Category: Excel

• Sort sheets by categories and sub-categories
• Use sensible sheet names (a "nomenclature", if you will):
  • Use names that refer to the categories and sub-categories, most commonly as a pre-fix
  • Use additions like "monthly", "quarterly", "annual" for different time period lengths
• Use colours that refer to the categories and sub-categories
• Use index sheets for each category: In this article, the importance of a table of contents and a "cockpit" is explained. If your model exceeds 50 sheets, just one index sheet with hyperlinks is not enough. Additionally, you should add index sheets for each category/section, always to the left of the respective sheets. That will greatly increase usability.

Excel: Sheet Tabs

Some practitioners tend to hide sheets - for example, if they feel they are too technical and do not want the users of the model to be confused or to mess with any settings. You should never do that! If someone else is trying to follow calculations - be it your user, or perhaps a colleague assisting you - hidden sheets will only lead to confusion. Or you may forget to remove sheets that were formerly important but were rendered useless by some model changes.

So, instead of hiding sheets that are still needed, just put them to the far right, clearly label them as auxiliary calculations or similar and, if needed, protect them:

1. Right-click on a sheet tab and choose "Protect sheet..."

   

    

2. In the new dialogue, choose a password for protecting the sheet, and choose what users should and should not be able to do within the sheet.