Financial modelling in Microsoft Excel

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Contents 1 Overview 2 Specifying a model 3 Designing a model 4 Building a model 5 Testing a model 6 Analysing a model 7 Documenting a model 8 Beautiful charts 9 Beautiful tables

[edit] Overview

Some basic principles

[edit] Specifying a model

It makes sense to plan what your model will do and get this agreed, before you start

• Specifying a model

[edit] Designing a model

Like cartoons, models should use just a little to express a lot. The art of modelling often lies in what to leave out.

• Design patterns

[edit] Building a model

• Building for safety

[edit] Testing a model

• Testing

[edit] Analysing a model

• Analysis

[edit] Documenting a model

[edit] Beautiful charts

The default charts in Excel are designed to look and print OK under almost all conditions. This means that they use strong colors and lines which can be overpowering most of the time.

This section shows how you can dramatically improve the professionalism of your charts with some simple techniques.

• The basics of colors
• Editing the color palette
• Beautifying charts
• Beautifying charts 2
• Modifying the standard colors & lines

[edit] Beautiful tables