Excel Basics

Created byBarbara Pitsinger

What is Excel Microsoft Excel is

an electronic spreadsheet program.

Excel’s Format The workbook consists of rows and

columns. Rows are identified by numbers. Columns are identified by the letters of

the alphabet. The intersection of a row and column is a

rectangular area called a cell. Cell Coordinates Example: A1 Information is typed in each cell.

Excel Spreadsheet Window

Active Cell

Worksheet Tabs

Formula Bar

Name Box

Navigating in ExcelKeyboard Navigation Left Arrow -- Moves left Right Arrow -- Moves Right Up Arrow -- Moves Up Down Arrow -- Moves Down Control Home -- Returns to

cell A1 Control End -- Goes to last

row, column and cell Control Down Arrow -- Goes

to last cell in column with data

Control Up Arrow -- Goes to first cell in column with data

Control Right Arrow -- Goes to last right hand cell with data

Control Left Arrow -- Goes to last left hand cell with data

ORSimply click the left mouse on a

cell to make it active.

Worksheet Data

Three types of data can be entered into Excel:

Text (labels) Numbers (values) Formulas & Functions

Text

Are used to identify the numeric data

Used to sort and group data Used as column or row headers Steps:

Click on the cell Type in text Press Enter or Tab

Adding Text

Observe the text is displayed in two areas.

Numbers Numeric values are the foundation for

Excel’s calculations, analyses, charts, and graphs.

Right-justified in a cell. Can be formatted as:

Currency Percentages Decimals Fractions

Adding Numbers

Steps: Click the cell Key in the

value or number

Press Enter or Tab

Formatting Numbers as Dates

Steps: Click on the cell Type in the date: Example

April 11, 2008. Date is automatically

formatted as 11-Apr-08

Changing the Date FormatSteps: Select the cell the

date is in. Click on Format

from the menu. Click on cells Click on date under

the number options tab.

Select the date format desired.

Click Okay.

Functions & Formulas Are expressions

that can be used to manipulate or analyze information.

Always begin with an = sign

Formulas & Functions

Excel has the capability to calculate the following type of functions & Formulas: Statistical

Functions Text Functions CountIF Use the Help Feature when

needed.

Using Auto Sum Excel allows you to

quickly find the total of a column or row of numbers

Steps: Select the cell below the

column of numbers (or to the right of your row of numbers).

Select the Auto Sum button from the Standard toolbar

Verify that the range of numbers is proper, depress return/enter and the sum is displayed.

Fill a Series with Auto Fill Auto Fill will

automatically fill cells with data by using the fill handle.

Steps: Select the desired

cell. Place mouse on fill

handle and drag down or across holding down the left mouse button.

Release mouse button.

Fill Handle

Excel will automatically continue a series of numbers, numbers and text combinations, dates, or time periods based on the established pattern.

Inserting Columns & Rows Steps

Click on the Insert tab from the Menu bar Select Columns or Rows A new column or row is inserted

Copying Data Steps:

Select one or more cells

Select Edit in the menu

Select Copy Move to the new

active cell Select paste from

the Edit menu

Changing Font Color,Size, & Style Steps: Select the range Point to the Font Box

arrow that is located on the Formatting toolbar.

Select a Font Style. Same steps applies

to Font size just select the Font Size Button.

Same steps apply to Font color only select the Font Color Button off the toolbar.

Font Size Font

Color

Font

Merging Cells Formatting the

worksheet title is to center it across columns. This improves the worksheet’s appearance.

Merging cells involves creating a single cell by combining 2 or more selected cells.

Steps: Select the range Click the Merge and

Center button on the Formatting Toolbar.

Using Table AutoFormat AutoFormat is a built-in

collect of formats such as font style, font color, borders, and alignment which can be applied to a range of cells.

Steps: Select the range of cells. Click on Format from the

Menu Bar Click on AutoFormat on

the Format menu. Select the style desired. Click on Okay.

Charts & Graphs Charts & Graphs are used to visually

express data for comparing and analysis. There are many different types of charts

that can be added to a spreadsheet. Examples:

Pie Column Bar

Charts & Graphs (continued)

Steps: Select the range to graph Click on Chart icon from

the standard toolbar. Select the type of chart

desired Select the subtype of

chart desired Click Next and follow

through the Chart Wizard dialog box until finished.

Saving a Worksheet

Steps: Select Save or Save As from the File

menu Or Click on the Save Button from the

Standard Toolbar. Type in a Filename Change the directory if need be. Click on Save

Printing a Worksheet Steps:

Click on print from the File menu the Print Dialog Box will appear.

Select the necessary options Click on okay. Or Click the Print Icon off the

standard toolbar. The entire worksheet will

print.

Excel Lesson Plan Ideas Grade Book Attendance Collect & analyze rain fall in community Budget expenses & income Worksheet Create an Historical Time line Create a battle statistic's spreadsheet &

graph it Interactive Crossword Puzzle