Questions
One of Albert Einstein's colleagues asked him for his telephone number one day. Einstein reached for a telephone directory and looked it up. "You don't remember your own number?" the man asked, startled. "No," Einstein answered. "Why should I memorize something I can so easily get from a book?" In fact, Einstein claimed never to memorize anything which could be looked up in less than two minutes.
I am often asked by people for advice about learning Excel . I tell them first of all develop a strong foundation of the basics. Then learn Excel - don't try to memorize Excel. Don't worry about memorizing specific syntax and detail; your time is better spent learning about Excel's capabilities and how they can be applied productively. When the time comes that you do need the syntax level, there are plenty of readily available resources and examples online and in print to quickly look up the details of what you need. You'll remember it as you use it.
| Below are some typical questions that you should consider when planning to work with an Excel consultant | |
| 1. | Is this a one-time only use or do I need it to run with parameters? |
| Unfortunately many consultants treat all situations as a one-time project just to get the job done and collect their money. But when the user attempts to use it under slightly different circumstances, he may be surprised to find out that the solution had been hard-coded to meet one particular parameter only. Make sure the consultant knows the parameters for which your project must run under. | |
| 2. | How much of my request do I need automated? |
| This will depend on the frequency of use, who will be using it, and how skilled the users are with Excel. Generally the more automation required the more expensive the project due to time and testing. | |
| 3. | Are usage instructions needed for the finished product? |
| Usage may be obvious, or just some basic instructions may be needed, or a more formal help screen may be required. But be certain to get the appropriate help level clarified. | |
| 4. | Is the solution being tested with the volume of data that I will ultimately be using? |
| While the developer's end product may work well against a small sample of records, in reality you may have thousands of records for which the macros, formulas, etc. run slowly or not at all at worse. Test and approve under real world conditions. | |
| 5. | Do I need access to the VBA (macro) code and who owns it? |
| Who owns the code is something you should come to an agreement on before any work begins. If you think you may want to delve into it yourself then make that part of the agreement. However, if you do have access to dode, any warranty support may be voided if you attempt to modify the code on your own. You can negotiate sole ownership of the application so that it cannot be re-sold at your expense but it is not realistic to expect that the code behind it will never be used again for similar projects. | |
| 6. | Am I even approaching my solution from the most efficient angle? |
| Very often we think of of only one approach to a particular problem when there may be other more efficient solutions available. A good consultant will point these out. | |
| 7. | Is the solution I'm seeking already available to me on the internet? |
| You may find the solution to your problem already existing on the internet by doing a simple search. Some of these solutions may require that you already have a basic knowledge of he particular area of Excel for which you are seeking help. | |
| 8. | Is on-going support available? |
| Inquire how long the consultant will be willing or available to make updates to the workbook after it has been accepted by the user and what the fees will be. | |
| 9. | What if the final product works for the consultant but not once I put it on my pc? |
| Be sure your agreement guarantees that it will work on your pc and not just on the consultant's. | |
| 10. | How well does the consultant respond to my inquiries? |
| Be sure that contacting the consultant is easy and that your calls are returned promptly. | |
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| Excel For Hire will work with you to make sure that these questions are all answered to your complete satisfaction. | |