Basic Excel Syllabus

90 Minutes

Prerequisite for Working with Workbooks

Part I. Introduction

1. What is Excel

Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet program with sophisticated charting and database functions that allow you too quickly and easily:

• Perform both simple and complex calculations
• Filter Data from a Data Base of Spreadsheet list
• Chart data in numerous formats

Excel also provides many formatting options that add quality to your presentation while representing both the figures and the images you want to convey.

2. Spreadsheet Design

Proper design and layout in a spreadsheet are important skills for Excel users to learn.  Unlike many other computer programs, spreadsheets require thought and planning to make them efficient and economical.  Consider the following elements:

• What are the desired outputs?
• What are the required inputs?
• How is the data positioned?
• What mathematical expressions are used?
• Who will be using the spreadsheet?

3. Starting Excel

• From the Windows Desktop, click START then PROGRAMS then MS OFFICE and then select Excel
• From the Windows MY COMPUTER tool double click on any EXCEL filename to open that file
• From the MS OFFICE TOOLBAR, select the Excel icon

4. The Toolbar Components

• Standard
• Formatting
• Name Box
• Formula Bar
• Task Plane

5. Workbooks and Worksheets

• Cancel
• Enter
• Insert
• Ctrl key and Home key moves the pointer to cell A1
• Ctrl key and End key moves the pointer to the last cell in the worksheet area

6. Entering and Editing Data

• Editing Cells
  • Cutting and Copying Cells
  • Deleting Cells
• Deleting a Cell’s Contents
• Entering Labels or Text
• Entering Numbers
• AutoComplete and Pick from List
• Auto Correct
• Undoing Previous Actions
• Selecting Cells

8. Opening & Saving Excel Files

9.  Exiting Excel