Tech Tips

Excel for Compliance & Data Handling

Excel practices focused on compliance use-cases, data accuracy, and avoiding common portal upload and formatting errors.

Excel slowing down with large files?

Before adding formulas:

• Convert ranges to Tables (Ctrl + T)
• Avoid full-column formulas (A:A)
• Replace volatile functions (OFFSET, INDIRECT)

Result:
Faster recalculation, fewer crashes.

Excel recalculating too slowly?

Switch to Manual Calculation:

Excel → Formulas → Calculation Options → Manual

Re-enable to Automatic *before finalising*.

Common in large workbooks with linked sheets.

Excel crashing or freezing on large files?

Fix this setting:
File → Options → Advanced
✔ Disable hardware graphics acceleration

Why this helps:
• Prevents GPU driver conflicts
• Stabilises large ledgers, pivots, Power Query
• Very effective on older laptops

One setting. Big improvement.

Most GST Excel upload errors come from DATE columns.

GST portal expects:
dd-mm-yyyy in TEXT format.

Common issues:
• Excel auto-converts to US format (mm/dd/yyyy)
• Dates stored as serial numbers
• Cells left as “General”

Reliable fix:
1. Select the entire date column
2. Home → Number Format → Text
3. Re-enter ONE date (copy-paste it down)

Excel forces all dates into proper text format.
This alone resolves most “Invalid date format” GST upload errors.

Compare two Excel files side-by-side — no formulas needed.

Steps:
1. Open both files
2. View → View Side by Side
3. Enable Synchronous Scrolling

Best for:
• Comparing TBs / ledgers
• Spotting missing rows
• Catching formatting or decimal differences

Often faster and clearer than VLOOKUP.