Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet training - Part 1  

 

Introduction to spreadsheets

 

A spreadsheet is made up of  individual cells.  The spreadsheet is most useful in handling numbers and text and sorting that data and manipulating that data.  Each cell can be program with a formula, have individual borders, individual colors, be formatted to take different kinds of numerical data ranging from simple two decimal number to percents to dates.  With the data in the spreadsheet, visual charts can be made. 

 

 

Objectives for this session:

  1. Set up rows and columns for taking data.
  2. Formatting appearance of cells.
  3. Making charts using Excel (timelines).

 

 Setting up a spreadsheet

  1. Go to Start/Programs/Microsoft Excel.
  2. Notice that along the top of the spreadsheet the columns are labeled  A, B, C, etc. and the rows are labeled by numbers starting with 1.  This sets up a grid identification system from each cell.  For example the very top left cell is A1. The cell directly below it is A2 and the cell directly to the right of it is B1.  This is important when doing formulas in the cells.

Labeling columns

  1. For our purposes we will use row 1 for the headings of  our columns.
  2. Label the top row of columns starting with cell A1  Date 1, B1 is Date 2, etc. Use

the picture below as a guide.

After labeling the first row, now label the first column.    

   Figure 1                      

Note: You can adjust the column widths by:  placing the cursor in the Letter label (top of the columns) between two columns and hold down the left mouse button.  Drag the column width to where you want it.

Changing the color of cells

  1. Highlight the cells you want to add color to (by holding down the left mouse button).    Now click the right mouse button.
  2. Choose Format cells.  
  3. Click the Patterns tab and choose the color you wish.  Now click ok.

Making charts

1.      Format the cells by clicking the first Letter A at the top of the column to choose all the cells in the A column.

2.      Right click and choose format cells.

3.      Highlight the cells with numbers and the headings of your columns.

4.      Sort the data by clicking Data and then clicking Sort.

5.      Format cells for dates in the format that has the year in all four digits  ex. 01/08/2002.

6.      Repeat this for all the columns that have text or numbers in them.

7.      Click on the Chart Wizard symbol.

8.      Use the LINE in the chart wizard, and then choose the icon that does LINE WITH MARKERS DISPLAYED AT EACH DATA VALUE.

9.      Click Next.

10.  After clicking next, choose COLUMNS

11.  Click Next.

12.   Add a chart title.

13.  Click Finish.