WORKSHEETS
Discussion
Worksheets are the areas or space in an Excel file or workbook where you enter your data
and perform your calculations. A workbook or Excel file can contain many worksheets though the default number is set at three.
CELLS
The area or space at which a row and column intersects is known as a cell. The cell is the basic element of a
worksheet and it is where you enter your data and/or perform various operations on the data.
CELL ADDRESS
You keep track of and reference a cell by its cell address, which consists of the column letter followed by the row number. E.g. the cell address D10 indicates the cell formed at the intersection of column D and row 10 in the worksheet.
ACTIVE CELL
At any time one cell in the worksheet is the Active Cell. A dark border around it identifies the active cell. The active cell is where anything you type will be entered. Its name or cell reference appears in the name box.
You can select any cell in the worksheet to be the active cell by clicking on it. In an Excel worksheet the mouse pointer appears as a cross symbol.
PROCEDURE
1. Select a cell within the visible area of the worksheet to be the active cell by moving the mouse pointer to that cell, then
2. Click on the cell you have placed the mouse pointer in.
MOVING WITHIN A WORKSHEET
PROCEDURE
1. To move the visible part of the sheet up or down Click and drag on the vertical scroll bar
2. To move the visible part of the sheet to the right or left Click and drag the horizontal scroll bar
A small box appears which tells you the column or row you scroll to. However scrolling does not change the active cell, it simply scrolls the visible area of the worksheet. To change the active cell you must click on a new cell.
ENTERING AND EDITING DATA
TYPES OF WORKSHEET DATA
Excel allows you to store and work with data in a variety of formats. The cells in the worksheet are where you enter the data. Worksheet cells can contain three distinct types of data - Text, Values and Formulas.
Text consists of any combination of alphanumeric characters i.e. letters, numbers, and other symbols that you can type in at the keyboard. A cell can contain upto 32,000 characters. Text entries are also referred to as labels.
All formulas begin with an = sign
A cell displays the value resulting from the
Formula entered.
The actual formula is displayed in the formula bar when the cell containing the formula is selected.
ENTERING DATA
Discussion
Entering data is simple. Just select the cell you wish to enter data to and start typing. When finished press Enter.
PROCEDURE
1. Select the desired cell by clicking on it, i.e. making it the active cell
2. Type numbers, text or a combination of both to make the cell entry.
3. To accept your entry press the Enter, the Tab key or click on the check button shown on the Formula Bar.
EDITING DATA
MODIFYING CELL CONTENTS
If you make an error in an entry you can easily correct it. You can edit cell contents or entries within the cell or on the Formula Bar.
PROCEDURE
1. Double click on the cell whose contents you wish to modify or select it and press F2. The insertion point is placed at the end of the cell contents.
2. Select the cell and then click on the formula bar. The insertion point is placed in the formula bar.
3. Edit the cell contents as required using basic text editing techniques. Use the Backspace key to delete characters to the left of the insertion point or the Delete key to delete characters to the right of the insertion point.
4. To accept your entry press the Enter key, the Tab key or click on the check button shown on the Formula Bar.
5. To abandon your entry press Esc or click on the cross button shown on the formula Bar.