LESSON1 - EXPLORINGEXCEL ........................................................................

Workingwith Excel..................................................................................................2

StartingExcel...........................................................................................................3

Usingthe Interface...................................................................................................4

Usingthe OfficeButton............................................................................................6

ExploringExcelOptions..........................................................................................8

WorkingwithWorksheets......................................................................................10

Usingthe Ribbon....................................................................................................11

HidingtheRibbon..................................................................................................15

Customizingthe QuickAccessToolbar.................................................................16

UsingtheMiniToolbar..........................................................................................21

Customizingthe StatusBar....................................................................................23

ExitingExcel..........................................................................................................25

Exercise..................................................................................................................27
What is Microsoft Excel?
Microsoft Excel is a program that provides worksheets comprised of rows and columns. Textual data
can be stored in the workbook similarly to a Microsoft Word table, but the power of Excel is its ability
to perform simple to complicated mathematical calculations. When you are ready to create some
math formulas.

MicrosoftExcel2007 is a software application that can be used as a spreadsheet, database or

graphing program.

Theelectronic spreadsheetportion ofExcelallows youto performsophisticated calculationsand

createformulas thatautomaticallycalculate answers.The advantage ofusingformulasisthat, when datain
the worksheetchanges, alltheformulas recalculate automatically. Thisfeature assists youin
developingbudgets,forecasting models, creatingsalesplans, makingfinancialprojections,
calculatinginventories, generatingbankingstatements, and basicallyworkingwith anyformat involving
numbers.

USING THE INTERFACE

When Excelstarts,theApplication Windowopens. Ifyou are usingMicrosoftExcel2007 with aWindows

7operatingsystem, you willnotice the colorfulWindows 7theme. Optionsand buttons thatare enabled
appearin easyto read contrasting colors.

TheTitleBar, which appears atthetop ofthe application window, displays the name of the
currentworkbookand the name of the application. At the farleftof theTitleBaris theOfficebutton,
whichreplacesthe old Filemenu.Totherightof the Office button is thecustomizableQuick
AccessToolbar,towhich you canadd yourfavorite command buttons.

UndertheTitle Baris theRibbon, which replaces the old menu systemand displays Excels command
buttons, groupedaccordingto function, withintask-orientedTabs.
TowardsthefarrightoftheRibbonistheHelp icon, which opensExcels mainhelp window.

At theleftend ofthe rowbelow the Ribbonis theNameBox, whichdisplaysthe name oftheActive Cell.To
therightofthe Name Box isthe InsertFunction button, whichlets you access Excels extensive range
ofbuilt-infunctions whencreating formulas.Tothe rightofthe InsertFunction button is
theFormulaBarin which you can view andeditthe datain theActive Cell.

Excelopens with a new, blankWorkbook windowcontainingthree Worksheets displayed inthe

workarea.TheWorkbook windowismaximized withintheExcel Application Window.TheMinimize
Window,RestoreWindowandClose WindowbuttonsfortheWorkbook windowaredisplayed beside
theHelp button at thefarrightoftheRibbon.At thebottomof theWorkbook window,there areTabs
foreachWorksheet, togetherwith abuttonfor inserting more worksheets.To theleft of
theWorksheetTabs, are buttonsforscrollingthetabs.
EachWorksheetis dividedintocolumns and rowsto provide millionsofCellsin which you
canentertext, numbers orformulas. At therightand bottomofeach Worksheet,scrollbars
areprovidedforviewingotherareas ofthe worksheet.

TheStatusBarappears at the bottomof the application window. Attheleftend of the Status

BaraCellModeindicatorandMacro Recordingbutton are displayed. Towardstheright-hand side ofthe
Status Bar, threeViewShortcutbuttons are providedforswitchingbetweenNormal,Page
LayoutandPageBreakPreview views ofthe worksheet. Atthefarrightofthe
StatusBararetheZoomLevelbutton andZoomSlider. Additionalinformationappears on the
StatusBarasyou perform certain typesofactions.The Status Baris customizable, letting you controlwhat
informationis displayed.
Manyofthe objectsinthe Excelwindow(such asbuttons onthe Ribbon)displaybrief descriptions
calledScreenTipsthatpop up wheneveryou pointtothe objects.
Several Workbookscan beopen within theExcelApplication Windowat the same time. Bydefault,
eachWorkbookis maximized withinthe ApplicationWindow.You can switch betweentheopen
Workbooks eitherbyusinga buttonon theViewtabor byclickingits icon onthe Windows Taskbar.
Alternatively, you can clickthe Restore WindowbuttonatthefarrightoftheRibbonto
displaytheWorkbooksas resizable windowsand arrange themasdesiredwithinthe
ApplicationWindow.

An Excel worksheet, or spreadsheet, is a two-dimensional grid with columns and rows. Look at the
spreadsheet below. The column names are letters of the alphabet starting with A, and the rows are
numbered chronologically starting with the number one. The cells in the first row are A1, B1, C1,
and so on. And the cells in the first column are A1, A2, A3, and so on. These are called cell names or
cell references.

We use cell references when creating math formulas or functions. For example, the formula to add the
contents of cells B2 and B3 together is: =B2+B3.
Structure of a Microsoft Excel Worksheet (Spreadsheet)

The Name Box is located in the area above Column A, and displays the cell reference of the selected
cell- the cell where the cursor is resting. In our spreadsheet above, the selected cell is C2. Notice that
the column letter (C) and the row number (2) change color.
The beginning of the Formula Bar can be seen in the area above Column D on our worksheet. The
Formula Bar displays the contents of the selected cell.
A workbook is a collection of worksheets or spreadsheets. When the Excel program is opened, a
workbook opens with three blank worksheets. The names of the worksheets are displayed on tabs at
the bottom of the Excel window.

USINGTHEOFFICEBUTTON
Discussion
Thenew lookMicrosoftOffice2007bringswith itmanychanges. Mostof these changesreferto the
navigationalaspects ofthe individualapplicationsand the new and improved userinterface.

TheOfficebutton,a large round iconin the top, lefthand cornerofWord, Excel,

PowerPointandAccess,isthe heartof the newOffice2007applications. It includes mostof the
commands traditionallyfoundinthefile menu togetherwithsome new commands.In
Excel,theseareNew,Open, Save, Save As,Print,Prepare, Send, PublishandClose.

EXPLORINGEXCELOPTIONS
Discussion
In earlierversions ofExcel, you couldsetyourpreferencesforspecific views, displays,
andeditingsettings in the Options dialogbox under theToolsmenu. Inthe new user
interface,thedialogbox hasbeen completelyredesigned and is now accessedfroma
buttonintheOfficemenu calledExcelOptions.The options are grouped into categories which you
selectfromthe left-hand pane of the ExcelOptions dialogbox;thefollowingtableliststhecategories.

Category Description
Popular Change the mostpopularoptions in Excel.
Formulas Change optionsrelated to formula calculation,
performance, and errorhandling.

Proofing Change how Excelcorrectsand formats yourtext.

Save Customize how workbooks aresaved.
Advanced Advanced optionsforworkingwith Excel.This
categoryincludes, amongothers, sections for Editing,
Cut,copy and paste,Print, Display
(includingoptionsforcurrentlyopen workbooks and
individualworksheets),Calculationin currently open
workbooks andGeneraloptions.
 Customize Customize theQuick AccessToolbar(includingthe abilityto
addcommandsnotavailable in the Ribbon).

Add-Ins View and manage MicrosoftOffice add-ins.

TrustCenter Helpkeep yourdocumentssafeand yourcomputer
secure and healthy(Privacyand Securityoptions).

Resources ContactMicrosoft,find on-line resources, and

maintain healthandreliabilityofyourMicrosoft
Officeprograms (includesoptionsto checkfor
updatesto MicrosoftOfficeand todiagnoseand
repairproblems withMicrosoft Officeprograms).

Questions:

Explain the following excel terminologies.

I. Formula
II. Formula bar
III. Range
IV. Cell Reference
V. Constants

With examples, differentiate between workbooks and worksheets

Write brief notes on the customization of the QAT and the mini-toolbar.