Basic Excel: the fundamentals

Objectives

To learn the basics of Excel as a data manipulation tool.

Targeted audience

Professionals and technicians

Content

Exploring the Interface

• The Ribbon
• More Commands and dialog boxes
• Quick Access Toolbar
• The tabs
• The File menu, also known as Backstage View
• A few keyboard shortcuts

Basic Spreadsheet Operations

• Entering data (text, numbers, dates, formulas)
• Moving within a sheet
• Using workbook sheets
• Selecting cells
• Different mouse pointers
• Find and Replace

Cell Formatting and Displays

• Zoom in the status bar
• Modifying data
• Data series
• Copying, moving, and filling data
• Print setup
• Hiding/unhiding rows, columns, and sheets
• Side-by-side display
• Cell formatting
• Freezing and unfreezing panes

Sorting and Filtering

• Basic sort
• Sorting (and series) with a custom list
• Automatic filters
• Filter by context menu: cell value, cell color

Simple Calculations and Formulas

• Entering a formula
• Propagating a formula
• Reference types
• A few basic functions: SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, COUNT, ROUND
• Function Wizard

Creating and Formatting Tables

• Converting a data range to a table
• Applying a predefined format to a table
• Sorting and filtering in a table
• Displaying and configuring the totals row

Creating Simple Charts

• Inserting a chart from a data range
• Chart elements
• Moving or deleting a chart
• Applying a predefined layout and style to the chart