Roadmap
This is intended to a loose roadmap - mainly a collection of ideas.
How to use this wiki
Consume
It's a desktop-first site and will be quirky on most other devices. Read and view like normal websites. There's a search box and a roadmap.
Contribute
Contributing to the Financial Modelling Wiki
Approaches
Standards etc
Main page, and have supporting pages:
- BPSMS
- FAST
- Financial Modelling Code
- IBM
- SCILS
- SMART
Topics - including tips/tricks/techniques/traps
Calculation modes and types
Charts (including series formulae, seeing/editing source data ranges, selecting elements, accessing context menu, source dates on multiple rows/columns, dynamic labels)
Checks (i.e. specific automated checks and alerts)
Clarity
Conditional formatting (including where it works well and where it often bugs)
Consistency
Data validation (including shortcomings and supporting techniques)
Dealing with Excel bugs and quirks - have a main page [what is a good name for it?] and supporting pages:
- Excel crashing when inserting rows (especially big blocks of copied rows) and reducing risk of crash by scrolling so that the insert occurs out of view
- Slow paste
Freeze panes
Group and outline (and manual grouping of rows/columns)
Hardcoding
Helpers (like repeating precedents locally to simplify formulae, separating MATCH from INDEX(MATCH) for calculating efficiency and to simplify formulae, helpers that are commonly in freeze panes, right down to counters etc)
Keyboard shortcuts
Logic flow
Mouse (i.e. getting the most out of it - fits with keyboard shortcuts)
Paste - this is part of Moving and copying workbook content
Paste special
- Formulas
- Values
- Formats
- Column widths
- Operation (add/subtract/multiply/divide)
- Transpose
- Link
Protection (i.e. sheet/VBA/workbook including shortcomings)
Risks (e.g. types of errors, error rates and ways to reduce them, risks in model development/review like time/cost overruns)
Scenarios and sensitivities
Self service BI (Get & Transform / Power Query and the data model etc)
Separation of inputs, calculations and outputs
Simplicity
Sparklines (including where they work well and where they often bug)
Tables (i.e. Excel's native table functionally that automatically expands and enables structured references)
VBA (including how to sanity check and run code you find online)
Types of model
Bid models - maybe separate out rail bids
Equity research
Fund
Portfolio
Project development
Components
Control account (a.k.a. roll-forward / corkscrew / running balance) ◀ This was the first reasonably complete page, and is useful as an example of how to use sections and embed spreadsheets.
Checks (i.e. collating/summarising/presenting the results of all automated checks and alerts)
Change log
Dashboard
Scenario manager
Table of contents / navigation
User guide
Workflows
Build
Review
Audit
Roll-forward
Maintain
Optimisation
Software
Reminder: Wikipedia's conflict of interest guideline applies to this wiki - e.g. do not add or edit software that you or your employer etc has any sort of interest in.
Establish a template before including information on any commercial offerings. Promote plain facts presented in a neutral manner, aim for zero marketing creativity. Maybe it is restricted to having a name, website, and up to [5] offerings listed - and there being guidelines (and examples) of permitted/prohibited ways of presenting offerings.
Main page - likely distinguish between free / soft paywall / paid
Native to Excel (e.g. Get & Transform, Inquire)
Excel add-ins
SAAS
Training
Reminder: Wikipedia's conflict of interest guideline applies to this wiki - e.g. do not add or edit training that you or your employer etc has any sort of interest in.
Establish a template before including information on any commercial offerings - see longer note in 'software' section.
Main page - likely distinguish between free / soft paywall / paid
Books
Online
In-person
Delivery
Reminder: Wikipedia's conflict of interest guideline applies to this wiki - e.g. do not add or edit delivery that you or your employer etc has any sort of interest in.
Establish a template before including information on any commercial offerings - see longer note in 'software' section.
FAQ
Answers to questions commonly asked by people learning modelling, e.g. on forums and questions that new modellers commonly ask colleagues etc.
Worked examples
Example questions and exercises that may be set in modelling courses, job skills assessments, and competitions.
Remember copyright and plagiarism - i.e. examples are to be either permitted by the owner or newly created for this wiki.