1. Based on Advanced Spreadsheet Projects In Excel © Hodder Education 2008 Excel Projects – design

2. Based on Advanced Spreadsheet Projects In Excel © Hodder Education 2008 Excel design – planning  You must design your spreadsheet before starting in Excel.  The test of a good design is … if you gave your plans to somebody else, would they be able to set up the solution?  If the answer is ‘no’ you need to improve your designs.

3. Based on Advanced Spreadsheet Projects In Excel © Hodder Education 2008 Excel design – planning  Your screen designs will need to take account of all the required inputs and outputs.  Print out some blank Excel sheets and use them as the basis for your designs.  Use a common layout and style for all worksheets.  Include designs for macros.

4. Based on Advanced Spreadsheet Projects In Excel © Hodder Education 2008 Excel design  Designs for screens should be legible, neat and easy to follow.  It is usually best and quickest to draw them by hand, using a pencil and a ruler.  If your hand-drawn designs are not neat enough, produce the designs on computer using graphics software.  Annotate your designs for example to show formulae, drop-down boxes, forms etc.

5. Based on Advanced Spreadsheet Projects In Excel © Hodder Education 2008 Excel design  Do not produce your designs in Microsoft Excel.  For example 1: A screenshot of an Excel worksheet is part of the implementation stage and cannot be regarded as part of the design stage.  For example 2: Do not submit a screenshot of the validation rule and say this is a design.

6. Based on Advanced Spreadsheet Projects In Excel © Hodder Education 2008 Excel design – dos and don’ts Remember to :  include designs for all output  annotate designs to explain features to be used. Avoid:  scruffy illegible designs  using screenshots from the actual system as design.