7.0 Introduction - MS Excel Basic Features

Welcome to week seven of CPU1000, Computers and Office Automation. This week we will learn about the basics of Excel. Each program in the Office suite has a specific purpose. When you want to manipulate numbers, Excel should be your choice. This is a powerful, complex program and it is very important that you understand a few concepts to ensure your success with Excel. Understanding how to use cell references in formulas and functions is crucial to your success.

Getting Started

What is Excel and how is it used? Watch the following video to learn more.

Lesson Objectives

Upon completion of this week's lesson, you should be better prepared to:

Describe how Excel is used in your field and alternatives to Excel
Identify parts of the Excel screen
Format text and numbers appropriately
Input labels and values
Demonstrate how to insert and name sheets
Create simple formulas
Insert functions with appropriate ranges

Readings and Resources

To be better prepared for this week's assignments, please view the following resources:

Getting Started with Excel Links to an external site. – This GCF tutorial covers the Excel interface, the ribbon, the quick-access toolbar, backstage view, and worksheet views.
MS Excel: Cell Basics Links to an external site. – This GCF tutorial covers what a cell is, selecting a cell or a cell range, inserting content into a cell, deleting cells, copying and pasting cell content, dragging and dropping cells, using the fill handle, and using Find and Replace.
MS Excel: Formatting Cells Links to an external site. – This GCF tutorial covers changing font sizes, color, and more, changing text alignment, adding a cell border, adding a fill color, applying cell styles, and formatting text and numbers.
MS Excel: Working with Multiple Worksheets Links to an external site. – This GCF tutorial covers renaming a worksheet, inserting a new worksheet, deleting a worksheet, copying and moving a worksheet, changing the tab color of a worksheet, and grouping worksheets.
MS Excel: Intro to Formulas Links to an external site. – This GCF tutorial covers mathematical operators, cell references, creating formulas, modifying values with cell references, and editing a formula.
MS Excel: Functions Links to an external site. – This GCF tutorial covers parts of a function, creating a function, and using the function library.