Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet application developed by Microsoft.
Designed to help users organize, format, and calculate data using formulas within a spreadsheet system.
Users have access to Microsoft Excel in various versions, including Excel 2016, 2019, and newer versions.
Notable differences exist between Excel 2016 and newer versions, prompting recommendations to upgrade.
An Excel file is referred to as a workbook.
A workbook can contain multiple worksheets.
Worksheets can be visualized as tables similar to those in databases (e.g., Microsoft Access).
Each worksheet consists of rows and columns organized into cells, where data is entered.
Unlike Access, Excel does not have the concept of relationships between tables.
To save a workbook, use the Save As option and choose a desired location, such as Documents.
The name given to the saved workbook can represent its content, e.g., "Sales Team Database."
Data entry in Excel is straightforward and typically involves typing directly into cells.
The active cell, highlighted by a green border, indicates where data will be entered, e.g., A1.
Users can utilize a combination of manual entry and importing data from external sources (like CSV files).
Worksheets can be renamed by double-clicking the worksheet tab, e.g., renaming to "Sales Team."
To create additional worksheets, click the plus sign next to the existing worksheet tab.
For example, another worksheet named "Monthly Revenue" can be added.
Users can import data directly from a CSV file using the Data menu.
Key steps include:
Clicking on the Data menu and selecting "Get Data From CSV."
Transforming data to exclude unnecessary columns or rows.
It’s important to save CSV files locally before importing.
Formatting in Excel involves adjusting fonts, alignment, and number formats:
Example: Changing the font of headers to bold and centering.
Numbers can be formatted as currency by selecting the relevant cells and clicking the dollar sign icon.
Users can easily insert new rows by selecting existing rows and using the Insert function.
For example, selecting the first two rows and clicking insert adds rows above the header.
To adjust the title to fit across columns, users can merge cells using the Merge and Center function.
Excel is a powerful tool for managing and analyzing numerical data.
Familiarity with workbook and worksheet structures is crucial for effective data management.
Knowing how to save, format, and manipulate data enhances productivity and efficiency.