Summary of "Learn Google Sheets – Full Course for Beginners"

This comprehensive beginner-to-advanced course on Google Sheets, taught by Catrell, is project-based and uses a personal budget spreadsheet to teach practical skills. The course covers fundamental navigation, formulas, functions, data validation, conditional formatting, charts, data visualization, filtering, and collaboration features, culminating in an introduction to Google Apps Script for automation and custom functions.

Main Ideas, Concepts, and Lessons

1. Introduction & Basics (Module 1)

Overview of Google Sheets interface: columns (letters), rows (numbers), and cells (e.g., A1).
Navigation shortcuts (Ctrl + arrow keys, Ctrl + Home/End).
Adding/deleting rows and columns.
Naming sheets and workbooks.
Formatting basics: fonts, colors, alignment, resizing columns.
Sharing and collaboration: setting permissions (view, comment, edit), sharing via link or email.
Introduction to tables (new feature) and why learning basics first is important.
Starting the personal budget project as a running example.

2. Building the Budget Spreadsheet (Module 2)

Creating categories for income, expense accounts, and payment methods.
Copy-pasting data with and without formatting (Ctrl+Shift+V for values only).
Converting ranges into tables for easier referencing.
Locking header rows for better navigation.
Importing fake transaction data from external sources.
Sorting data by date.
Introduction to formulas and functions:
- Basic arithmetic in cells.
- Using built-in functions like SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, COUNTA.
- Referencing ranges with colon notation (e.g., C2:C19).
Practical example: calculating running balance using cell references and dragging formulas down.
Introduction to IF function for conditional logic.
Using COUNTIF with dynamic criteria referencing other cells (e.g., counting transactions greater than a value in a specific cell).

3. Formatting and Conditional Formatting (Module 3)

Converting data to tables for better appearance.
Adjusting column width and removing gridlines for aesthetics.
Conditional formatting rules:
- Applying color formatting based on cell values or dates.
- Using color scales for gradient formatting.
- Custom formulas for advanced conditional formatting (brief mention).
How conditional formatting acts like built-in IF statements for visual cues.

4. Data Validation and Drop-Down Lists (Module 4)

Creating drop-down lists via Data > Data Validation.
Applying data validation to regular ranges and tables.
Using ranges or tables as sources for drop-down options.
Advanced options: reject invalid data, show help text, display types (chips, arrow, plain text).
Dynamic drop-down lists that update automatically when source data changes.
Practical use: linking categories and payment methods as drop-downs in budget sheet.

5. Advanced Formulas, Filtering, and Search (Module 5)

Combining MATCH, IFERROR, and IF functions to automatically classify transactions as income or expense based on categories.
Explanation of MATCH function and exact MATCH usage.
Handling errors in formulas with IFERROR.
Creating a “Type” column that dynamically sets income/expense.
Using FILTER function to create dynamic filtered views based on criteria.
Adding drop-down lists to filter sheets for user-friendly filtering.
Introducing slicers as interactive UI elements to filter data visually.
Creating a search sheet with a search bar using SEARCH and FILTER functions:
- Case-insensitive partial text matching to filter transactions by keywords.

6. Charts and Data Visualization (Module 6)

Purpose of charts: visual summary of data for quick insights.
Creating pie charts to compare income vs expenses.
Fixing aggregation issues (aggregating by type).
Customizing charts: colors, labels, titles, legends, styles.
Creating column/bar charts to show spending by category.
Adding data labels and adjusting colors for readability.
Creating line charts to track balance over time.
Customizing axes, gridlines, and line styles.
Organizing charts on a dedicated “Charts” sheet.
Exporting charts as images, PDFs, or publishing them online.

7. Introduction to Google Apps Script (Module 7 - Bonus)

Overview of Apps Script as a JavaScript-based scripting language for Google Sheets automation.
Opening the Apps Script editor from Extensions menu.
Creating custom functions (e.g., a function that appends “is awesome” to text).
Using Named Functions for reusable formulas with helper text.
Writing custom menu items that run scripts on demand.
Example: creating a “Dark Mode” menu item that changes sheet background and font colors.
Explanation of authorization prompts and security warnings when running scripts.
Encouragement to explore Apps Script for powerful automation like calendar events, emails, and triggers.
Promotion of the instructor’s free newsletter and additional resources at got sheet.xyz.