Download Understanding Spreadsheets

Understanding Spreadsheets

Recall from our last lecture, Excel spreadsheets are saved in files called workbooks. Each of
these workbooks is made up of individual worksheets, or more simply sheets (EX 5).

Components of the Excel Window:
o A worksheet is broken down into a grid of columns (up and down) and rows (left
to right). A cell is where a row and column meet (EX 6).
o Column headings are those letters that appear along the top of the Excel window
and are listed alphabetically (from A to IV). There are a total of 256 possible
columns (EX 7).
o Row headings are the numbers that appear along the left edge of the screen and
are ordered numerically from 1 to 65,536 (EX 7).
o The active cell is the cell in which you are currently working. It can be identified
by its dark border. You can change the active cell by using the arrow keys or the
Enter key (EX 6).
o Each can be identified by its cell reference which is determined by the column
and row heading. The Name Box displays the cell reference of the active cell (EX
6).
o The formula bar displays the contents of the active cell (EX 7).
o Sheet tabs are located at the bottom of the worksheet. You can move from
worksheet to worksheet by clicking the appropriate sheet tab (EX 7).

Types of Data:
o Text is a combination of words, letters, and numbers (EX 11).

Text is automatically aligned along the left edge of the cell (EX 11).

To place text on separate lines within the same cell, you press and hold the
Alt key on the keyboard while pressing the Enter key (EX 12).
o Numeric are used to perform calculations and may contain characters such as
commas, dollar signs, and percent signs (EX 11).
o Dates are special numeric values that can be used to determine date-related
calculations (such as numbers of days that have passed or to sort by date) (EX
11).
o Calculated values are values based on the values entered in other cells and is
dependent on the formula entered into the cell (EX 11).

A formula is a mathematical expression that calculates a value and always
begins with an equal sign.

A formula typically contains one or more arithmetic operators. Examples
of arithmetic operators include:


+ Addition

- Subtration

* Multiplication

/ Division
Order or precedence is a set of predefined rules that follow to calculate a
formula by determining the order in which arithmetic operators are
applied. These are the rules: Parentheses, Multiplication or Division,
Addition or Subtraction.
Assume that A2 = 50, B2 = 10, C2 = 5

Formula
Result
= 10 + A2
60
= B2 + C2
15
= A2 – B2
40
= A2 * B2
500
= A2 / B2
5
= (A2 + B2) * C2
100
= A2 + B2 * C2
100
AutoComplete:
o Whenever you enter the same text in different rows in the worksheet, Excel has a
feature known as AutoComplete that anticipates the text you are about to enter
(EX 17).

Change the Size of a Column or Row:
o The default sizes of the columns and rows many not always be large enough (EX
19).
o Three Ways to Change Column Width or Row Height (EX 19):

Right-click the column or row heading whose width or height you want to
change. From the menu that appears, select either Column Width or Row
Height. Then type the new width or height.

Drag the row heading dividing line up or down to change the row height
or drag the column heading dividing line left or right to change the column
width.

Double-click the column or row heading dividing line to make the column
or row as large as the longest entry of the cells in the column or row.