Business Productivity Tools

Beginning Excel

© Mike Splane 2006

 

Open Excel

From the Tools menu, Customize submenu, Options tab, select all options except “large icons.”

From the View Menu, close the task pane, if it is open. (Uncheck the box next to it)

From the View Menu, select Toolbars.

Only the Standard and the Formatting toolbars should have checks next to them. Remove any checkmarks next to the other toolbars.

Notice that the menus show icons and shortcut keys next to some of the menu choices. These are alternative ways to perform the same task.

 

Moving around in the worksheet

The worksheet opens in cell A1. This is called the home cell. Notice that the letters A above it and 1 to the left of it are highlighted to indicate which cell you are currently working with.  There is a thick box border around the cell.

  1. Use the mouse to click on another cell to select it. Notice how the letter above it and number to the left are highlighted, and the thick box border moved.
  2. Find the Cell Name in the Box in the upper left hand side of the display.
  3. Type G6 in the Cell Name Box. Press Enter.
  4. Press Tab, Enter, and Shift Tab.
  5. Press the arrow keys. Press and hold one down to scroll.
  6. Press Page Down to move down one screen. Press Page Up.
  7. Press the End key with the down arrow key to move to the bottom of the sheet. 
  8. Press the End Key with the right arrow key to move to the far right column.
  9. Press CTRL + Home to return to Cell A1.

Formatting Methods

  1. Enter letters in cells A1 and B1, numbers in cells A2 and B2.
  2. Widen the columns by clicking between letters in the letters row and dragging.
  3. Change the height of the rows by clicking in the number area and dragging.
  4. Notice that words are right aligned, Numbers are left aligned.
  5. Click on Cell A2 and press the centering icon.
  6. Click on the letter B and click on the centering icon.
  7. Click on the number 2 and click on the left alignment icon.
  8. Use the mouse to select cells A1 to B2. Press Delete
  9. Click on the tab for Sheet 2.

 

Build a small table

  1. In cell A1 type Fun Things to do. Press Tab, Enter, or an arrow key.
  2. Click on the letter A. Drag to widen this column.
  3. Click on cell A1 again. Press F2. Change A1 to say Fun Things To Do.
  4. Press CTRL Z to reverse the correction.
  5. Click in the formula bar (The area above the center of the worksheet).
  6. Change A1 to say Fun Things To Do.
  7. In cells A2-A4, list 3 of your friends.
  8. Select cells A2-A4 by highlighting  them with your mouse.
  9. Click on the A-Z icon to sort the names. If the names don’t sort correctly, try again, but this time include cell A1.
  10. List an activity in column B next to each name.
  11. Use icons to apply color formatting to font and background in A1
  12. Click on the number 2 in the row indicator column. Click on the fill color icon.
  13. Select cell A2. Click on the paintbrush icon. Use the mouse to select the numbers 3 and 4.
  14. Use the borders icon to apply box border to all cells in A2:B4
  15. Use the borders icon to apply a Heavy Border to Cell A1
  16. Select cells A1 and B1. Click the Merge and Center icon. Click the icon twice more.
  17. Press CTRL – A to select all cells.
  18. Press CTRL – B to apply Bold format) Press Escape.

 

Close Excel