Basics of MS Excel

MS Excel, it is a part of Microsoft Office Package which is developed by Microsoft Corporation, through which we can perform various types of mathematical and logical tasks, we can prepare mathematical and logical database with MS Excel.

Microsoft Excel is made up of various rows and columns which we call cells; in Microsoft Excel we enter data in the cells only.

In other words we can say that MS-Excel 2007/2010 is a smart application of Microsoft through which we can do maximum work in less time. It performs fast mathematical work like Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division and by doing different types of logical work we get the result in a few seconds only.

Methods to open MS-Excel

Method 1:

• Click on the Start button.
• In the menu that appears select Programs → Microsoft Office → Microsoft Excel.

Method 2:

• Start → Type Text → Excel / MS-Excel <┘

Method 3:

• Right click on desktop → New → MS-Excel Worksheet <┘

Components of MS Excel Windows

The different parts of Microsoft Excel are called components. The components of Microsoft Excel are as follows –

• Office Button
• Quick access toolbar
• Title Bar
• Ribbon bar
• Menu bar
• Name box
• Formula bar
• Cell
• Workbook
• Worksheet

Office Button

This is visible in the 2007 version of MS Excel. By clicking on this button we see the following options – New, Open, Save, Save As, Print, Print Preview, Send, Close etc.

Quick Access Toolbar

In this toolbar, we can keep those options which we use most. This toolbar is near the office button in the title bar.

Menu bar

Menu bar is located below the title bar. It contains the following menus – Home, Insert, Page Layout, Formulas, Data, Review, view menu. By using these menus, we can work easily in Excel.

Name Box

In the Name Box, we see the name of any cell of Microsoft Excel Worksheet displayed. Such as – A5, C2, D1 etc.

Workbook

The file of Microsoft Excel is called a workbook in which we can store data. Each workbook already has 3 worksheets available.

Worksheet / Spread Sheet

Spread Sheet is called Worksheet. In MS-Excel we work with data and store it. Spread Sheet is mainly a group of Worksheets. This is made up of Rows and Columns. Spread Sheet is always saved in Workbook. Each worksheet has 1048576 rows and 65536 columns. MS-Excel already has 3 sheets; we can bring maximum 256 sheets.

MS Excel Row

In Microsoft Excel, data of a single person is input in one row. This input row is made up of multiple horizontal cells.

MS Excel Column

In Microsoft Excel, any one type of data is input in a column. This input row is made up of multiple vertical cells.

Ranges

The selection of multiple cells vertically or horizontally is called ranges.

Creating, Opening and Saving Workbook/ Worksheet

Creating a New Workbook

By default, excel document is called a workbook. Workbooks are named as Book1, Book2 and so on. Every workbook contains 3 worksheets. New worksheets can be added anytime in a workbook.

• To create a new workbook, click New button on standard toolbar.
• You can also select New from File menu.
• You can also press Ctrl+ N

Opening a Workbook

• To Open an existing workbook, click Open button on standard tool bar.
• You can also select Open from File menu.
• You can also press Ctrl+ O.

Saving a Workbook

• To save the document, click Save button on standard tool bar.
• You can also click Save from File menu.
• You can also press Ctrl+S.
• A dialog box will appear.
• Save the document with name and extension.

Closing a Workbook

Steps to close a workbook are:

• Choose close from File menu to close active workbook.
• We can also press close on right side of menu bar.
• Steps to close excel are:
  • To quit excel, choose Exit from File menu.
  • We can also click on close button on right side of title bar.