TU5.5 - “The Answer is Always a Spreadsheet” featuring Ben Collins
Audio only (podcast)
Key Moments:
Introduction and The Power of Spreadsheets (00:00)
Ben talks about his background and how he got started with spreadsheets and Google Apps Script. He then discusses the power of spreadsheets and how they can be used for a variety of tasks.
Spreadsheet Applications (05:05)
Ben discusses how spreadsheets can be used to build powerful applications. He gives examples of some of the applications he has built, including a project management tool, a time tracking tool, and a data visualization tool. He also talks about how spreadsheets can be used to automate tasks and workflows.
Named Functions (23:24)
Ben demonstrates how to create and use named functions in Google Sheets. Named functions allow you to define custom functions that can be used in your spreadsheet formulas.
Building a Calendar with Google Sheet Functions (26:06)
Ben shows how to build a calendar in Google Sheets using named functions. He uses the EOMONTH and DAY functions to calculate the number of days in a month and the day of the week for a given date.
Custom Functions (33:05)
Ben demonstrates how to create a custom function in Google Apps Script. He creates a function called DOUBLE that simply doubles the value of a number.
Conclusion and Q&A (43:00)
Ben answers questions from the audience and shares his thoughts on the future of spreadsheets and Google Apps Script. He encourages viewers to learn more about Google Apps Script and to start building their own custom solutions.
Show Notes
Broadcast Date: 06 March 2024
Whether you are managing projects, calculating budgets, forecasting sales, or just tracking your own to-do lists, there is almost always a spreadsheet involved.
In this episode of Totally Unscripted, we get back to basics and discuss the versatility and pure power (and joy) of spreadsheets! We are joined by guest Ben Collins, who is a renowned spreadsheet educator, Google Developer Expert and Google Sheets master, and someone who has earned the honorary title of "King of Functions".
Ben talks about trends, best practices, and of course demonstrate a few of his favourite functions that will confirm that "The Answer is Always a Spreadsheet" still rings true!