Complete Guide to Excel Obstacle Course: Tips and Insights
The Excel Obstacle Course offers an engaging way to master Excel shortcuts while avoiding mouse use. While we’ve already compiled a comprehensive list of essential Excel shortcuts, the key to embedding them into your muscle memory is through regular practice, which is the primary purpose of the Excel Obstacle Course.
All About the Excel Obstacle Course
1. What is the Excel Obstacle Course?
As previously mentioned, the Excel Obstacle Course is an Excel workbook designed to challenge users by completing various tasks organized in different tabs within a set time limit.
To get started, simply check a box marked with an X to begin the timer. In the initial Obstacle Course, you’ll practice selecting and deleting columns as you navigate to the next tab. Subsequent tabs will challenge you to select and delete rows, and so forth.
Each tab includes instructions detailing the tasks you need to complete. Once finished, you’ll press a shortcut to return to the first tab and stop the timer by checking another box marked with an X.
A final timer display reveals how well you performed during the course.
2. What Do I Need to Play the Excel Obstacle Course?
To effectively engage with the Excel Obstacle Course, a complete keyboard is essential, ideally featuring a numeric keypad, PgUp and PgDown keys, function keys, and preferably a right-click button.
While you can experiment with a smaller laptop keyboard, a full-size desktop keyboard will provide a better experience and enhance proficiency.
Additionally, ensure that you have the desktop version of Microsoft Excel installed on your computer, as many keyboard shortcuts differ from those in the online version.
3. Where Can I Get the Excel Obstacle Course Sheets?
Above, you’ll find a beginner tutorial on utilizing the Excel Obstacle Course. Stan has also developed many similar challenges tailored for Google Sheets, Mac users, and a variety of other tasks.
For instance, there are dedicated sheets for testing your skills with Pivot Table shortcuts, as well as specialized obstacle courses for VLOOKUP and XLOOKUP.
4. How Do I Use the Excel Obstacle Course Sheets?
Once you download the. xlsx files, simply open them in the Microsoft Excel desktop application. Unfortunately, the sheets won’t function correctly in the online version, particularly regarding the timer feature.
However, you can still access these files in the online version of Excel and attempt the exercises, but you will not be able to compete directly with others unless you set up a separate timer.
Additionally, note that many Excel desktop shortcuts are not available in the online version, so you may find yourself relying on the mouse, which undermines the purpose of the obstacle course.
And there you have it! You now understand what the Excel Obstacle Course is, how to obtain the sheets, and how to effectively utilize them to enhance your desktop shortcut skills.
If you have further questions or need additional information, feel free to leave your comments below.
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