1.What is MS Excel? Explain basics of MS Excel.

It is a powerful tool that can be used to create and format spreadsheets and analyze and share information to
make better informed decisions.
A spreadsheet is an electronic document that stores various types of data. It has vertical columns and
horizontal rows. A cell is the intersection of a row and column. A cell can contain data and can be used in
calculations of data within the spreadsheet.
In MS Excel a spreadsheet can contain workbooks and worksheets. The workbook holds related
worksheets. Each worksheet can contain data and charts.
The extension of MS Excel file is .xls, .xlsx.

Features of Ms Excel
1. File management
2. Cursor management
3. Editing data and working with formulas
4. Autofill
5. Inserting deleting Row, column or cell
6. Merging and splitting cells
7. Cell formatting
8. Increasing row height and column width
9. Functions
10. Data filter and sort
11. Charts
12. Pivot table
13. What if analysis
Column Name
In MS Excel columns are named A, B, C, D, E, F, G ……
Row Number
In MS Excel rows are numbered 1,2,3,4,5, ……
Cell Reference
In MS Excel the intersection of rows and columns is called cell. It is referenced using its column name and row
number. Example – A2, B8, D5 etc.
Formula Bar
The formula bar is the place where we can enter the formula.

Cursor Management
1. Arrow Keys (→, , , ) – Move cursor right, left, up or down.
2. Page up - Move one screen up.
3. Page down - Move one screen down.
4. Alt + page up – Move one screen to the left.
5. Alt + Page down – Move one screen to the right.
6. Ctrl + Home – Move to cell A1.
7. Home – Move to column A.
8. Ctrl + → - Move to the last column.
9. Ctrl +  - Move to the first column.
10. Ctrl +  - Move to the last row.
11. Ctrl +  - Move to the first row.
Moving to a specific cell Ctrl + G

1. On the Home tab select find and select button in editing group.
2. Select go to option from the list displayed.
3. Enter cell reference and press ok button.

Entering data in a cell

1. Navigate to the cell type the data in that cell.

Editing data
1. Navigate to the cell.
2. Double click or press f2 and edit cell data. Or click on formula bar and edit data.

Working with formula

A formula in MS Excel begins with equal to = symbol.
It may contain operators, functions, numbers and cell reference. When a formula is copied to a new cell, excel
automatically updates cell references with respect to the new location.
Example : =c2+d2+e2+f2, =g2/400*100
Operators in MS Excel
1. + : Addition
2. - : Subtraction
3. * : Multiplication
4. / : Division

Absolute addressing in Formula

Use $ symbol to fix cell row, column or both in a formula. This ensures that when a formula is copied to some
different cell, the formula is not updated with respect to column of row in new location.
Example: =$a2+60 (fixing column), =a$2+50 (fixing row), =$a$2+70 (fixing column and row both)

Cell range
We can specify cell range in MS Excel Functions. Its syntax is First cell reference : last cell reference
Example C4:C10, C6:G10

Auto fill
It is used to fill the data in columns and rows. Data may be numeric, date, text. It can also be used to copy
formula.

1. Select cells.
2. Drag fill handle.

Inserting a row

1. Navigate to the row before which a new row is to be inserted.

2. On the Home tab click insert button in the cells group.
3. Select insert sheet rows from the list displayed to insert a row before current row.
Tip - right click on the row and select insert option.

Inserting a column
1. Navigate to the column before which a new column is to be inserted.
2. On the Home tab click insert button in the cells group.
3. Select insert sheet columns from the list displayed to insert a column before current column.
Tip - right click on the column and select insert option.

Deleting a row

1. Navigate to the row which is to be deleted.

2. On the Home tab click delete button in the cells group.
3. Select delete sheet rows to delete a row.
Tip - right click on the row and select delete option.

Deleting a column
1. Navigate to the column which is to be deleted.
2. On the Home tab click delete button in the cells group.
3. Select delete sheet columns to delete a column.
Tip - right click on the column and select delete option.

Inserting cells

1. Navigate to the cell where a new cell is to be inserted.

2. On the Home tab click the insert button in the cells group.
3. Select insert cell from the list to display insert dialog box.
4. Select shift cells right or shift cells down and press ok button.

Deleting cells

1. Navigate to the cell which is to be deleted.

2. On the Home tab click the delete button in the cells group.
3. Select delete cell from the list to display delete dialog box.
4. Select shift cells right or shift cells down and press ok button.

Merging cells

1. Select cells to merge using mouse or keyboard.

2. On the Home tab select merge and center button of the alignment group to merge cells.

Splitting cells
1. Select merged cells.
2. On the Home tab select merge and center button of the alignment group to split merged cells.
2.Explain cell formatting briefly.
It includes cell data, alignment, font, border and fill options.
Cell data (Home tab → number group)

1. Number - It is used to display number. We can specify number of decimal places, separator, format of
negative number etc.
2. Date - It is used to display date. We can specify date format.
3. Time - It is used to display time. We can specify time format.
4. Text - It is used to display text data.

Cell alignment (Home tab → alignment group)

1. Horizontal alignment – It can be left, center, right or justify.

2. Vertical alignment – It can be top, Center, bottom or justify.

Font (Home tab → font group)

We can specify font face, font style bold or italic, font size, font color etc.

Border (home → font group → Border Tab)

We can specify border style, border color.

Fill (home → font group → Fill Tab)

We can specify background color, pattern etc.

Wrap text (home → alignment group)

It makes text to appear on multiple lines in a cell if it does not fit in it.

Increasing or decreasing row height

1. Click on row boundary and drag to increase or decrease the row height.

Increasing or decreasing column width

1. Click on column boundary and drag to increase or decrease the column width.

3.Explain MS Excel functions

Numeric, Date, Financial, Statistical, Lookup and reference, Math and trigonometric etc.
1. count() - It counts the number of cells in a Range that contain number. Example : =count(a2:a10)
2. countblank() - It counts the number of cells in a Range that are empty. Example : =countblank(a2:a10)
3. max() - It returns the largest value in a set of values. Example : =max(a2:a10)
4. min() - It returns the smallest value in a set of values. Example : =min(a2:e2)
5. sum() - It displays the sum of the selected cells. Example : =sum(a2:e2)
6. average() - It returns the mean of its arguments. Example : =average(a2:e2)
7. if() - It checks weather condition is satisfied or not and returns a value if it is true and another value if it
is false. Example : =if(c2>=60,”first,”second”)
4.Discuss Data filter and data sorting feature
It is a quick and easy way to work with subset of data in a range of cells or table column.
It displays only the rows that meets the criteria specified and hides remaining rows.

Steps
1. Select range of cells to filter.
2. On the Home tab click sort and filter in the editing group and then click filter option.
3. Click the arrow in the column header.
4. Do one of the following (a) Select value from the list of values or (b) Create criteria to filter using
comparison operators less than, less than equal to, greater than, greater than equal to, equal to

Data sort
Sorting data is an integral part of data analysis.
It helps to quickly visualize and understand data, better organize and find the data needed and ultimately make
more effective decisions.
We can sort data by text (A to Z, Z to A), Number (smallest to largest, largest to smallest), Date and time (oldest
to newest, newest to oldest).

Steps
1. Select range of cells.
2. On the Home tab click sort and filter in the editing group and select custom sort option.
3. Specify sort column, sort order and click ok button to sort data.

5.What are charts in MS Excel? Explain Charts

In MS Excel 2007 we can easily create professional charts by simply choosing a chart type, chart layout and
chart Style. MS Excel supports numerous types of charts to help display data in the visual and more appealing
way.
For example - Line chart, column chart, pie chart, 3D chart, bar chart, area chart, scatter diagram etc.

Creating charts in Excel

1. Select the range of cells containing chart data.
2. On the insert tab, click appropriate chart type in the charts group.
3. Select the desired chart option from the list of charts displayed.

Modifying charts

After creating a chart, it can be easily modified.

1. We can specify the scale of axis and adjust to interval between values or categories that are displayed.
2. We can add a chart title, axis title and data labels to clarify the information in the chart.
3. We can show or hide a legend or change its location.

6.Explain What if analysis goal seek and scenario manager

It helps to try out various values for the formulas in the worksheet. It includes scenario manager and goal seek
feature.
Scenario manager
A scenario is a set of values that MS Excel saves and can substitute automatically in the worksheet. It can be
used to forecast the outcome of the worksheet model.
We can create and save different groups of values on a worksheet and then switch to any of these new
scenarios to view different results.
Creating a scenario

1. On the data tab click on what if analysis in the data tools group and then click scenario manager.
2. Click add button.
3. In the scenario name box type a name for the scenario.
4. In the changing cells box, enter the references for the cells that are to be changed and Click ok button.
5. In the scenario values dialog box type the values for changing cells.
6. Click ok button to create the scenario. We can create as many scenarios as needed.

Displaying a scenario

1. On the data tab click on what if analysis in the data tools group and then click scenario manager.
2. Click the name of the scenario that is to be displayed.
3. Click show button to display the scenario.

Goal seek
It finds the right input when we know the result needed.

1. On the data tab click on what if analysis in the data tools group and then click goal seek.
2. In the set cell box, enter the reference for the cell that contains the formula to resolve.
3. In the to value box, type the result needed.
4. In the by changing cell box, enter the reference for the cell that contains the value to adjust.
5. Click ok button to seek goal.

7.Write short notes on Pivot table, data hiding unhiding , data validation, and freeze panes
It is used to summarize, analyze, explore and present data. It also allows aggregating numeric data and drilling
down on details. We can filter, sort & group data using pivot table.

1. Select the data range.

2. On the insert tab click pivot table.
3. To build a report, select fields from pivot table field list displayed.
4. Add text field as a row or column label.
5. Add numeric field as values.
6. Add filter field to filter report if needed.

Hiding a row or column in a worksheet

1. Select rows or columns to hide.
2. On the home tab click format in the cells group and then select hide rows or columns as needed.
Unhiding a row or column in a worksheet
1. Select entire worksheet.
2. On the home tab click format in the cells group and then select unhide rows or columns as needed.

Data validation
It prevents invalid data from being entered into a cell. For example invalid dates or numbers greater than
hundred.
We can also restrict user to select a value from drop-down list.

Freeze panes
It keeps a portion of the sheet visible while the rest of sheet scrolls.

8.Explain breifly Views of MS Excel

Normal View – It is default view of MS Excel.
Page break view - It is used to view of preview of where pages will break when the document is printed.
Page layout view - It is used to view the document as it will appear on the printed page. In this we can view
header and footer as well.

9.What is Conditional formatting?

It highlights interesting cells, emphasizes unusual values and visualizes data using colors, icons, balls etc.
For example format a cell when its value > 100.
Conditional formatting rules
Highlight data rules, top bottom rules, data bars, color scales, icon sets etc.

10.What is Paste special?

It is used to select what contents of a cell are to be pasted.
We can specify cell formula, cell value and cell format to paste.