Introduction to Spreadsheets

Spreadsheet - a computerized ledger

- divided into rows and columns
- columns identified with alphabetic headings
- rows identified with numeric headings
Cell - the intersection of a row and a column
- can contain either a formula or a constant
-reference uniquely identifies a cell
-consists of column letter and row number
Types of Cell Entries
Constant - an entry that does not change
- Can be a numeric value or descriptive text
Function - a predefined computational task
Formula - a combination of numeric constants, cell references, arithmetic
operators, and functions
- always begins with an equal sign
Introduction to Microsoft Excel
Common user interface with other Office applications - Menus and toolbars
are similar to Word and
Power point
Workbook - contains one or more worksheets
Worksheet - an Excel spreadsheet
Toolbars
- Appear beneath the menu bar
- Contain buttons that perform commonly-used commands
Menu bar - gives lists of commands
Standard toolbar - buttons correspond to most basic commands in Excel
- Examples include opening, closing, and saving a workbook
Formatting toolbar - buttons correspond to common formatting operations
- examples include boldface and cell alignment
Title bar - shows name of workbook
Formula bar - displays contents of active cell
Active cell - highlighted cells

The File Menu

Contains most common commands related to Excel files
Example:
- New command creates a new workbook
- Open command opens an existing workbook
- Save command saves a workbook
- Save As command saves a copy of an existing workbook under a different
name or file type
- Print command prints all or part of a worksheet
Page tab - controls print orientation and scaling
Margins tab - used to set top, bottom, left and right margins
Header/Footer tab - allows user to create headers and footers each printed sheet
Sheet tab - used to control repeating rows or columns or print gridlines
Using Cell Ranges

Range
- a rectangular group of cells
- may be a single cell or the entire worksheet
- may consist of a row (or part of a row), a column (or part of a column) or
multiple rows and/or
columns
Copying and Moving Cells
Copy command - duplicates the contents of a cell or range of cells
source range - the cell(s) you are copying from
destination range - the cell(s) you are copying to
Move operation - transfers the contents of a cell or range to another cell or range
You must use both the Copy (or Cut) command and the Paste command
Cell Referencing
Absolute reference - remains constant when copied
- specified with dollar signs before the column and row
Relative reference - adjusts during a copy operation
- specified without dollar signs, i.e B4
Mixed reference
- either the row or the column is absolute; the other is relative
- specified with a dollar sign before the absolute part of the
reference, i.e. B$4
Formatting Cells
Format Cells command - controls the formatting for numbers, alignment, fonts,
borders, and patterns
(color)
Select-then-do
- select the cells to which the formatting apply
- execute the format cells command
Number tab - allows you to specify appearance of numbers
Alignment Tab - specifies vertical and horizontal alignment
Font tab - allows you to specify font type and size
Borders and Patterns - allow you to create special effects
Shading - used to identify labels and assumptions
Use page Setup dialog to create a Header