chapter 1: creating a worksheet and charting data

Legend

A chart element that identifies the patterns or colors that are assigned to the categories in the chart.

Data marker

A column, bar, area, dot, pie slice, or other symbol in a chart that represents a single data point; related data points form a data series.

Merge & Center

A command that joins selected cells in an Excel worksheet into one larger cell and centers the contents in the merged cell.

Picture element

A point of light measured in dots per square inch on a screen; 64 pixels equals 8.43 characters, which is the average number of characters that will fit in a cell in an Excel worksheet using the default font.

Function

A predefined formula—a formula that Excel has already built for you—that performs calculations by using specific values in a particular order.

Page Layout view

A screen view in which you can use the rulers to measure the width and height of data, set margins for printing, hide or display the numbered row headings and the lettered column headings, and change the page orientation; this view is useful for preparing your worksheet for printing.

Normal view

A screen view that maximizes the number of cells visible on your screen and keeps the column letters and row numbers close to the columns and rows.

Number format

A specific way in which Excel displays numbers in a cell.

Quick Analysis tool

A tool that displays in the lower right corner of a selected range with which you can analyze your data by using Excel tools such as charts, color-coding, and formulas.

Data point

A value that originates in a worksheet cell and that is represented in a chart by a data marker.

Excel pointer

An Excel window element with which you can display the location of the pointer.

Expand Formula Bar button

An Excel window element with which you can increase the height of the Formula Bar to display lengthy cell content.

Expand horizontal scroll bar button

An Excel window element with which you can increase the width of the horizontal scroll bar.

Formula bar

An element in the Excel window that displays the value or formula contained in the active cell; here you can also enter or edit values or formulas.

Name Box

An element of the Excel window that displays the name of the selected cell, table, chart, or object.

Formula

An equation that performs mathematical calculations on values in a worksheet.

Label

Another name for a text value, and which usually provides information about number values.

Format

Changing the appearance of cells and worksheet elements to make a worksheet attractive and easy to read.

Number values

Constant values consisting of only numbers.

Data series

Related data points represented by data markers; each data series has a unique color or pattern represented in the chart legend.

Data

Text or numbers in a cell.

Pixel

The abbreviated name for a picture element.

Numbered row headings

The area along the left edge of a worksheet that identifies each row with a unique number.

Lettered column headings

The area along the top edge of a worksheet that identifies each column with a unique letter or combination of letters.

Left alignment

The cell format in which characters align at the left edge of the cell; this is the default for text entries and is an example of formatting information stored in a cell.

Displayed value

The data that displays in a cell.

General format

The default format that Excel applies to numbers; this format has no specific characteristics—whatever you type in the cell will display, with the exception that trailing zeros to the right of a decimal point will not display.

Fill handle

The small black square in the lower right corner of a selected cell.

Operators

The symbols with which you can specify the type of calculation you want to perform in an Excel formula.

Point and click method

The technique of constructing a formula by pointing to and then clicking cells; this method is convenient when the referenced cells are not adjacent to one another.