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Thursday, January 29, 2009
Top Ten Excel Tips for Beginners
Top Ten Excel Tips for Beginners
There are many tips for Excel. This article is for the beginners and covers the tips that I go over in the classes that I teach at local schools.
1. 80% of the most commonly used features, for beginners, in Excel can be done with two toolbars. A toolbar is the icons that are under the menus that are in text format (File, Edit, etc.). You should have the Standard toolbar and the Format toolbar on your screen. To make sure they are, go to the View menu and select Toolbars. There should be a checkmark next to Standard and Format. If one of these does not have a checkmark, highlight the menu option with the left mouse button. The toolbar will be displayed.
2. You can use Control (Ctrl) keys to do a lot of functions. For example, hold down the Ctrl key and press the S key and the file will be saved. Ctrl + P will print the document. Ctrl + B will Bold letter the text or number. There are many more. For a complete listing click on the link at the end of this article and you can download a free copy.
3. You do not have to use the mouse to navigate to a specific cell. You can use the arrow keys (left, up, down, right), or the PgUp and PgDn keys. Enter will go down one cell, and the Tab key will go to the next cell to the right. Holding down the Ctrl key and pressing the Home key will go to the first cell. Ctrl and the End key will go to the last cell.
4. Excel can look at what you typed in and follow the sequence. For example, if you typed in the word Monday, you can use a technique to have the next cell display Tuesday, etc. Say for example you type in Monday. Move back to the cell that contains Monday and you will notice on the bottom right of the cell that there is a little square. This is called a handle. Using your mouse carefully put the mouse cursor over the little square. The cursor will turn into a + sign. Click the left mouse button down and while continuing to hold down the button move your mouse down (or to the right). Go down or to the right seven cells while holding down the left mouse button. (A cell is the intersection of a row and column.) Let go of the mouse button and the seven days of the week will be displayed. This works for time, numbers, months, calendar, quarters, and a couple of others.
5. All formulas and functions begin with the equal sign. For example to add 1 and 2 together, the formula would be =1+2.
6. If you wanted to add up a column, or row. Type in the items that you wanted to add together and highlight the items you want to add, plus one empty cell. For example, say that you had numbers in cells A1 through A5. Highlight A1 through A6. On the Format toolbar is a Greek Symbol ∑ . Click on that symbol and the sum of the numbers will be displayed in the empty cell that you highlighted.
7. If you had a number that you wanted to display as a percentage, highlight the cell and on the Format tool bar is a percent (%) sign. Click on that symbol and the number in the cell will be displayed as a percent.
8. Say that you had a large spreadsheet and you wanted to go directly to cell J5. You can press the F5 key on the top of the keyboard. Type in J5 and press the Enter key. Your cursor will automatically go to cell J5.
9. When you are unsure what feature to use in Excel, highlight the cell(s) and click on the right mouse button. A window will open and the most commonly used features will be displayed in the menu.
10. To insert a row or column, click on the letter for inserting a column, or number for inserting a row. After clicking on the number or letter, click the right mouse button and select Insert from the menu option.
There will be other articles on Excel Tips. This article was to get you started. If you have any questions send me an email at yourpcguide@comcast.net.
Please visit my site to get the Control (Ctrl) key shortcuts by going to www.yourpcguide.com/shortcuts.pdf
For a complete guide on learning Excel for beginners visit www.yourpcguide.com/howtolearnexcel.htm
Written by John Gontowicz, Computer Trainer and Support.
There are many tips for Excel. This article is for the beginners and covers the tips that I go over in the classes that I teach at local schools.
1. 80% of the most commonly used features, for beginners, in Excel can be done with two toolbars. A toolbar is the icons that are under the menus that are in text format (File, Edit, etc.). You should have the Standard toolbar and the Format toolbar on your screen. To make sure they are, go to the View menu and select Toolbars. There should be a checkmark next to Standard and Format. If one of these does not have a checkmark, highlight the menu option with the left mouse button. The toolbar will be displayed.
2. You can use Control (Ctrl) keys to do a lot of functions. For example, hold down the Ctrl key and press the S key and the file will be saved. Ctrl + P will print the document. Ctrl + B will Bold letter the text or number. There are many more. For a complete listing click on the link at the end of this article and you can download a free copy.
3. You do not have to use the mouse to navigate to a specific cell. You can use the arrow keys (left, up, down, right), or the PgUp and PgDn keys. Enter will go down one cell, and the Tab key will go to the next cell to the right. Holding down the Ctrl key and pressing the Home key will go to the first cell. Ctrl and the End key will go to the last cell.
4. Excel can look at what you typed in and follow the sequence. For example, if you typed in the word Monday, you can use a technique to have the next cell display Tuesday, etc. Say for example you type in Monday. Move back to the cell that contains Monday and you will notice on the bottom right of the cell that there is a little square. This is called a handle. Using your mouse carefully put the mouse cursor over the little square. The cursor will turn into a + sign. Click the left mouse button down and while continuing to hold down the button move your mouse down (or to the right). Go down or to the right seven cells while holding down the left mouse button. (A cell is the intersection of a row and column.) Let go of the mouse button and the seven days of the week will be displayed. This works for time, numbers, months, calendar, quarters, and a couple of others.
5. All formulas and functions begin with the equal sign. For example to add 1 and 2 together, the formula would be =1+2.
6. If you wanted to add up a column, or row. Type in the items that you wanted to add together and highlight the items you want to add, plus one empty cell. For example, say that you had numbers in cells A1 through A5. Highlight A1 through A6. On the Format toolbar is a Greek Symbol ∑ . Click on that symbol and the sum of the numbers will be displayed in the empty cell that you highlighted.
7. If you had a number that you wanted to display as a percentage, highlight the cell and on the Format tool bar is a percent (%) sign. Click on that symbol and the number in the cell will be displayed as a percent.
8. Say that you had a large spreadsheet and you wanted to go directly to cell J5. You can press the F5 key on the top of the keyboard. Type in J5 and press the Enter key. Your cursor will automatically go to cell J5.
9. When you are unsure what feature to use in Excel, highlight the cell(s) and click on the right mouse button. A window will open and the most commonly used features will be displayed in the menu.
10. To insert a row or column, click on the letter for inserting a column, or number for inserting a row. After clicking on the number or letter, click the right mouse button and select Insert from the menu option.
There will be other articles on Excel Tips. This article was to get you started. If you have any questions send me an email at yourpcguide@comcast.net.
Please visit my site to get the Control (Ctrl) key shortcuts by going to www.yourpcguide.com/shortcuts.pdf
For a complete guide on learning Excel for beginners visit www.yourpcguide.com/howtolearnexcel.htm
Written by John Gontowicz, Computer Trainer and Support.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
How to Learn Excel
Attention All Microsoft Excel Users
"What is your most burning question about what you want to learn in Microsoft Excel?"
From: John Gontowicz, PC-U
Re: How to Learn Excel
I'm putting together a new blog about How to Use Microsoft Excel for Beginners and Advanced Users.
But There's a Problem...
I want to make sure I include all of the information you want to know about how to use Excel, so that you can get what you need to accomplish using the product.
I have finished writing an e-book for beginners, based on a small survey, but I want to make sure that I meet my customers needs.
To make sure I've included everything, I need to ask you a favor. Would you please tell me:
What is your most burning question about what you want to learn in Microsoft Excel?
You can ask as many questions as you want. I just want to make sure that I have a blog that meets the demands of the majority of people visiting my site.
I am an experienced Excel trainer and I teach Excel classes for a couple of community colleges near me. I found out that the course materials, which are provided by the colleges, are not addressing the student's needs.
I want to have a product that does address your need.
So, please, let me know what you want to learn about?
Wait! You are not using Excel? Not a problem!
Go Here Now for More Information on Excel pre-made templates
Go Here Now for an Excel 2007 training manual designed for the beginners. It is called How to Learn Excel. http://www.yourpcguide.com/howtolearnexcel.htm
"What is your most burning question about what you want to learn in Microsoft Excel?"
From: John Gontowicz, PC-U
Re: How to Learn Excel
I'm putting together a new blog about How to Use Microsoft Excel for Beginners and Advanced Users.
But There's a Problem...
I want to make sure I include all of the information you want to know about how to use Excel, so that you can get what you need to accomplish using the product.
I have finished writing an e-book for beginners, based on a small survey, but I want to make sure that I meet my customers needs.
To make sure I've included everything, I need to ask you a favor. Would you please tell me:
What is your most burning question about what you want to learn in Microsoft Excel?
You can ask as many questions as you want. I just want to make sure that I have a blog that meets the demands of the majority of people visiting my site.
I am an experienced Excel trainer and I teach Excel classes for a couple of community colleges near me. I found out that the course materials, which are provided by the colleges, are not addressing the student's needs.
I want to have a product that does address your need.
So, please, let me know what you want to learn about?
Wait! You are not using Excel? Not a problem!
I have e-books and blogs on the following applications:
Microsoft Word
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Outlook
Internet Explorer
Windows XP and Vista
Computer Hardware
Eliminating Spyware and Viruses
And more...
Just let me know what application you have a question about, and I will add them to the appropriate blog, and let you know the address.
Just ask your question below and your email address and I will let you know when the Excel blog goes live. Please let me know what version you are using as well.
Thanks For Your Question
Go Here Now for More Information on Excel pre-made templates
Go Here Now for an Excel 2007 training manual designed for the beginners. It is called How to Learn Excel. http://www.yourpcguide.com/howtolearnexcel.htm
Thank you for your help. Send me an email with any questions: yourpcguide@comcast.net
John Gontowicz
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