my finance team. This book is better than any Excel class I have ever taken!"
Jeff Smith
CFO
Montefiore Home Health Program/Medical Group
"I love the product! The dashboards are great and the book is very helpful and well written."
Kelly L Martin
Senior Research Analyst
Ministry of Children and Family Development
"I am just writing to tell you about how helpful your book has been...
"I am sending you the advance I have achieved so far. The report is incomplete because all the information for it is still being generated. But I wanted to share it with you...
"Your book is well written and very clear on every explanation."
Luis Iturriaga
Quality Systems Consultant
Ingeniería, Calidad y Competitividad
"We'll need to train the different levels of management before we distribute our dashboards. Most of them hate this, of course, because with limited reports they were not held accountable for results. Now they will be, and their bonus will be tied to the results achieved and measured.
"You have no idea how much your publication "Dashboard Reporting with Excel" has helped me and my clients."
Leslie Jedrychowski
Consultant
KnowledgeVantage
"Thank you very much for the dashboard package. It is absolutely brilliant!
I have been an Excel business user for many years and
have learnt more
from your publication than from any of the courses that I have attended."
James Campbell
Client Services Director
Paretian Asset Management
"With your help and the information in your eBook, I’m creating a dashboard report the likes of which my company has never seen. I’m sure I’ll get lots of questions and this will give me a ton of visibility in the organization."
Scott Papay
Six Sigma Black Belt
Trane Residential
"I purchased your Dashboard this week and can say that it's the best ever!!!
"I'm so impressed with my purchase that I can't wait to start creating dashboards for all of my KPIs!
"I've attached a file of sales by key account so you can see how far I've progressed in just 48 hours...!!!"
Mike Murphy
Nat'l Specification Sales Manager
IG Lintels
"I wanted to let you know that the product has been extremely helpful in implementing a new dashboard tool for our department. I've been an Excel user for over 7 years and the info in your manual has enlighten me many times over."
Chuong Ma
Product Analyst
Triad Financial
"Thanks for the opportunity to buy your book. I thought I knew a lot about charts. I program extensively in Excel, but your book shows how much I didn't know. I have seen tips in your book that I have never seen in countless manuals I have purchased over the years. "
Richard de Manincor
Developer
Entellitrix Consulting
"Great book! You clearly have been working with Excel for a long time."
Joe Little
President
Jet Reports
"Charley Kyd's e-book is an unbelievable value for the price I paid.
"I've seen bonehead, half-baked programs & reporting modules for which my Fortune 200 company has paid consultants and programmers hundreds of thousands of dollars. But they can't do half the great things that Charley's ideas deliver.
"They're fully customizable, fully adaptable to your business...the way you need your information.
"The key to great business decisions is the management and reporting of data. Charley provides the "great reporting" part.
"With fantastic and simple visuals to help the mind grasp the numeric trends, Charley's work turns my data into a gold mine.
"All the results without the $100K expense. Charley isn't just smart
...he's honest!"
Douglas Wesney
Pricing Manager
Fortune 200 Company
"Thought I'd send you a quick email to update you on my progress with dashboards.
"It must be well over 2 years since I bought your ebook &
samples. At the time I was engineering manager for Vitafibres in the UK (I
think one of my comments is still on your website somewhere!). I still think
that dashboard reports are one of the neatest things I've ever done in
Excel. Initially, I was using a dashboard to report energy usage for monthly
management meetings. I followed on from that by using them to create PPM & TPM summary reports. In all these areas the use of
dashboards saved me hours
& hours of time every month.
"Since then, I've moved on from Vitafibres, but I'm still using dashboards! I
still don't use them to present financial data (I'm an engineer, after
all!), but I still keep finding other uses for them - currently I'm working
on an Excel application to carry out some detailed energy saving analysis.
This application has a lot of VBA code behind it, but I intend to use a
dashboard for the summary section of the customer report. I think that the
main thing that I've learned over the past couple of years is that
you don't
need to be a genius or an excel guru to create dashboards, but the
applications are almost limitless.
"I think that for me, one of the things that brought home the real usefulness
of dashboards was the first one I created. I presented my report at the
monthly management meeting as usual, but this one included my dashboard
report. No comment was made during the meeting, but afterwards the
divisional director of the fibres division came up to me and said something
along the lines of ' that report was excellent, it summarised all the energy
usage in a clear & readable manner, and now I can get a real feel for our
energy usage & expenditure.....but that report must have taken you hours to
produce'........well ok it took me 4 days to create the template, but I
didn't tell him that producing the report just took me just the time it
takes to click 'print'!
"All I can say in closing is keep up the good work!"
Mark Lees
Control systems engineer
Download Dashboard Reporting With Excel immediately...
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...or, download our bundle with Dashboard Reporting With Excel, plus the 21 sample files, plus our Plug-N-Play #1 dashboard kit...
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Legal Information: Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Earnings Policy.
Copyright © 2004 - 2008 by Charles W. Kyd, all rights reserved. Content, graphics, and HTML code are protected by US and International Copyright Laws, and may not be copied, reprinted, published, translated, hosted, or otherwise distributed by any means without explicit permission. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Earnings Policy.
Read below what Excel users say about "Dashboard Reporting With Excel". Charley "Thanks for revolutionizing the way I process and present month-end data and results. "Buying your e-book was the best thing I've done for myself in a long, long time. "I've forced our CIO to purchase it as well." "Your book is fantastic! Have learned more from that book than I have in 20 years of using spreadsheets." Albert J Rossman Senior Manager, Financial Integration Abbott Laboratories "What a great book! "Now I can apply my newfound charting skills to
quickly create dashboards on how my trust line of business is performing." "A godsend! I wish I had purchased your ebook a lot sooner." Peter Cassinelli Analyst/Programmer SCA Systems Ltd. "The book is a joy! Your writing is simple, elegant, and clear. So mahalo nui loa, as we say in Hawai`i – thank you for your very great effort." Toddy Hagans Data Specialist Hamakua Health Ctr "You made me look like a superstar with this. Nice work." Bill Lalor National Mgr of Technical Support COSCO Container Lines Americas "I purchased your book and it has been an awesome tool. I was made aware of your resources while I was earning my MBA. I'm so glad I saved that link because this material is helping me complete this high profile task." Warren Walker Copy & Print Services Midwest Manager Duke Energy "All I can say is fabulous! It's unbelievable what I have been missing for years. "The Camera functionality alone makes the small cost of your book and files worth every penny and more. "Excellent, many thanks." John Rixon Assoc Business Manager Kraft Foods Inc "Your book was of immense help to me. I produce dashboards on a regular basis in my life as a CFO and generally have reduced time on spreadsheet hell." Shaun Spalding CFO Autolocator (Moscow, Russia) "I purchased the Dashbord Kit and I think it’s brilliant. It offers clear and precise advice for practical purposes." Sami Järvensivu Business Controller Fläkt Woods Ltd. Finland "...one of the most useful tools in my Excel tool belt. I have built several dashboards that had a positive impact on my career. Thank you!" George Bryant Acuren North Slope Project Manager BP plc "EXCELLENT! Thank you for putting together a fabulous tool.
Wow! Wow!" "Thank god I found this great tool on the web. Definitely a must have!" Ralph Pollandt Financial Planning Manager LAN Airlines (Peru) "Fabulous. Simply fabulous. "Having built large systems with Excel, including significant VBA code, I was already very familiar with most of the topics. But it's your implementation of all of it combined that is truly stellar." Alexander Cavalaris Fin'l Rptg Analyst Earth Tech Canada "The dashboard e-book is absolutely awesome! "I didn’t realize Excel could do what I wanted it do! "I’ve started setting up our dashboards to update the look of our
annual report." "All I can say is Wow! This is amazing! I have done dashboards before but never like these." Jerry Kohl Owner Brighton Collections "I think it's brilliant! It is unique in unleashing some real power from Excel without programming." Martyn Healey Managing Director Strategic Leadership Consulting Pty Ltd "I purchased your book this morning! Love it!" Dallan Lax Owner Streamline Business Solutions, LLC "Bought the book and the files. So far, wow-wee!" Alex Ortolano Marketing Product Manager Company Withheld "Your book (or the results thereof) has made a big splash here at the office." Allen Watts Operations Mgr, F2B Mobile Solutions "An excellent book! Well worth the money. "It has saved me vast
amounts of time." "I purchased your ebook and find it fascinating!" Celeste Gannon Travel Data Analyst Nortel Global Travel Services "I purchased your product and have found it immensely valuable." Dr. Paul Eykamp Academic Strategic Planning and Analysis, Univ. of Calif, Office of the President "Let me start off by thanking you for putting together this package - it has a plethora of useful tips and information!" Daraius Dubash Financial Analyst Cummins Inc. "I find the book to be vastly better than I had anticipated and easily of higher caliber than a lot of the books on Excel that can be found at the local bookstore chains." Alan Johnson Market Development Mgr Major Oil Company Affiliate "The book has been great, & has given me a lot of ideas about how I could use dashboards to present a mix of financial and statistical data." Mark Lees Engineering Mgr Vitafibres "Just wanted to let you know that between the book and the files we bought I have really ramped up my Excel skills and made some tricky reports a breeze!" Denise L. Johnson Finance Coordinator Progressive Components "I'm reading your book and I'm amazed because it's unique. I didn't think that in the ocean of Excel books around I can find something I never read before." Leonid Koyfman Senior Analitics DBA AvenueA Razorfish "I purchased your Dashboard Reporting With Excel last night and found it full of stimulating and practical ideas." Peter Quirk Principal Product Manager, Business Operations EMC Software Grp. "Your eBook is an awesome tool. I've been reading this every day and building some great dashboards from your examples. " Roderick Goodman Enterprise Technology Group The First American Corp. "Excellent product! "I thought I was a pretty good driver of Excel but I am learning a huge amount. "Please keep me up to date with new products. I will pass the word!" David Border Managing Director DBCC "I recently acquired your Dashboard kit and find it loaded with useful tips. You have designed a very nice, very helpful tool." Bob Gannon President Gannon Consulting, Inc. "I love what you did with Excel. Please keep me informed if you come up with something new." Dennis Eining President DRE Consulting "Your book is excellent. It offers clear and precise advice for practical purposes. It is highly recommended." Flemming Petersen Business Controller Geberit A/S "The book is fabulous!" Clarence Daniel Knowledge Manager Green Mountain Energy Co. "By the way, your book was excellent. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and insights." Nathan Schaan Controller Georgia-Pacific Corporation "Your dashboard kit is excellent." Francis Hayden Any Title I Feel Like Francis Hayden Ltd "...the best 50 bucks I've ever spent. I am absolutely pleased. I would recommend it to anyone just for the charting tips! " Chip Griswold Consultant to a major New York newspaper "I bought your book recently and I must say it's fun and a pleasure to read and to work with." Viktoria Kryzhanyuk Manager Analysis & Planning Consumer Lending American Express Bank in Germany |
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