Opinionated guide to using excel

Excel and I have a strange history. For being so into data, it actually took until my first job where I learned how to use Excel on a regular basis. Based on these opinionated Django rules

• All excel sheets should be read from left to right
• I would also have my most readable file on the left, followed by a pivot table, followed by the raw data.
• No hidden rows or columns
• No sub summations within a data structure
• Formulas should be written in row above headers, to easily be pasted down
• An excel sheet should have all data in one worksheet
• No spaces in the data. Whole thing should be navigated with control, shift, arrows
• Different data blocks should be split by one row and/or one column
• Grid and bold headers. Often color yellow (traditional bumblebee approach)
• Calculated fields should not exist in pivot tables. All columns should be a part of a data row, for readability
• Graphing should be done using another tool (i.e. python, tableau)