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Be honest with yourself: Do you have a love/hate relationship with Excel?

Excel can make your job easier – if you know how to use it right. If you don't, you could be wasting more time than you're saving.

Use the executive summary from our Microsoft Excel Training Series to go from being an Excel user to an Excel expert. Learn More!

Here are three time-savers to help you navigate Excel and maximize your spreadsheets:

1. Create a quick-and-dirty Excel chart in one keystroke.

First, select any cells within the data table you want to chart. Then press the F11 key. Excel creates a Column chart in a new work sheet. You can take the chart as is, or alter it as you would any other chart.

2. Improve your Excel printouts

Separate groups of data with page breaks, so they print on separate pages.

Here’s how: Open your workbook. Choose “View > Page Break Preview” from the menu bar. Then, select a cell (or an entire row or column) below the line where you wish to insert a horizontal break, or to the right of a line where you wish to insert a vertical break. Right-click on the selection and choose “Insert Page Break” from the shortcut menu.

Microsoft Excel: Time-Savers for Every Skill Level is the latest installment in our Office Technology Series. The editors of Administrative Professional Today have turned not one, but TWO training events into one easy-to-read Executive Summary. The first section will help you save time and hassle. The second will help you get the most out of Excel. Learn how to make Excel work harder for you

3. Use Google Spreadsheets to share existing Excel files

Google Spreadsheets (http://docs.google.com) is Web-based software that allows you to create new spreadsheets online, or to import and share existing Microsoft Excel files. Using the Google software, you can create multiple sheets in a workbook, sort, format and create formulas.

But the real plus is being able to share data with multiple users online, so they can edit simultaneously or have an on-screen chat about what they’re viewing. And that means a lot fewer e-mails flying back and forth.

With Microsoft Excel: Time-Savers for Every Skill Level, you'll learn:

Part I: Ways to Improve Speed, Accuracy
1. Shortcuts, Tips & Tricks
2. Wrangling Worksheets
3. Typing Less in Excel
4. Time-Saving Templates
5. Troubleshooting Formulas

Part II: ‘Power Tools’ for Managing Data
1. Drilling Down to the Data You Need
2. Whipping Text Imports Into Shape
3. Macros – Reuse/Recycle
4. Vertical Lookup Functions

Get the Executive Summary now!