Microsoft Excel is a powerful spreadsheet application used to organize, analyse,

and visualize data. It is widely used across various industries for tasks ranging
from basic calculations to complex data analysis.

Key Features and Functionality:

 Spreadsheets:
Excel uses a grid of cells to store data, enabling users to enter text, numbers,
and formulas.
 Formulas and Functions:
Excel supports a vast array of formulas and functions for performing calculations,
data manipulation, and analysis.
 Data Analysis:
Excel offers tools like pivot tables, conditional formatting, and data validation to
help users analyze and interpret data.
 Visualization:
Users can create charts, graphs, and dashboards to visually represent data and
identify trends.
 Automation:
Excel's VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) programming language allows for
automation of tasks and customization.
Common Uses:
 Accounting and Budgeting: Creating and managing budgets, tracking
expenses, and generating financial reports.
 Data Management: Organizing and storing data in a structured format
for easy retrieval and analysis.
 Data Analysis: Exploring data, identifying patterns, and drawing
insights.
 Reporting: Generating reports and visualizations to communicate data
insights to stakeholders.
 Forecasting and Modeling: Using Excel to create forecasts, simulations,
and financial models.
Formatting a spreadsheet
Select Cells:
 Choose the cells you want to format by clicking on them individually or
dragging your mouse across a range of cells.
2. Basic Formatting:
 Font: Modify the font type, size, color, and style (bold, italic, underline).
 Alignment: Adjust how text is aligned within the cell (left, center, right,
top, middle, bottom).
 Borders: Add or change cell borders, including style, color, and
thickness.
 Number Formats: Customize how numbers are displayed (e.g., currency,
percentages, dates, time).
 Fill Color: Change the background color of cells.
3. Advanced Formatting:
 Conditional Formatting: Apply formatting based on the cell's content or
value, highlighting specific data points.
 Format Painter: Copy formatting from one cell to another.
 Cell Styles: Use pre-defined styles to quickly apply formatting to multiple
cells.
 Merge Cells: Combine multiple cells into one.
 Wrap Text: Force text to wrap within the cell.
4. Specific Formatting Tools:
 Number Formatting: Customize the appearance of numbers with
currency symbols, percentages, decimal places, etc.
 Date and Time Formatting: Choose specific date and time formats.
 Custom Formats: Create your own unique number formats.
5. Tips for Professional Formatting:
 Use a consistent font and size .
 Limit the use of colors .
 Leave the first row and column empty .
 Remove cell borders .
 Use conditional formatting to highlight key data .
By using these formatting techniques, you can create spreadsheets that are easy
to read, understand, and analyze.
Changing column width and row height
To change column width and row height in a spreadsheet, you can either drag
the column or row headers to resize them manually, or you can use the format
menu to set a specific width or height. Additionally, you can autofit the width or
height to fit the content in the cell.
Manual Adjustment:
1. 1. Column Width:
Hover over the right edge of the column header until the cursor changes to a
double-headed arrow. Click and drag to adjust the width.
2. 2. Row Height:
Hover over the bottom edge of the row number until the cursor changes to a
double-headed arrow. Click and drag to adjust the height.
3. 3. Autofit:
To make the column width automatically fit the content, double-click the right
edge of the column header. To make the row height automatically fit the content,
double-click the bottom edge of the row number.
Using the Format Menu:
1. Select the column or row: Highlight the column(s) or row(s) you want to
adjust.
2. Go to Format: In the Home tab, click on "Format" or "Cells" (depending
on the spreadsheet software).
3. Select Row Height or Column Width: Choose either "Row Height" or
"Column Width".
4. Enter the desired value: Type in the value you want the column width
or row height to be.
5. Click OK: Apply the changes.

change alignment of cells in excel

To change cell alignment in Excel, select the cells, go to the Home tab, and
choose from the Alignment options: Top Align, Middle Align, Bottom Align for
vertical alignment, and Align Text Left, Center, Align Text Right for horizontal
alignment.
Detailed Steps:
1. Select Cells: Choose the cell(s) you want to align.
 2. Go to Home Tab: Open the Excel worksheet and click the "Home" tab on
the ribbon.
3. Find Alignment Options: Look for the "Alignment" group within the
"Home" tab.
4. Vertical Alignment:
o Top Align: Align the text at the top of the cell.

o Middle Align: Center the text vertically within the cell.

o Bottom Align: Align the text at the bottom of the cell.

5. Horizontal Alignment:
o Align Text Left: Align the text to the left edge of the cell.

o Center: Center the text horizontally within the cell.

o Align Text Right: Align the text to the right edge of the cell.

6. Optional: Wrap Text: If your text is long and cuts off, use "Wrap Text" to
fit the text within the cell without changing the column width.
7. Optional: Merge and Center: If you want to merge and center across
multiple cells, use "Merge & Center" (the "Merge & Center" button is
located in the Alignment group on the Home tab).

Undoing & redoing actions

Undoing and redoing actions allows users to reverse or reapply previous actions
within a software or application. This is typically done using keyboard shortcuts
like Ctrl+Z (undo) and Ctrl+Y (redo), or by using UI buttons like "Undo" and
"Redo", according to Microsoft Support and Qlik.
Key Concepts:
 Undo:
Reverses the last action performed, allowing users to revert changes or correct
mistakes.
 Redo:
Reapplies an action that was previously undone, effectively restoring the
changes that were reversed.

Formatting numbers
Formatting numbers involves presenting values in a specific way, like using
currency symbols, adding decimal places, or displaying them as percentages
Methods for Formatting Numbers in Excel:
1. 1. Using Pre-defined Formats:
  Select the cells containing the numbers you want to format.
 Go to the "Home" tab and find the "Number" group.
 Use the dropdown list next to "Number" to choose a predefined
format like "Currency," "Accounting," "Percentage," or "General".
 You can also right-click and choose "Format Cells" to access more
options.
2. 2. Creating Custom Formats:
 Follow the same steps as above to select the cells.
 In the "Format Cells" dialog box, select "Custom" under "Category".
 Choose an existing format from the "Type" list as a starting point, or
type a new one in the "Type" box.
 Use number format codes to define how numbers should be
displayed.
 You can add text, change the appearance of negative numbers, and
control decimal places.
Examples of Number Formats:
 Currency: Displays numbers with a currency symbol (e.g., $, €) and
typically shows two decimal places.
 Accounting: Similar to currency, but aligns currency symbols and
negative numbers within parentheses.
 Percentage: Displays numbers as percentages (e.g., 10% instead of
0.1).
 General: Displays numbers as they are entered, with no specific format.
 Custom: Allows you to create unique formats, such as displaying numbers
with leading zeros or adding prefixes/suffixes.
Clearing format
To clear formatting in Excel, select the cells you want to modify, go to
the "Home" tab, click the "Clear" button, and then choose "Clear
Formats". This will remove all formatting (colors, fonts, borders) while
leaving the content intact.
Detailed Steps:
1. Select the cells: Click and drag to select the cells you want to
clear formatting from.
2. Open the "Home" tab: Click the "Home" tab on the Excel ribbon.
3. Click the "Clear" button: In the "Editing" group, find the "Clear"
button (it looks like a small eraser) and click it.
4. Choose "Clear Formats": From the dropdown menu, select "Clear
Formats".
5. Formatting is cleared: The selected cells will now be formatted
with the default style.
Other ways to clear formatting:
 Clear All:
This will remove both formatting and content from the selected cells.
 Clear Contents:
This will remove the content from the selected cells, leaving the
formatting intact.
  Format Painter:
You can also use the Format Painter to copy or clear formatting by
selecting the cell you want to copy from, then selecting the Format
Painter brush and dragging it across the cells you want to modify.
 Conditional Formatting:
To clear conditional formatting, select the cells, go to the "Home" tab,
click "Conditional Formatting", then "Clear Rules" and choose to clear
the rules from selected cells or the entire sheet.

Applying border to cell

To add a border to a cell or a range of cells in Microsoft Excel, select the cells, go
to the "Home" tab, and then select the "Borders" button in the "Font"
group. Choose the desired border style from the dropdown menu.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
1. 1. Select the cells:
Click and drag the mouse to select the cell or range of cells you want to add a
border to.
2. 2. Access the Borders button:
Go to the "Home" tab on the Excel ribbon. In the "Font" group, locate the
"Borders" button, which looks like a square with dotted lines around it.
3. 3. Choose your border:
Click the arrow next to the "Borders" button to open a dropdown menu of
available border styles.
4. 4. Apply the border:
Click on the desired border style to apply it to the selected cells.
Additional tips and options:
 Custom borders:
You can access more advanced border options, including changing the border
style, color, and thickness, by right-clicking on the selected cells, choosing
"Format Cells," and then going to the "Borders" tab.
 Removing borders:
To remove a border, select the cells, click the "Borders" button, and choose "No
Border" from the dropdown menu.
 Shortcuts:
You can use keyboard shortcuts to add or remove borders. For example, pressing
Ctrl+Shift+& will add a border to the selected cells.

Merging cells in excel

To merge cells in Excel, select the desired cells, go to the "Home" tab, and click
the "Merge & Center" button. You can also merge cells and center the text within
them simultaneously by using the "Merge & Center" option in the same tab.
Detailed Steps:
1. Select the cells: Highlight the cells you want to merge by clicking on the
first cell and dragging to the last.
2. Go to the "Home" tab: Click the "Home" tab in the Excel ribbon.
3. Find the "Merge & Center" button: Locate the "Merge & Center" button
within the "Alignment" section of the "Home" tab.
4. Click the button: Clicking this button will merge the selected cells into one
larger cell.
Merging and Centering:
 To merge cells and center the text within them, simply select the cells and
click the "Merge & Center" button. The text from the top-left cell will be
centered within the newly merged cell.
Merging without Centering:
 If you want to merge cells without centering the text, you can use the
dropdown arrow next to the "Merge & Center" button. Select "Merge
Across" or "Merge Cells" from the dropdown menu.
Using keyboard shortcuts:
 Merge cells: Alt + H + M + M
 Merge and center cells: Alt + H + M + C
Unmerging cells:
 To unmerge a merged cell, select the merged cell and click the "Merge &
Center" button again, or use the dropdown arrow and select "Unmerge
Cells"