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It's data displayed in rows and columns on a plane and Microsoft's Excel spreadsheet program is one of the most used spreadsheet applications. Excel's parts & its Worksheet are similar to Word & other Office applications. Many of the shortcuts in Word will work in Excel.
OpenOffice Calc is a reasonable alternative, but Excel is still the most used.
Use this example as we review some of the basic components.
Sheet tabs for multiple worksheets
Scrollbars right and bottom
Rows numbered 1 though 65,536 in Excel 2003, through 1,046,576 in Excel 2007
Columns lettered A through IV (256 columns) in Excel 2003, through XFD (16,384) in Excel 2007
Cells are where the data is stored
Fill handle - the small black square in the corner of the cell
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Before you begin a complex spreadsheet, plan it out
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Tune up your workbook to your needs. Make it work for you, not against you.
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Save with CNTL+S or Save As with ALT+F+A, and, as in UNIX and MSWord,
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Select the cell where you want to enter data. Start typing. The data will appear at the top of the screen in the Formula Bar, where you can edit it, correct errors, and add text, figures, or formulas. The data is only placed into the cell when you hit the Return key, the Enter key, the Tab key, or any of the direction keys.
Double click in the cell. This will allow you to edit in the cell instead of in the Formula Bar
If you enter a long string of data, Excel will either truncate the display of the label or spill the display over into the next cell. You may see this: ###########
to increase a column width, put the cursor on the top of the column where it borders the second column. The cursor will turn from an + to a line with 2 arrows (similar to changing tables in word). Left click and hold the mouse, drag it to the desired position.
Right click the cell, select Pick From List
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Click on the cell you wish to edit, it's contents will appear in the Formula Bar
double click the cell (see above under Entering Data)
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Click the cell
If you use the Delete key, Excel assumes you want to clear contents of the cell(s), but does not clear any formatting you may have added
If you use the right click Delete dialog, Excel assumes you want to remove the entire cell from the worksheet, not just the contents from the cell.
If you add data to a cell by pasting from another cell or another application, you have many options. Pasting from another cell can bring values, formulas, relative references, and many other properties - as you wish.
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Click the Sheet Tab
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Excel does not follow the standard sequence for cutting, pasting, copying.
If you select a range of cells as the destination of either Cut or Copy, and this range differs in size or shape from the source, Excel will complain. Selecting a single cell is easier, since this method tells Excel where to start the paste and will ensure that the destination is formed exactly like the source
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Freeze row or column headings so that with long worksheets you won't lose sight of the labels as you scroll through your data.
To freeze a row/column, select the row/column immediately underneath or to the right of the row/column you want to freeze, go to View > Freeze Panes.
Select the row/column where you want to place the split, go to View > Split
What's the difference? When is one method preferable to the other?
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To validate data as it is entered, use Data, Validation, and build a data entry rule with the dialog box.
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Excel comes with additional tools that don't necessarily load unless you ask for them. Look under Excel Options.
Check the ones you want and they will be added to your Tools menu.
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Also similar to Word, but here you want to set up an electronic spreadsheet for paper applications.
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