Excel: Productivity Boosters

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Excel has evolved, and so should your skills. Over the past few years, Microsoft has introduced a suite of powerful new functions exclusive to Microsoft 365, Excel 2021, and Excel 2024. These innovations go far beyond legacy tools like VLOOKUP, IF, and COUNTIF, making it easier than ever to clean, filter, sort, and transform data. If you're still relying on traditional formulas, you're likely missing opportunities to work more efficiently and accurately.

In this dynamic session, you'll explore ten cutting-edge Excel functions that streamline complex tasks and eliminate repetitive work. From effortlessly stacking arrays and manipulating text to creating custom functions without VBA, these new tools are designed to boost productivity and simplify even the most intricate spreadsheets. Whether you're in reporting, analysis, or administration, these functions will elevate the way you work with data – fast.

Your Benefits for Attending:
  • Learn how to use UNIQUE, FILTER, SORT, and SORTBY to dynamically manage and rearrange data sets
  • Discover how SEQUENCE, CHOOSECOLS, and CHOOSEROWS can eliminate manual entry and precisely control array outputs
  • Simplify text handling with TEXTSPLIT, TEXTBEFORE, and TEXTAFTER
  • Combine ranges easily with VSTACK and HSTACK, and write cleaner formulas with LET
  • Uncover the power of LAMBDA to create custom, reusable functions without VBA

This session will show you how to save time, reduce errors, and future-proof your spreadsheet skills with the latest Excel innovations, so you can do more in less time.

Who Should Attend:
Intermediate Excel users who are confident with core functions such as SUM, XLOOKUP, and COUNTIF. Ideal for professionals working in data reporting, analysis, or administrative roles who want to stay updated with Excel’s latest features and simplify everyday tasks.

Level: Beginner
Format: Live webcast
Instructional Method: Group: Internet-based
NASBA Field of Study: Computer Software & Applications (2 hours)
Program Prerequisites: None
Advance Preparation: None
  • Mike Thomas

    Mike Thomas

    Mike Thomas has worked in the IT training business for 26 years. His expertise and experience covers designing and delivering training courses, creating written training materials (Quick Reference Guides and step-by-step tutorials), recording and editing video-based tutorials and providing support t [...]

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Webinar Survey Overall Rating

This webinar received a total of 5 survey responses. Attendees have given an average rating of 4.8 stars out of a possible 5, reflecting the quality and value of the content presented.

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Reviews From Webinar Survey

Our webinars are crafted to deliver exceptional value and insight to business professionals. Below, you'll find genuine feedback from attendees.

Aracely C.
February 5, 2026
4.8 / 5
Webinar Rating:
5.0 Stars
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4.5 Stars
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Thank you
Lee H.
February 4, 2026
5.0 / 5
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I really appreciated the presenter and his method of teaching.
Charlotte C.
February 4, 2026
4.8 / 5
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no comment
Blake S.
February 3, 2026
4.6 / 5
Webinar Rating:
4.3 Stars
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Some of the things I learned during this webinar will save me valuable time in my day to day reporting responsibilities.
George J.
February 3, 2026
5.0 / 5
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5.0 Stars
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I liked that the instructor used AI during her presentation.Very good refresher course.

Frequently Asked Questions

VSTACK and HSTACK are dynamic array functions introduced in Microsoft 365 that combine multiple arrays or ranges without complex formulas or manual copy-paste. VSTACK (vertical stack) appends arrays one below the other: =VSTACK(Table1, Table2) combines two tables into one continuous range, automatically spilling the result. HSTACK (horizontal stack) places arrays side by side: =HSTACK(A1:B10, D1:D10) combines columns from different locations into one output. Both functions handle arrays of different sizes by padding with errors or blank values, and support dynamic expansion—if a source range grows, the stacked output grows too. Before VSTACK, combining data from multiple ranges required UNION queries in Power Query, complex INDIRECT formulas, or manual consolidation. Common uses include combining data from multiple months or regions into a single analysis range, building lookup tables from multiple sources, and assembling report sections dynamically. VSTACK and HSTACK work with any array-returning function, enabling powerful compositions like stacking FILTER results from multiple criteria. Mike Thomas covers VSTACK and HSTACK in Aurora Training Advantage's Excel: Productivity Boosters webinar.
TEXTBEFORE, TEXTAFTER, and TEXTSPLIT are Microsoft 365 text functions that replace complex nested MID/FIND/LEFT/RIGHT formulas for parsing strings. TEXTBEFORE(text, delimiter) extracts everything before a specified delimiter—=TEXTBEFORE("John Smith"," ") returns John. TEXTAFTER(text, delimiter) extracts everything after it—=TEXTAFTER("John Smith"," ") returns Smith. Both support instance_num to target the nth occurrence of the delimiter and include_delimiter and match_mode options for precise control. TEXTSPLIT(text, col_delimiter, row_delimiter) splits a string into a two-dimensional array—=TEXTSPLIT("A,B,C",",") spills A, B, C across cells horizontally. Adding a row delimiter creates a grid. TEXTSPLIT is effectively the Text-to-Columns wizard in formula form, allowing dynamic string splitting without a static wizard process. Together these three functions handle the most common text parsing scenarios—extracting names from email addresses, splitting address components, parsing product codes—in a single readable formula rather than lengthy nested constructions. Mike Thomas demonstrates all three in Aurora Training Advantage's Excel: Productivity Boosters webinar.
CHOOSECOLS and CHOOSEROWS are Microsoft 365 dynamic array functions that extract specific columns or rows from an array by position, enabling precise control over what data is returned without VLOOKUP or INDEX. CHOOSECOLS(array, col_num1, col_num2, ...) returns only the specified columns: =CHOOSECOLS(A1:E100, 1, 3, 5) returns columns 1, 3, and 5 of the range, effectively reordering or subsetting columns in a single formula. Negative numbers count from the right: CHOOSECOLS(array, -1) returns the last column. CHOOSEROWS works identically but for rows. These functions are particularly powerful when combined with FILTER or SORT—you can filter a dataset and then extract only the columns you need in one formula chain, without helper columns or complex nested logic. They also simplify XLOOKUP scenarios where you want to return multiple non-adjacent columns. Before these functions, extracting non-contiguous columns required multiple separate XLOOKUP or INDEX formulas. Mike Thomas covers CHOOSECOLS and CHOOSEROWS as part of Aurora Training Advantage's Excel: Productivity Boosters webinar on modern Microsoft 365 functions.
The LET function, available in Microsoft 365, allows you to assign names to calculated values or ranges within a formula, dramatically improving both readability and performance. Its syntax is =LET(name1, value1, name2, value2, ..., calculation). For example, instead of repeating a complex expression multiple times: =LET(filtered, FILTER(data, data[Region]="North"), SORT(filtered, 2)) calculates the filtered result once, names it filtered, and passes it to SORT—rather than recalculating FILTER twice inside a nested formula. LET serves three purposes: it eliminates repeated calculation of the same expression (improving performance in complex formulas), it makes formulas readable by giving meaningful names to intermediate results (similar to variables in programming), and it reduces formula length significantly. For long analytical formulas involving multiple FILTER, XLOOKUP, and transformation steps, LET is the difference between a formula that fits on one line and a nested expression that requires significant effort to audit. Mike Thomas introduces LET as a core productivity booster in Aurora Training Advantage's Excel: Productivity Boosters webinar.
SEQUENCE generates an array of sequential numbers with a specified count, start, step, and direction—all in a single formula that spills automatically. Its syntax is =SEQUENCE(rows, [columns], [start], [step]). =SEQUENCE(10) returns 1 through 10 in a single column. =SEQUENCE(1,12) returns 1 through 12 in a single row. =SEQUENCE(10,1,0,10) returns 0, 10, 20...90. Combined with other functions, SEQUENCE enables powerful dynamic constructions: generating date series (=DATE(2024,1,SEQUENCE(366)) creates every day of 2024), creating row numbers that update dynamically when rows are added, building multiplication tables, or generating periodic table ranges. Before SEQUENCE, filling sequential numbers required either manual typing, AutoFill dragging, or complex ROW()/COLUMN() formulas. SEQUENCE integrates naturally with CHOOSE, INDEX, and array calculations for building dynamic report structures. It is particularly useful in financial modeling for generating period labels, payment schedules, and scenario tables. Mike Thomas demonstrates SEQUENCE in Aurora Training Advantage's Excel: Productivity Boosters webinar as part of the Microsoft 365 dynamic array function suite.