However, a discerning reader might note a limitation. Because the guide is distributed as a static PDF, many of the examples reference older versions of Excel (2013, 2016, or 2019). While the core treasures—PivotTables, VLOOKUP (and its superior successor XLOOKUP ), and IFERROR —remain relevant, the PDF does not cover Microsoft’s newer dynamic array formulas (like FILTER or SORT ) found in Excel 365. The "hidden treasures" of today are increasingly found in Power Query and LAMBDA functions, which are absent from earlier editions of this guide.
One of the key treasures Ringstrom highlights is the feature. While most users know Ctrl+F for finding values, Ringstrom demonstrates how F5 > Special allows you to select every cell with comments, constants, formulas, blanks, or even cells that are directly precedent to the active cell. He argues that mastering this tool eliminates hours of manual scrolling and clicking, especially when cleaning data sets riddled with blank rows or inconsistent formulas.
Nevertheless, Exploring Microsoft Excel’s Hidden Treasures remains an essential rite of passage for the intermediate Excel user. David Ringstrom’s pragmatic, no-nonsense writing style cuts through Excel’s complexity. He does not aim to make the reader a programmer or a VBA coder; he aims to make them efficient . By downloading that PDF and working through its lessons, the user does not just learn a new function—they change their entire relationship with data. They stop wrestling with the spreadsheet and start commanding it, discovering that the most precious treasure was never a hidden feature, but the time they get back at the end of the day. However, a discerning reader might note a limitation
The PDF format also allows Ringstrom to include a distinct feature not found in typical textbooks: Because he prioritizes keyboard navigation, the document often lists the sequential keystrokes needed to access ribbon features (e.g., Alt + H + O + I to autofit column width). For the dedicated reader, this turns the PDF from a passive reading experience into an active training manual.
Ringstrom’s central thesis is that most Excel users only utilize about 10% of the software’s true capability. The "hidden treasures" he refers to are not obscure, buggy functions, but rather built-in features that are simply poorly marketed by Microsoft or tucked away in right-click menus, dialog boxes, and keyboard shortcuts. The PDF format of this guide is particularly fitting; it serves as a quick-reference "treasure map" that users can keep open on a second monitor while they work, allowing them to immediately apply Ringstrom’s techniques. The "hidden treasures" of today are increasingly found
Another cornerstone of his philosophy is the avoidance of the mouse. Ringstrom is a vocal advocate for keyboard shortcuts, referring to them as the "pickaxe" of Excel mining. In the Hidden Treasures PDF, he dedicates significant space to shortcuts like Ctrl + [Arrow Key] (jump to the edge of a data region) and Alt + = (auto-sum). He convincingly argues that removing your hands from the keyboard to reach for the mouse breaks mental flow and introduces micro-delays that compound over a workday.
In the corporate and academic worlds, Microsoft Excel is often viewed as a necessary utility—a digital grid for basic arithmetic, lists, and simple charts. However, for those who dig beneath the surface, Excel is a labyrinth of powerful, time-saving features that remain invisible to the average user. In his influential guide, Exploring Microsoft Excel’s Hidden Treasures (often circulated as a PDF), accounting and software expert David Ringstrom acts as a digital archaeologist, brushing away the dust of the Ribbon menu to reveal the gems that can transform a frustrated spreadsheet operator into a confident data master. He argues that mastering this tool eliminates hours
Perhaps the most valuable "treasure" Ringstrom explores is the humble (created via Ctrl + T ). To the untrained eye, a Table looks like a normal range with a few colored bands. However, Ringstrom reveals that Tables are magical: they automatically expand formulas to new rows, allow for structured references that are readable (e.g., =SUM(Table1[Sales]) instead of =SUM(C2:C100) ), and generate dynamic charts that update when new data is added. He positions Tables not as a feature, but as a foundational best practice for anyone building a lasting spreadsheet.
