Tutorial 1: Getting Started with Excel

planning analysis sheet

A series of questions that help you think about a workbook's purpose and how to achieve your desired results. (EX 13)

text string

A series of text characters (EX 17)

order of operations

A set of predefined rules used to determine the sequence in which operators are applied in a calculation. (EX 32)

Syntax

A set of rules that specifies how a function should be written. (EX 36)

chart sheet

A sheet that contains only a chart that provides a visual representation of worksheet data. (EX 7)

Pixel

A single point on a computer monitor or printout. (EX 25)

Clipboard

A temporary storage location for text and graphics. (EX 35)

date data

A value in a recognized date format. (EX 17)

time data

A value in a recognized time format. (EX 17)

arithmetic operator

An operator that performs addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, or exponentiation. (EX 32)

ScreenTip

A box with descriptive text about a command that appears when you point to a button on the ribbon. (EX 6)

Formula

A mathematical expression that returns a value. (EX 31)

operator

A mathematical symbol used in a formula to combine different values, resulting in a single value that is displayed within the cell. (EX 32)

function

A named operation that replaces the action of an arithmetic expression in a formula. (EX 31)

Sheet

A page included in a workbook; can be a worksheet or a chart sheet. (EX 2)

Formatting

Changes to a worksheet's appearance to make its content easier to read. (EX 49)

formula bar

The bar located below the ribbon that displays the value or formula entered in the active cell. (EX 2)

Maximize button

The button that expands a window to fill the screen. (EX 3)

Minimize button

The button that hides a window so that only its program button is visible on the taskbar. (EX 3)

AutoSum

The button that inserts functions to sum, average, or count values in a range, or find the minimum or maximum value in a range. (EX 31)

Restore Down button

The button that returns a window to its previous size. (EX 3)

active cell

The cell currently selected in the active worksheet. (EX 2)

range reference

The cell reference of the upper-left cell in the range and the cell reference of the lower-right cell separated by a colon that identifies the range. (EX 11)

cell reference

The column and row location that identifies a cell within a worksheet. (EX 9)

AutoFit

The feature that changes the column width or row height to display longest or tallest entry within the column or row. (EX 27)

AutoComplete

The feature that displays text that begins with the same letters as a previous entry in the same column to help make entering repetitive text easier. (EX 20)

Flash Fill

The feature that enters text based on patterns it finds in the data. (EX 48)

column headings

The letters along the top of the worksheet window that identify the different columns in the worksheet. (EX 3)

Ribbon

The main set of commands organized into tabs and groups with buttons that you click to execute commands. (EX 2)

cell

The intersection of a row and a column. (EX 3)

active sheet

The sheet currently displayed in the workbook window. (EX 2)

font size

The size of text. (EX 30)

hide

To make a row, column, or worksheet not visible. (EX 48)

Workbook

An Excel file that stores a spreadsheet; contains a collection of worksheets and chart sheets. (EX 2)

Page Layout view

The Excel view that shows how the sheet will appear when printed. (EX 31)

Normal view

The Excel view that shows the contents of the active sheet in the workbook window. (EX 31)

Page Break Preview

The Excel view that shows the location of page breaks in the printed sheet. (EX 31)

Backstage view

The FILE tab of the ribbon, which provides access to various screens with commands that allow you to manage files and Excel options. (EX 4)

spreadsheet

A grouping of text and numbers in a rectangular grid or table. (EX 4)

keyboard shortcut

A key or combination of keys that you press to access a feature or perform a command. (EX 6)

Border

A line you can add along an edge of cell that prints. (EX 30)

shortcut menu

A list of commands related to a selection that opens when you click the right mouse button. (EX 17)

status bar

An area at the bottom of the Excel window that provides information about the workbook. (EX 2)

Name box

The box located at the left side of the formula bar that displays the cell reference of the active cell. (EX 2)

row headings

The numbers along the left side of the workbook window that identify the different rows of the worksheet. (EX 2)

portrait orientation

The page orientation where the page is taller than it is wide. (EX 53)

landscape orientation

The page orientation where the page is wider than it is tall. (EX 53)

Tab

The part of the ribbon that includes commands related to particular activities or tasks. (EX 2)

group

A collection of buttons for related commands on a ribbon tab. (EX 3)

nonadjacent range

A collection of separate ranges. (EX 2)

worksheet

A grid of rows and columns in which content is entered. (EX 3)

cell range (range)

A group of cells in a rectangular block. (EX 2)

template

A preformatted workbook with many design features and some content already filled in. (EX 4)

point

A unit of measure equal to approximately 1/72 of an inch. (EX 28)

Microsoft Excel 2013 (Excel)

An application used to enter, analyze, and present quantitative data. (EX 1)

text data

Any combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. (EX 17)

numeric data

Any number that can be used in a mathematical calculation. (EX 17)

Key Tips

Labels that appear over each tab and command on the ribbon when you press the Alt key that specify the key or keys to click to access that tab, button, or command. (EX 6)

sheet tab

The area at the bottom of the worksheet that identifies the sheet by name. (EX 2)

workbook window

The area of the Excel window that displays the contents of the workbook. (EX 3)

Zoom controls

The controls that increase or decrease the magnification of the worksheet content. (EX 3)

SUM

The function that adds values in a specified range. (EX 31)

Touch Mode

The mode for use with a touchscreen; changes the ribbon to make it easier to use a finger or a stylus to tap a button. (EX 6)

Edit mode

The mode in which you can edit cell contents. (EX 19)

drag and drop

The technique to move a cell or range by selecting it, dragging the selection by its bottom border to a new location, and then releasing the mouse button to drop the selection in the new location. (EX 40)

scale

To change the size of the worksheet on the printed page. (EX 54)

Unhide

To redisplay a hidden row, column, or worksheet. (EX 48)

delete

To remove the data from a row or column as well as the row or column itself. (EX 45)

clearing

To remove the data from a row or column but leaves the blank row or column in the worksheet. (EX 45)