Engineering data · Free online course
Excel for Engineers: Formulas, Data and Dashboards
Excel for engineers and technicians: clean Tables of readings, references and core formulas, IF and tolerance checks, XLOOKUP and INDEX-MATCH, cleaning text and timestamps, PivotTables, scatter charts with trendlines and control-style charts, Power Query imports of CSV and PLC or SCADA logs, conditional formatting and validation, dynamic arrays, dashboards and macros, finished with a shift-report workbook.
- 13 modules
- 8h 47m of video
- Beginner
- English
- ₹0, free
- Lab practice in your browser

₹0Free for good
Worth ₹4,999 by length and depth against classroom training. It has always been free; that is not a former price.
No card. Checkout takes a minute and gives you a receipt.
Certificate ₹499, optional. The course is free either way.
Overview
About Excel for Engineers: Formulas, Data and Dashboards
Use Excel for engineering data: Tables, formulas, lookups, PivotTables, Power Query and dashboards, ending in a shift-report workbook.
Excel for Engineers: Formulas, Data and Dashboards is a free, self-paced online course from EDWartens for engineers, technicians and job seekers who work with readings, logs and plant data. It has 13 modules and 8h 47m of video lessons, with written notes, a practice task per module, a practical project and a final assessment of 15 questions (pass mark 60%). Learning costs nothing and needs only a free account. The optional EDWartens Certificate of Completion, verifiable by code, is a one-off ₹499 inclusive of GST for learners in India; it is not a vendor credential. Updated 1 November 2026.
Who it is for: Engineers, technicians and job seekers who work with readings, logs and plant data
This course includes
- 8h 47m of video lessons
- 13 modules with written notes and diagrams
- One final assessment: 15 questions, pass mark 60%
- Ask-an-engineer support from practising engineers
- Lifetime access, the course does not expire
- Optional verifiable certificate when you finish
- Step 1 of 3
Learn the 13 modules
8h 47m of video lessons, written notes and a practice task per module, at your own pace.
- Step 2 of 3
Pass the final assessment
15 questions drawn from every module, pass mark 60%, 3 attempts.
- Step 3 of 3
Take the certificate, if you want it
Optional, paid once, only if you choose it. The course stays free either way.
See the certificate and its price
A look inside



From the lessons

The Excel workspace, clean data entry and Tables
by Kevin Stratvert

IF, logic and conditional counts
by Kevin Stratvert

Cleaning text, dates and times
by Leila Gharani

Charts for engineering data
by Steven Bradburn

Conditional formatting and data validation
by Kevin Stratvert

Building an engineering dashboard
by Kevin Stratvert
Lesson frames belong to the creators named in the Credits and are shown from YouTube.
What you learn
What you will be able to do
By the end you will be able to:
- Set up engineering data as Excel Tables
- Flag readings against tolerances with IF and conditional counts
- Look values up with XLOOKUP and INDEX-MATCH
- Summarise downtime with PivotTables
- Import and combine CSV and PLC log files with Power Query
How it works
How this course works
Watch the lessons
Short video lessons, one module at a time, at your own pace.
Read the notes
Open the Reading tab for the written notes and diagrams of the module.
Practise in the 3D labOptional
Try the module in the free 3D lab, in your browser.
Check yourself
Answer the questions to see what stuck before you move on.
Final assessment
Pass the final once you have been through the modules.
Certificate, if you want oneOptional
Optional, with a page anyone can use to verify it.
Syllabus
Course content, module by module
In order, at whatever pace suits you. Each module ends with a practice task that builds on the last.
- Modules
- 13
- Video lessons
- 39
- Of video
- 8h 47m
- Final questions
- 15
- 01
The Excel workspace, clean data entry and Tables
3 lessons · 27m - 02
Cell references and core formulas
3 lessons · 43m - 03
IF, logic and conditional counts
3 lessons · 1h 8m - 04
Lookups: XLOOKUP and INDEX-MATCH, with lab practice:
4 lessons · 45m - 05
Cleaning text, dates and times, with lab practice:
4 lessons · 1h 16m - 06
PivotTables for plant data, with lab practice:
3 lessons · 41m - 07
Charts for engineering data
4 lessons · 30m - 08
Power Query: importing CSV files and PLC or SCADA logs, with lab practice:
3 lessons · 32m Final assessment · 15 questions, pass mark 60%
3D lab
Practise in the 3D lab
Practise the data half of the course in the lab: clean a messy downtime export with steps you can run again, make the pivot, and join a reference table, the same ideas as Power Query and PivotTables.
- The downtime report: clean the export, answer in SQLAI Workbench, about 35 minOpen in the lab (opens in a new tab): The downtime report: clean the export, answer in SQL
Optional. Skip it whenever you like: it never blocks your progress or your certificate.
Project
The course project
Optional practice that ends in the kind of job the course prepares you for, with the documents that go with it.
About 10 hours
A shift-report workbook for a packaging line: SCADA log import, downtime analysis, dashboard and one-click report
Build the workbook a production engineer opens every morning. It imports two folders of daily SCADA exports with Power Query, works out downtime and availability, and shows them on a one-screen dashboard. One button refreshes everything and saves the PDF report. The sample pack shows each document for Line 2 of a bottling plant in Rotterdam.
- 6documents in the pack
- 7steps to follow
- 7things to hand in
- 10 hof work, at your pace
Sample document pack, 6 documents, filled in for the scenario
- PlanWorkbook specification: Line 2 shift report
- Tag listTag list and data dictionary: Line 2 daily SCADA export
- RegisterCalculation register: KPI formulas and hand checks for 30 Sept 2026
- Test reportWorkbook verification record before first use
- ProcedureDaily procedure: producing the Line 2 shift report
- ReportShift report: Line 2, 30 Sept 2026
Read inside the course and download as a workbook. The project is optional practice, marked when you submit it; the certificate needs only the modules and the final assessment.
Tools
Software, hardware and lessons
Software
Microsoft Excel for Windows or Mac from Microsoft 365, or Excel 2021 or 2024. Excel for the web (free with a Microsoft account) covers most modules. Dynamic arrays need Microsoft 365, Excel 2021 or later; LAMBDA and TEXTSPLIT need Microsoft 365 or Excel 2024; Power Query folder imports and the shift-report project are written for Excel for Windows; Mac has fewer Power Query features, and macros do not run in Excel for the web. Copilot is not needed for any part of the course.
Hardware
A Windows or Mac computer. A second monitor helps but is not needed.
Who it is for
Beginner to intermediate. For engineers, technicians, students and job seekers. You need to be able to use a computer and do basic arithmetic; no Excel experience is assumed, and experienced users can move quickly through the first modules.
Video lessons by
- Kevin Stratvert
- Leila Gharani
- excelisfun
- Chandoo
- MyOnlineTrainingHub
- EngineerExcel
Independent creators, credited in full under Credits.
Software you need
What to download, where from, what it costs and how to install it. Every link goes to the maker's own site, never a mirror.
Excel for the web is free and covers most modules. Power Query folder imports and the macro module need the desktop app (Microsoft 365, or Excel 2021 or 2024); TEXTSPLIT and LAMBDA need Microsoft 365 or Excel 2024. Copilot is not needed.
Required
- 01Free web version with limits
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft
- Runs on
- Excel for the web in any modern browser; desktop apps for Windows and macOS with a Microsoft 365 subscription
- Account
- A free Microsoft account
Excel for the web is free with a Microsoft account and 5 GB of cloud storage. The desktop app comes with a paid Microsoft 365 subscription, which offers a free trial. Python in Excel is not available on free licences, and fuller Copilot features need an eligible paid plan.
Steps
- 1.Open the Excel page on microsoft.com and select Sign up for free, or Sign in.
- 2.Create or sign in to your Microsoft account.
- 3.Select Open Excel to start Excel for the web.
- 4.Upload the course workbook to OneDrive and open it.
- 5.If a lesson needs a desktop-only feature, consider the Microsoft 365 free trial.
- Most formulas, tables and charts work in Excel for the web; some advanced tools, such as Power Pivot and many add-ins, need the desktop app.
- Check the Python in Excel availability page before a Python lesson.
Official download pagemicrosoft.comAlternatives
- LibreOffice Calc: Free desktop spreadsheet for Windows, macOS and Linux.
- Google Sheets: Free browser spreadsheet with a Google Account.
Checked against each maker's own page on 27 September 2026. Trial lengths and editions change; the maker's page is the final word.
What you walk away with
Your certificate for Excel for Engineers: Formulas, Data and Dashboards
Finish the course, pass the final, and this is the document with your name on it.

Verifiable by anyone
Adds to LinkedIn in one click
QR code on the certificate
Names what you can do
A permanent link
Earned, not attended
Learning is free. The certificate is optional.
Add it now and pay only when you have finished the course, or come back for it later. One-off, US$23.99, with a receipt.
Issued by Wartens Ltd (England and Wales, company no. 15262249) through the EDWartens training portal, as a Certificate of Completion for this self-paced course. Sold in India by Wartens Automation Private Limited. It is not a vendor certification, a university award or a CPD-accredited activity, and it does not certify competence on live equipment. Delivered electronically; see the refund policy.
Practise what you learn in the free 3D lab
Technical work is judged on what you can do: wiring, commissioning, finding a fault. Doing a task yourself teaches more than watching it a second time, and a lab lets you try it safely before you meet real equipment. It does not replace working on real hardware.
- Practise safely, so a mistake costs nothing.
- The lab checks your work like a site test, so you know when it is right.
- Free, in your browser, with nothing to install.
Why learn with EDWartens
What you get with this course.
- Free from the first lesson to the final assessment.
- Practice in a free 3D lab in your browser, with nothing to install.
- Video lessons with written notes and a project.
- An optional certificate that anyone can verify online.
FAQ
Common questions
Who is the Excel for Engineers: Formulas, Data and Dashboards course for?
Engineers, technicians, engineering students and job seekers who work with readings, test results, downtime logs or exports from PLC and SCADA systems. No Excel experience is assumed.
How is this different from a general Excel course?
The lessons come from well-known Excel teachers, but every worked problem, practice task and question uses engineering data: tolerances, calibration points, tag paths, shift logs, downtime reasons and CSV exports from control systems. There are no invoices or sales figures.
Do I need Microsoft 365 or Copilot?
No. Excel for the web is free with a Microsoft account and covers most modules; Excel 2021 or 2024 covers almost everything. Power Query folder imports and the shift-report project are written for Excel for Windows. Mac has fewer Power Query features, and macros do not run in Excel for the web. Copilot in Excel needs a Microsoft 365 plan that includes Copilot, and nothing in the course depends on it.
Is this Microsoft Office Specialist (MO-200) preparation?
No. It is a practical course for engineering work, not preparation for a Microsoft exam, and EDWartens is not affiliated with Microsoft.
Is the Excel for Engineers: Formulas, Data and Dashboards course really free?
Yes. Every module, the notes, the project and the final assessment. The only paid item is the certificate, if you want it.
What certificate does the Excel for Engineers: Formulas, Data and Dashboards course give?
An EDWartens Certificate of Completion, issued when you pass the final assessment, with a number anyone can verify on our site. It is not a Microsoft certification.
How long does the Excel for Engineers: Formulas, Data and Dashboards course take?
About 12 hours of video lessons, notes and practice, taken at your own pace; the videos alone are about 9 hours. The optional project takes about 10 hours more.
What is the project in the Excel for Engineers: Formulas, Data and Dashboards course?
You build the shift-report workbook for a packaging line. It imports a folder of daily SCADA exports with Power Query. It calculates downtime, stops, MTBF, MTTR and temperature excursions. It shows them on a dashboard with slicers, and refreshes and exports the report with one button. A complete sample pack shows the specification, tag list, calculation register, test record, procedure and a finished report.
Do I have to use the lab?
No. The lab is optional practice. You can skip it whenever you like, and it never blocks your progress, the final assessment or your certificate.
Is the lab free?
Yes. Every lab level for this course opens in your browser, free, with nothing to install.
Is the Excel for Engineers: Formulas, Data and Dashboards course free in India, and what does the certificate cost?
Yes. Learning costs ₹0 in India: every module, the written notes, the practice tasks and the final assessment, with no card and no trial period. The only paid item is the optional EDWartens Certificate of Completion, ₹499 including GST for this beginner course, paid in rupees through Razorpay, and only if you want it after passing the final assessment.
What topics does the Excel for Engineers: Formulas, Data and Dashboards course cover, module by module?
The Excel for Engineers: Formulas, Data and Dashboards course has 13 modules. It opens with "The Excel workspace, clean data entry and Tables", goes through "Cell references and core formulas", "Cleaning text, dates and times", "Conditional formatting and data validation" and "Macros, and the shift-report workbook" and ends with "Final Assessment". The full list with minutes is under "What you learn" on this page.
What can I do after the Excel for Engineers: Formulas, Data and Dashboards course?
After the Excel for Engineers: Formulas, Data and Dashboards course: Lay out readings, tags and logs as tidy Excel Tables with named limits; Write formulas with relative, absolute and mixed references, ROUND and unit conversions; Check measurements against tolerances with IF and count them with COUNTIFS and SUMIFS. These are the practical outcomes the course is written around, and the final assessment of 15 questions checks them.
What software and hardware do I need for the Excel for Engineers: Formulas, Data and Dashboards course, and does it cost anything?
For the Excel for Engineers: Formulas, Data and Dashboards course, software: Microsoft Excel for Windows or Mac from Microsoft 365, or Excel 2021 or 2024. Excel for the web (free with a Microsoft account) covers most modules. Dynamic arrays need Microsoft 365, Excel 2021 or later; LAMBDA and TEXTSPLIT need Microsoft 365 or Excel 2024; Power Query folder imports and the shift-report project are written for Excel for Windows; Mac has fewer Power Query features, and macros do not run in Excel for the web. Copilot is not needed for any part of the course. Hardware: A Windows or Mac computer. A second monitor helps but is not needed. The course itself is free.
Is the Excel for Engineers: Formulas, Data and Dashboards course suitable for me, and what level is it?
Excel for Engineers: Formulas, Data and Dashboards is rated beginner. Beginner to intermediate. For engineers, technicians, students and job seekers. You need to be able to use a computer and do basic arithmetic; no Excel experience is assumed, and experienced users can move quickly through the first modules. It is written for engineers, technicians and job seekers who work with readings, logs and plant data, and has 8h 47m of video lessons at your own pace.
Which jobs use the skills from the Excel for Engineers: Formulas, Data and Dashboards course?
Skills from the Excel for Engineers: Formulas, Data and Dashboards course (for example: lay out readings, tags and logs as tidy Excel Tables with named limits) are used in engineer work. The course gives you practical evidence of the skill; it does not promise a job, and employers decide on experience and interview.
All course factsHide course facts
- Price
- ₹0, free for good. No trial, no card. Comparable classroom training of this length costs about ₹4,999.
- Who it is for
- Engineers, technicians and job seekers who work with readings, logs and plant data
- Format
- 13 self-paced modules, 8h 47m of video, written notes, a practice task per module and one final assessment.
- Level
- Beginner. Beginner to intermediate. For engineers, technicians, students and job seekers. You need to be able to use a computer and do basic arithmetic; no Excel experience is assumed, and experienced users can move quickly through the first modules.
- Brand
- Vendor-neutral
- Software
- Microsoft Excel for Windows or Mac from Microsoft 365, or Excel 2021 or 2024. Excel for the web (free with a Microsoft account) covers most modules. Dynamic arrays need Microsoft 365, Excel 2021 or later; LAMBDA and TEXTSPLIT need Microsoft 365 or Excel 2024; Power Query folder imports and the shift-report project are written for Excel for Windows; Mac has fewer Power Query features, and macros do not run in Excel for the web. Copilot is not needed for any part of the course.
- Hardware
- A Windows or Mac computer. A second monitor helps but is not needed.
- Certificate
- Optional EDWartens Certificate of Completion, ₹499 inclusive of GST for learners in India, verifiable by code. Not a vendor credential.
- Video lessons by
- Kevin Stratvert, Leila Gharani, excelisfun, Chandoo, MyOnlineTrainingHub, EngineerExcel (independent creators, credited below)
- Language
- English
- Last updated
- 1 November 2026
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Credits
Who made the video lessons
The video lessons in this course were created by the people below, not by EDWartens. Every lesson streams from its creator's own YouTube channel; EDWartens neither hosts nor sells that footage, and the creators are not affiliated with EDWartens and do not endorse this course. What EDWartens wrote is the study plan, the notes, the practice tasks and the assessments.
- Kevin Stratvertthe beginner tutorial, cell references, formulas and functions, IF, COUNTIF and COUNTIFS, XLOOKUP, INDEX MATCH, PivotTables, forecasting and trendlines, Power Query, conditional formatting, interactive dashboards and creating macros
- Leila GharaniXLOOKUP, TEXTSPLIT, TEXTBEFORE and TEXTAFTER, PivotTables and date grouping, histograms, unpivot in Power Query, smart drop-down lists, custom data validation, LET, LAMBDA and a real-world macro
- excelisfun (Mike Girvin)the Excel 365 Basics lessons on number formatting and ROUND, IF and logical tests, and date and time formulas
- Chandoothe dynamic array functions lesson (FILTER, SORT, UNIQUE) and slicers for dashboards
- MyOnlineTrainingHub (Mynda Treacy)combining a folder of files with Power Query, and the three-step interactive dashboard
- EngineerExceladvanced lookups for engineering tables
- David McLachlanthe control chart with dynamic control lines
- Up4Excelfunctions for cleaning dirty dates
- Steven Bradburnadding a trendline, its equation and R squared
- Technology for Teachers and Studentseverything about Excel Tables
- Kenji Explainsthe fifteen-minute Excel essentials review before the final
- Microsoftthe short official lesson on creating and formatting tables (published on Microsoft's Copilot channel)
If you are one of these creators and would like a lesson removed or credited differently, write to info@edwartens.co.in.
