Spreadsheet Development
With 20+ years experience in spreadsheet use and design, we can help you automate your work: reduce computing time, increase data integrity, workbook security, enhance output content and integrate Excel with other MS-Office applications or databases.
Software supported: Microsoft Office / Excel 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013 (32/64 bit) with Power-Pivots.
Software supported: Microsoft Office / Excel 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013 (32/64 bit) with Power-Pivots.
Spreadsheet Maintenance & Optimization
As business requirements change over time, spreadsheets need to be updated. We can maintain our work and any workbook, Excel Add-in or Excel Dictator application created by a 3rd party developer.
By using optimal formulae and best practice VBA code several common Excel issues can be eliminated: slow execution, file bloat, poor or no error trapping, memory problems and Excel crashes.
By using optimal formulae and best practice VBA code several common Excel issues can be eliminated: slow execution, file bloat, poor or no error trapping, memory problems and Excel crashes.
Spreadsheet Audit
We can review Excel workbooks using our own custom tools and prepare a detailed report on compliance with spreadsheet best practices or potential error(s) found in model architecture, formulae, VBA and for certain applications in business logic. Despite our meticulous audit, we do not warranty that a model is error free.
Spreadsheet Migration
If Microsoft Office Excel 2003 (or earlier) is upgraded to Office 2007-2013, your Excel files may not be compatible with the new version. We can repair workbooks to be functional in Excel 2007/2010 and help you take advantage of Excel's new features (e.g. Ribbon menus, pivot slicers, new formulas and charting features etc).
Spreadsheet Consulting / Coaching
We can advise Excel power users on any issue related to spreadsheet design, VBA coding, error-handling and recommend innovative real-world solutions to their Excel problems or integration with Access, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word and Visio.
We can help you build your own Excel models and write your own VBA code using an Excel/ VBA coaching process. This is a one-on-one coaching discussion about:
We can help you build your own Excel models and write your own VBA code using an Excel/ VBA coaching process. This is a one-on-one coaching discussion about:
- Your real problems, deliverables and deadlines.
- Excel design, features, formulas and error handling, which should be used in your project for optimal results.
- Suggest reading materials and video tutorials for reference.
- Review your Excel model and VBA code, suggest improvements or provide code snippets, until your targets are met.
Data Extraction, Cleaning and Visualizations
We can automate ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) tasks from various sources:
With most projects data has to be cleaned and converted, after it has been collected. Among several techniques, we use a Soundex algorithm to identify potential duplicates and regular expressions to work efficiently, while manipulating text.
Using your new and clean data, we can create any type of visualization (charts & maps) or even develop complex MS-Office tactical solutions for in-house use or for resale to your clients.
- Extract data from existing PDFs into Excel or a database.
- Gather public data into a single data set from several websites with automatic updates as frequent as every hour.
- Transform data from legacy databases or arcane file formats.
With most projects data has to be cleaned and converted, after it has been collected. Among several techniques, we use a Soundex algorithm to identify potential duplicates and regular expressions to work efficiently, while manipulating text.
Using your new and clean data, we can create any type of visualization (charts & maps) or even develop complex MS-Office tactical solutions for in-house use or for resale to your clients.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can the consultants work onsite in the greater London area, if required ?
Yes. We can even supply the software & hardware needed for the duration an MS-Office Excel project. e.g. i7core desktop or laptop in a dual monitor configuration running Windows 7, MS-Office 2010 and PDF editing software.We can also work with 'elastic' computing capacity in the cloud. Please read about our Amazon EC2 demo here.
Besides United Kingdom, do you accept projects from any other country ?
Yes, we can test any Excel application with:
Do you provide documentation for MS-Office applications ?
We use authoring software for creating professional H.264 video application simulations, which can be uploaded to YouTube, Vimeo, Viddler or Vzaar private channels or embedded in our website in a password protected area. Content can also be provided in SWF format with interactive features for use with Adobe's Flash Player.
Do you have experience in integrating MS-Excel with Sage business software ?
Yes, we have developed a bespoke timesheet Excel add-in, which exports data into Sage Accounts 50 for batch invoicing and payment data in BACS standard 18 specification for processing by HSBC.
Have you used human resources data for KPI reporting or in Excel dashboards ?
Yes, we have developed data analytics solutions for global companies using data imported from Oracle-Taleo and Lumesse-TalentLink. Our solution allows executives to monitor critical performance measures over time using visual dashboards and data drill-down.
Is it possible to recover or repair Excel corrupted files ?
Please read our article dedicated to Excel corruption. File repair is extremely difficult, but we have achieved 100% recovery in several cases using VBA tools only! Please backup your corrupted files and experiment only with copies, if you prefer to do so. Please contact us for a free evaluation.
So why can’t I just post my problem to an internet Excel forum ?
The quality of replies will probably vary depending on user availability, skills and the narrow scope information you supplied. Also, you may need to wait several days before you get close to a meaningful solution, if any. On top of this, if you ask the wrong question because you are unaware of the software's full potential or pitfalls, then you can end up going down the wrong route.
If you implement a poor solution now, it will probably lead to inaccurate output or lots of maintenance work later. Rather than take the "free" route, your alternative is to ask for the paid advice of a specialist, who not only take time to understand your full requirements, but will also be able to draw on a broad field of experience to develop an optimized solution.
I’d rather sort out my own problems by getting trained
There are courses that promise you Excel proficiency in 24 hours or expert VBA programming skills within weeks in order to secure a quick sale. But don’t get your hopes raised by these courses, because while they will help you to get started, they won’t give you the insight gained from years of real-life development experience in diverse projects.
The road to proficiency in Excel is long and the learning curve can be steep - even pros who have been using Excel for over 10 years find that they still learn new Excel tips or need to sharpen their skills after a new version release. So yes, get trained up in Excel, but don’t expect that you’ll be able to create your own robust, fast, easy to use, maintainable and secure applications, until you have significant time-tested development experience.
I will hire an anonymous developer online who will do a decent job
Many people selling services online don't have the skills or the knowledge, yet want to be paid as experts because they know more than their secretary. Lack of experience with Excel development (nearly) always give poorly designed applications with terrible maintenance value. Maintenance value is the price company pay when their application author quits the company or is run over by a bus and they need emergency fix on their application. The company then have to hire an external resource who will need to decipher a poorly designed and programmed application. If the application is fairly small, it may be easy but not if it is of good size.
Yes. We can even supply the software & hardware needed for the duration an MS-Office Excel project. e.g. i7core desktop or laptop in a dual monitor configuration running Windows 7, MS-Office 2010 and PDF editing software.We can also work with 'elastic' computing capacity in the cloud. Please read about our Amazon EC2 demo here.
Besides United Kingdom, do you accept projects from any other country ?
- Yes, we welcome queries from all over the world, if the project can be completed remotely.
- We have delivered projects successfully all over United Kingdom and internationally.
- We offer competitive rates for consultants, who resell MS-Office/Excel applications.
Yes, we can test any Excel application with:
- MS-Office 2003, 2007, 2010 & 2013 (32/64 bit & PowerPivots Addin)
- Windows XP, 7 (32/64 bit), 8
- CPUs ranging from Pentium to i7core, RAM from 2-32 GB.
- Single or multiple monitor configurations (15-30 inch)
Do you provide documentation for MS-Office applications ?
We use authoring software for creating professional H.264 video application simulations, which can be uploaded to YouTube, Vimeo, Viddler or Vzaar private channels or embedded in our website in a password protected area. Content can also be provided in SWF format with interactive features for use with Adobe's Flash Player.
Do you have experience in integrating MS-Excel with Sage business software ?
Yes, we have developed a bespoke timesheet Excel add-in, which exports data into Sage Accounts 50 for batch invoicing and payment data in BACS standard 18 specification for processing by HSBC.
Have you used human resources data for KPI reporting or in Excel dashboards ?
Yes, we have developed data analytics solutions for global companies using data imported from Oracle-Taleo and Lumesse-TalentLink. Our solution allows executives to monitor critical performance measures over time using visual dashboards and data drill-down.
Is it possible to recover or repair Excel corrupted files ?
Please read our article dedicated to Excel corruption. File repair is extremely difficult, but we have achieved 100% recovery in several cases using VBA tools only! Please backup your corrupted files and experiment only with copies, if you prefer to do so. Please contact us for a free evaluation.
So why can’t I just post my problem to an internet Excel forum ?
The quality of replies will probably vary depending on user availability, skills and the narrow scope information you supplied. Also, you may need to wait several days before you get close to a meaningful solution, if any. On top of this, if you ask the wrong question because you are unaware of the software's full potential or pitfalls, then you can end up going down the wrong route.
If you implement a poor solution now, it will probably lead to inaccurate output or lots of maintenance work later. Rather than take the "free" route, your alternative is to ask for the paid advice of a specialist, who not only take time to understand your full requirements, but will also be able to draw on a broad field of experience to develop an optimized solution.
I’d rather sort out my own problems by getting trained
There are courses that promise you Excel proficiency in 24 hours or expert VBA programming skills within weeks in order to secure a quick sale. But don’t get your hopes raised by these courses, because while they will help you to get started, they won’t give you the insight gained from years of real-life development experience in diverse projects.
The road to proficiency in Excel is long and the learning curve can be steep - even pros who have been using Excel for over 10 years find that they still learn new Excel tips or need to sharpen their skills after a new version release. So yes, get trained up in Excel, but don’t expect that you’ll be able to create your own robust, fast, easy to use, maintainable and secure applications, until you have significant time-tested development experience.
I will hire an anonymous developer online who will do a decent job
Many people selling services online don't have the skills or the knowledge, yet want to be paid as experts because they know more than their secretary. Lack of experience with Excel development (nearly) always give poorly designed applications with terrible maintenance value. Maintenance value is the price company pay when their application author quits the company or is run over by a bus and they need emergency fix on their application. The company then have to hire an external resource who will need to decipher a poorly designed and programmed application. If the application is fairly small, it may be easy but not if it is of good size.
"You can fix it on the drawing board with an eraser or you can fix it on the site with a sledgehammer" - Frank Lloyd Wright
