Microsoft Excel (A Spreadsheet tool)

 Introduction to 

Microsoft Excel 2007

Class learning objectives

1.      What is Excel?

·        Spreadsheet uses & samples

·        Touring the Excel window

·        Learning important definitions

·        Navigating around the workbook 

2.      The Basics

·        Entering & editing data in cells

·        Inserting cells, rows, & columns

·        Formatting cells

·        Renaming, adding, & reorganizing worksheets

 3.      Formulas

·        Using mathematical operators

·        Using four sum methods

·        AutoCalculate

 4.      Customizing Your Spreadsheet

·        Gridlines

 5.      Finishing Up

·        Using Excel’s help

·        More learning resources

What is Excel?

Excel is a spreadsheet program that can be used to organize, manipulate and analyze data. Excel is often used in the workplace to track statistics, create sales reports, financial modeling, scientific engineering, and making charts and graphics. However, it can also be useful at home to create budgets or even make a list of family members’ birthdays. Excel is a versatile and powerful program with a lot to offer.

 

The Excel Window

 

When you first open up Excel you will see a blank sheet that looks a lot like a grid. If you have ever used other Microsoft programs such as Microsoft Word, you will recognize several parts already such as the Title Bar. Other parts might be unfamiliar, so let’s look at the parts of an Excel window.

The Microsoft Office 2007 Ribbon

Microsoft Office 2007 uses a visual tool called the ribbon to display all of the commands that are used to edit a document. The ribbon uses two different visual elements: tabs and command groups.

1.  Each tab contains a set of groups that share a theme in common. The Home tab, for example, contains all of the commands that are used most often by most people.
2.  Within each tab are groups of command icons that share a common design element. The Font group, for instance, contains all of the commands that change the way that text looks while the Number group contains commands that change the way numbers are displayed within a cell.
3. Finally, within each group are visual representations of the commands themselves.

             Cells –The gray boxes that make up the Excel grid are called cells. Cells are arranged in rows                 and columns. They are used to store data. Data can be numbers, text and formulas, such as                     mathematical calculations.

Active Cell – The active cell is the cell you are currently working with. There is always an active cell on your worksheet. You can identify the active cell on your worksheet because it has a thicker border than the other cells and its name is listed in the cell name box. To change which cell is the active cell, simply click on it or move to it using the arrow keys on your keyboard.

 

Name Box –The cell name box, located below the clipboard group in the ribbon identifies the name of the active cell. Cells are named by giving the column letter and then the row number.  For example, B3 means the active cell is located in column B and is in the third row.

 

Formula Bar –The formula bar displays the contents of the active cell. This could be a formula, data or just text.

 

Workbook – An Excel file is called a workbook. It is helpful to think of a workbook as being like a notebook containing many sheets.

 

Worksheets –The individual pages in the workbook are called worksheets. They are often referred to as simply “sheets.” In addition to data, worksheets can also contain graphical objects, such as charts,

arrows and pictures. Each worksheet consists of a tabular grid of cells. There are more than 65,000 rows of cells, starting with number 1 along the left margin of the worksheet. There are 256 columns along the top margin of the worksheet. These columns are labeled alphabetically, using a single-digit and then double-digit alphabetization scheme.

 

Worksheet Tabs –There is a tab in the bottom left corner of the Excel window for each sheet in your workbook. Clicking on a sheet’s tab will take you to that sheet.

 

Navigating Around the Workbook

Excel has scroll bars to help you view all areas of a sheet quickly. You can click in a cell using your mouse to select a specific cell. Using the scroll bars and the mouse you can quickly select any cell in the worksheet. However, some users find it easier to move around in Excel using the keyboard instead of the mouse. The table below explains some keystrokes you can use to navigate around worksheets.

This Keystroke	Moves
TAB key	Move to the right to the next cell in the row.
ENTER key	Move to the cell in the column below.
Shift+TAB	Move to preceding cell.
Arrow keys (®¬­¯)	Move right, left, up, and down (one cell at a time).
CTRL+arrow keys	Move to the edge of the current data region (region the cell is currently in).
Home	Move to the beginning of row.
CTRL+Home	Move to Cell A1.