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Workbook, Worksheets, and Cells: Excel Terminology.

There is some terminology that is important to understand when using an Excel spreadsheet. The workbook is the whole file. You can change the name of the workbook by saving the file with a new name, or editing the name in windows explorer. A workbook can have one or more worksheets. Each worksheet is listed […]

Can I check the spelling in my Excel spreadsheet?

Yes, you can spell check your Excel spreadsheet. On the Review Menu, Spelling. Shortcut keys: Alt, R, S. There are other handy functions here as well. Workbook statistics tells you what your current sheet, and the workbook contain. Number of tables, where the last cell is, how many sheets there are, useful stuff if you […]

Much more efficient manual entry

As much as I like to automate tasks, and avoid manual entry, sometimes it is unavoidable. But when it is required, it too can be done in an efficient or inefficient way. I see people type into one cell, then use their mouse to click in the next cell to enter the next piece of […]

Sum, Sum, Sum: Autosum: how to add in Excel.

Adding a column (or row) of numbers is possibly the most common thing you first come across when learning about spreadsheet formulas. There are multiple ways to enter the SUM function. Shortcut Key: ALT + = (That is holding down the ALT key, and the pressing the = key). Make sure you have selected the […]

Format: to get cells looking just the way you want them to.

You can Format a cell (or cells) to make then look, just as you want. To get the Format Cells option box, either, Right click(Shortcut key Shift + F10) a cell and choose Format Cells…, or go to Home Menu, Cells Section, Format drop down, and choose Format Cells (Shortcut keys Alt, H ,O, E) […]

Format: Protection Section.

In the continuing mis-named Cells section of the home menu is the Format drop down, that contains the Protection Section where you can Protect Sheet… or Lock Cell. Shortcut keys: Alt, H, O then P or L. Locking a cell only has an effect once you Protect the Sheet. By default cells are Locked. The […]

Three things I need you to know: Sheets

In the continuing mis-named Cells section of the home menu are three things you can do with Sheets. Rename, Move or Copy Sheet.. and Tab Colour. Short Cut keys; Alt, H, O then R, M or T. Each of these can also be done by Right Clicking on the sheet name. You can move or […]

Change the way you see the cell: Format Section.

The Cells section of the Home Menu, holds the Format menu, where you can get the Cell Size just the way you want it. You can adjust the way the cells in the sheet look by using the Cell Size Section. Row Height allows you to type in a number for the row height. Of […]

Back to basics continued, more formatting options for cells.

You can format a cell in multiple ways using the Number section on the Home Menu. You can format a cell to be Time. There are a number of different options to choose from for how the time is displayed. To access the first three for these options use the More Number Formats and then […]

Back to basics: Formatting

Covering some of the essential knowledge when first starting to use a spreadsheet, here we will cover some Formatting of cells. On the Home menu, is a section called Number. Which is slightly misleading, because it is about a lot more than numbers. This is where you can set how the user sees the information […]