key applications module lesson 16 — excel essentials computer literacy basics

Key Applications ModuleLesson 16 — Excel Essentials

Computer Literacy BASICS

Computer Literacy BASICS2

Objectives

Identify the parts of the Excel screen. Create and navigate through a worksheet. Use the AutoCorrect and AutoComplete

features in Excel. Insert and delete rows and columns. Change column width and row height,

including using AutoFit to fit the column width to the cell contents.


Objectives (cont.)

Copy, clear, move, and delete data. Use AutoFill to copy the same data into a

range of cells. Format the contents of a cell and add

shading and border formats to a range of cells.

Use the Undo and Redo features.


Vocabulary

Active cell Cell reference Fill handle Filling Range Workbook Worksheet


Microsoft Excel

Excel is an electronic spreadsheet appli-cation designed to replace the tedious work of using pencils, paper, and calculators.

A spreadsheet is used to gather, organize, and summarize text and numeric data.

Spreadsheets are called worksheets in Excel.


Defining a Worksheet

A worksheet is a grid of rows and columns into which you can enter numbers, text, and formulas.

The worksheet in Excel is also used to perform calculations.

A worksheet is stored in a workbook that contains one or more worksheets.


Starting an Excel Worksheet

When you first launch the Excel application, a blank worksheet is displayed.

The new worksheet is titled Book1.– This filename will remain until you choose Save

As from the File menu and assign the document a new filename.

The New Document task pane is displayed on the right side of the window when you open the application.


The Structure of a Worksheet

Columns in a worksheet appear vertically and are identified by letters at the top of the worksheet.

Rows appear horizontally and are identified by numbers on the left side of the worksheet.

Usually, the top row of a worksheet is used for explanatory text or column headings that identify the type of data in each column.

The intersection of a single row and a single column is called a cell.


Identifying the Parts of the Excel Window

The cell reference identifies the column letter and row number (for example, A1 or B4).

The Excel window has many features that are similar to other Office applications:– Title bar– Menu bar– Toolbars– Scroll bars– Status bar


The Excel Window

Cell reference

Menu bar

Vertical scroll bar

Row labels

Horizontal scroll bar

Column labels

Formatting toolbar

Title bar

Status bar

Formula bar

Standard toolbar


The Active Cell

Click in a cell to select it, and a dark border will appear around the cell—this is the active cell.

Once selected, you can enter data into the active cell.

The active cell in a worksheet appears with a dark border around it.


Entering Data

To begin entering data, simply key the information in the active cell.– Then press Enter or click the Enter button (the green

check mark) on the Formula Bar.– Or press Tab to enter the information and then move

to the cell to the right of the active cell. You can also enter data into the Formula bar. When you enter data that is too long for a cell, it may

spill over into the next cell or display ##### in the cell.


Moving Around in the Worksheet


Cell Ranges in Worksheet

When you select a group of cells in a worksheet, the group is called a range.

All cells in a range touch each other and form a rectangle.

The range is identified by the cell in the upper-left corner and the cell in the lower-right corner, separated by a colon, such as A1:D4.


Selecting a Range of Cells

To select an entire row in a worksheet, click the row number at the left of the screen.

To select an entire column, click the column letter at the top of the document.

You can also select a row, column, or section of a worksheet by clicking and dragging the mouse to highlight the area you want to select.

A selected range has a dark border, and all the cells in the row, column, or block are shaded except the first cell (the upper-right cell in a block).


AutoCorrect and AutoComplete

AutoCorrect is a feature that automatically corrects commonly misspelled words as you key text.

– For example, if you key “teh,” AutoCorrect will change the text to “the.”

AutoComplete anticipates what you are typing and displays a suggested word.

– It compares the first few characters you key with words in adjacent cells to see whether you are entering a series of similar words or data.

– Press Enter to accept the proposed word or keep keying data to ignore it.


Inserting and Deleting Rows and Columns

When you insert or delete cells in a work-sheet, all existing data is shifted in some direction.– When you insert a row, all data below the new

row is shifted down one row.– Excel automatically updates cell references.

To insert and delete rows and columns, use the commands on the Insert menu.

You can insert multiple rows at one time.


Changing Column Width and Row Height

If you enter data that is too wide for a cell:– The data may display as a series of # signs.– The data may be cut off so only part of it is visible.– The data may run outside the column.

You can widen the column by– Dragging the column border sideways.– Using the Column Width command.

Likewise, you can change row height to meet the requirements of the data in a row.


Working with Data inWorksheet Cells

After entering data in a cell, Excel offers tools to reorganize it, delete it, move it, or copy it.

You can edit, replace, or clear cell content in worksheet cells.

If you move away from the cell and select it again, anything you type will replace the existing contents.

You an also make changes to cell contents in the Formula Bar.


Clearing the Contents or the Formatting from a Cell

To delete cell contents and leave the formatting intact, select the cell and press the Backspace or Delete key.– This clears the contents of the cell, but not the format. If

you enter new data, it is formatted the same way as the old data.

To remove the format from a cell and leave the contents, select the cell, open the Edit menu, point to Clear, and select Format.– This removes the format, but leaves the data intact.


Deleting a Cell

When you use the Delete command on the Edit menu, you remove the cell entirely.

The Delete command opens a dialog box with four options:

– You can delete one cell and shift the other cells to the left.– You can delete one cell and shift the other cells up.– You can delete an entire row.– You can delete an entire column.

Use caution when using the Delete command. The results may misalign data in your rows and columns.


Copying and Moving Data

To copy data from one or more cells to other cells:– Select the cells to be copied.– Click the Copy button on the Standard toolbar.– Place the pointer in the new cell.– Press the Paste button on the toolbar.

To move data:– Follow the same steps, but use the Cut button on

the Standard toolbar instead of the Copy button.


AutoFill

You can also copy data using AutoFill. This can only be used when the destination cells

are adjacent to the source cells. You can fill data up or down in the same column. You can fill data left or right in the same row. To fill adjacent cells:

– Select the source cell. A small black fill handle appears in the lower-right corner.

– Drag the fill handle in the desired direction.Fill handle


Formatting the Contents of a Cell

Formatting the contents of a cell changes the way the data appears.– You may want to change data alignment.– You may want to add commas to large

numbers. Some formatting features in Excel include

– Changing font, font attributes, and alignment– Formatting numbers and dates– Using Format Painter to format multiple cells


Changing Fonts and Aligning Text

To modify text, first select the cell or a group of cells.

Once selected, use the Formatting toolbar to– Change the typeface of existing text by selecting

a new font.– Apply bold, italic, or underline attributes to

selected cells.– Change text alignment using the alignment

buttons.


Adding Shading and Borders

You can highlight a cell, a row of cells, or a column with color, shading, or borders.

Select the cells you want to format and then open the Format Cells dialog box by selecting Cells from the Format menu.

The Format Cells dialog box has six tabs including Number, Alignment, Font, Border, Patterns, and Protection.

– Use the Patterns tab to add a fill color or shading pattern. – Use the Border tab to outline a cell or range of cells.


Formatting Numbers and Dates

You also can use the Format Cells dialog box to format numeric and data fields.

There are several predefined categories you can choose from, and the options you can set vary for each category.


Format Painter

Once you have formatted selected cells, you can copy the same format to other cells using the Format Painter.

To use Format Painter in Excel:– Select a cell that has the format you want to apply.– Click the Format Painter button.– Highlight all cells that you want to format the same

as the selected cell.


The Undo Feature

When editing a worksheet, you may change something you did not mean to change.

You can use the Undo command on the Edit menu (or click the Undo button on the Standard toolbar) to reverse an action.

To undo more than one recent action, click the list arrow on the Undo button to see a list of actions.– If you click on an action in the Undo list, that action

and all actions above it will be undone.


The Redo Feature

You can use the Redo command on the Edit menu to reverse the result of an Undo command.

Or click the Redo button on the Standard toolbar to reverse your last Undo command.– You can also see the Redo action list of actions to

redo by clicking the list arrow on the Redo button.– When you click on an action in the Redo list, that

action and all actions above it will be reinstated in the worksheet.


Summary

The Excel screen has its own unique screen parts, menus, and toolbars.

To enter data in a cell, the cell must be selected. You can use the mouse or the keyboard to move from one cell to another.


Summary (cont.)

As you enter data, Excel will automatically correct some of your keyboarding errors. If the data you are entering matches characters of existing entries, Excel will propose the existing entry to save you time.

When you insert or delete rows and columns, all existing data is shifted up, down, left, or right.


Summary (cont.)

There are several options for changing the column width. You can drag a column border, use the AutoFit feature, or specify an exact measurement.

To reorganize a worksheet, you can delete, clear, copy, or move the data.


Summary (cont.)

The AutoFill command enables you to copy data from one cell to another or enter certain series of data, such as months or days of the week.

When you format the contents of a cell, you change the appearance of the text or numbers in the cell.

The Undo command reverses a previous action. The Redo command reverses an undo.

key applications module lesson 16 — excel essentials computer literacy basics

Documents

office applications

new worksheet

worksheeta worksheet

blank worksheet

excel application

cell contents

excel worksheetwhen

excel screen