The full implementation of Genie does not yet run on the 64 bit version of Excel. However, GenieMini works in 64 bit Excel. GenieMini incorporates all of Genie's fundamental functionality, including access to AbleOwl's online Knowledge base and Training videos.

It is important to note that if you have a 32 bit version of Excel running on a 64 bit version of Windows, Genie will work.

To find out if your version of Excel is 64 bit:

In Excel 2010, choose File | Help. Below About Microsoft Excel, is the Excel version number. In brackets, next to the version number you will see (32-bit) or (64-bit).

Starting out

• Create low-maintenance totals formulae
• Subtract, multiply, divide and anchor

Foundation topics

• Use SUBTOTAL to create reliable subtotals
• Enter formulae rapidly with absolute cell-addressing
• Calculate stats with AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, COUNT, COUNTA
• Create modify and delete range names

Intermediate

• Use IF to avoid #DIV/0
• For complex criteria, use AND and OR
• SUM through sheets
• Use VLOOKUP to return a product description and price
• Use SUMIF
• Enter and calculate dates and times
• Trace formulae and locate errors
• Use ROUND to make total reconcile to detail
• Tracing and rectifying errors in Excel

Text formulae

• Get the correct case with UPPER, LOWER, and PROPER
• Split text with LEFT, RIGHT, and MID
• Join text with CONCATENATE or &
• TRIM extra spaces

Advanced

• Rank performers, sort and filter
• Keep a copy of the formulae
• Use DSUM to total with long and complex criteria
• Create formulae that refer to other files
• Break, change and locate file-links

Beginner

• Distinguishing inputs from calculations
• Format text to improve readability
• Indent to clearly show the splits
• Use colour to clearly identify the headings
• Use borders to enhance visual separation
• End with a narrow column and row
• Prepare a printout with Page Setup
• Include page numbers and date printed in the footer

Intermediate

• Use Freeze Panes to know what you are looking at
• Use SUBTOTAL to create reliable subtotals
• Enter formulae rapidly with absolute cell-addressing
• Calculate stats with AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, COUNT, COUNTA
• The Benefits of styles
• Create, modify and delete range names
• Manage range names efficiently with the Genie add-in
• Conventions for layout of a sheet
• Conventions for layout of sheets within a workbook

Advanced

• Design clear reports – Conventions for layout of a sheet
• Create formulae that refer to other files
• Do not have overlap; split into sheets
• Use sheet names and tab colour to group related sheets
• Do not hide
• Be on the watch for manual calculation mode
• Don’t put numbers in column titles
• Place all inputs into cells
• Create copyable formulae
• Create crosschecks
• Where possible, place all inputs and calculations on one sheet

Yes, you can access both the Knowledge base and training videos without Genie installed. All you need to view thousands of Excel articles and hours of training videos is a recent version of Internet Explorer and your AbleOwl User Name and Password.

Access Knowledge base

To access the Knowledge base, go to the following address: http://www.ableowl.com/Genie/Search.aspx and search for the topic you require.

When you have found an article you wish to view, click on the title to open the article's summary page. From here you can choose to either View article online or Download article along with any associated example files.

A Log In page is loaded:

Once you have correctly entered your AbleOwl User Name and Password the article will be displayed or downloaded, depending on the option you chose.

Access Training videos

To access AbleOwl's training videos, go to the following address: http://www.ableowl.com/Genie/CourseMap.aspx. Here you can browse through the courses on offer by clicking on the + next to the course title.

When you have found a video you wish to view, click on the title to open the video's topic details page. From this page you can view the topic training video for your version of Excel. You can also choose to download the course manual, or example and exercises files associated with the training video.

No matter which option you choose, a Log In page is loaded. Once you have correctly entered your AbleOwl User Name and Password, your video will start to play or your chosen file begin to download.