Excel_A_to_Z

PivotTable list

A Microsoft Office Web Component that allows you to create a structure similar to an Excel PivotTable report. Users can view the PivotTable list in a Web browser and change its layout in a manner similar to an Excel PivotTable report.

Internet Explorer

A Web browser that interprets HTML files, formats them into Web pages, and displays them to the user.

Data marker

A bar, area, dot, slice, or other symbol in a chart that represents a single data point or value that originates from a datasheet cell. Related data markers in a chart constitute a data series.

Cell

A box formed by the intersection of a row and column in a worksheet or a table, in which you enter information.

Legend

A box that identifies the patterns or colors that are assigned to the data series or categories in a chart.

Autoformat

A built-in collection of cell formats (such as font size, patterns, and alignment) that you can apply to a range of data. Excel determines the levels of summary and detail in the selected range and applies the formats accordingly.

Field (database)

A category of information, such as last name or order amount, that is stored in a table. When Query displays a result set in its Data pane, a field is represented as a column.

Single-mapped cell

A cell that has been linked to a non-repeating element in an XML map.

Value axis

A chart axis that displays scaled numerical values.

Category axis

A chart axis that represents the category for each data point. It displays arbitrary text values like Qtr1, Qtr2, and Qtr3; it cannot display scaled numerical values.

Series axis

A chart axis that represents the depth dimension in a true 3-D chart. It displays the series names as arbitrary text values; it cannot display scaled numerical values.

Embedded chart

A chart that is placed on a worksheet rather than on a separate chart sheet. Embedded charts are beneficial when you want to view or print a chart or a PivotChart report with its source data or other information in a worksheet.

PivotChart report

A chart that provides interactive analysis of data, like a PivotTable report. You can change views of data, see different levels of detail, or reorganize the chart layout by dragging fields and by showing or hiding items in fields.

Database

A collection of data related to a particular subject or purpose. Within a database, information about a particular entity, such as an employee or order, is categorized into tables, records, and fields.

Record

A collection of information about a particular person, place, event, or thing. When Query displays a result set in the Data pane, a record is represented as a row.

Keyboard shortcuts

A combination of keys that you can press to execute certain commands, as opposed to finding and clicking the commands' buttons on the Ribbon or elsewhere.

Expression

A combination of operators, field names, functions, literals, and constants that evaluates to a single value. Expressions can specify criteria (such as Order Amount>10000) or perform calculations on field values (such as Price*Quantity).

Certifying authority

A commercial organization, or a group within a company, that uses tools such as Microsoft Certificate Server to provide digital certificates that software developers can use to sign macros and users can use to sign documents.

Join

A connection between multiple tables where records from related fields that match are combined and shown as one record. Records that don't match may be included or excluded, depending on the type of join.

Drop-down list box

A control on a menu, toolbar, or dialog box that displays a list of options when you click the small arrow next to the list box.

Index

A database component that speeds up searching for data. When a table has an index, data in the table can be found by looking it up in the index.

OLAP

A database technology that has been optimized for querying and reporting, instead of processing transactions. OLAP data is organized hierarchically and stored in cubes instead of tables.

Border

A decorative line that can be applied to worksheet cells or objects, such as charts, pictures, or text boxes. Borders distinguish, emphasize, or group items.

Data form

A dialog box that displays one complete record at a time. You can use data forms to add, change, locate, and delete records.

Gallery

A drop-down list of thumbnail selections that appears when you click certain command buttons on the Ribbon.

Live Preview

A feature in Excel 2010 that enables you to point to thumbnails on a drop-down gallery to see how a new font, font size, table style, or cell style would look on your selected data before you actually apply it.

AutoFilter

A feature in Excel 2010 that enables you to temporarily hide everything in a table except the records you specifically want to view, based on criteria you specify.

Backstage view

A feature in Excel 2010 — accessible from the green File tab — that enables you to manage files and to view the properties and stats about the workbook file you're editing.

Ribbon

A feature in the Excel 2010 interface that replaces the menus and toolbars of previous versions; appears at the top of the Excel window, just below the title bar.

AutoCorrect

A feature that alerts Excel 2010 to common typing errors and your own typing errors (that you specify) and tells the program how it should automatically fix them for you.

Conditional formatting

A feature that enables you to have Excel 2010 change the appearance of your cell data if certain conditions (that you specify) are met.

AutoComplete

A feature that looks at the entries that you make in a worksheet column and automatically duplicates them in subsequent rows whenever you start a new entry that begins with the same letter or letters as an existing entry in that column.

Value field

A field from a source list, table, or database that contains data that is summarized in a PivotTable report or PivotChart report. A value field usually contains numeric data, such as statistics or sales amounts.

Calculated field (PivotTable report)

A field in a PivotTable report or PivotChart report that uses a formula you create. Calculated fields can perform calculations by using the contents of other fields in the PivotTable report or PivotChart report.

Calculated field (database)

A field in the result set of a query that displays the result of an expression rather than data from a database.

Identifier

A field name used in an expression. For example, Order Amount is the identifier (field name) for a field that contains order amounts. You can use an expression (such as Price*Quantity) in place of an identifier.

Column labels

A field that has a column orientation in the pivot table. Each item in the field occupies a column.

Table Filter

A field that has a page orientation in the pivot table — similar to a slice of a 3-D cube. You can include any number of items (or all items) in a page field at one time.

Row labels

A field that has a row orientation in a PivotTable report.. Each item in the field occupies a row. You can have nested row fields.

PivotChart category field

A field that is assigned a category orientation in a PivotChart report. In a chart, categories usually appear on the x-axis, or horizontal axis, of the chart.

PivotChart series field

A field that is assigned a series orientation in a PivotChart report. In a chart, series are represented in the legend.

Column field

A field that's assigned a column orientation in a PivotTable report. Items associated with a column field are displayed as column labels.

Category field

A field that's displayed in the category area of the PivotChart report. Items in a category field appear as the labels on the category axis.

Series field

A field that's displayed in the series area of a PivotChart report. Items in a series field are listed in the legend and provide the names of the individual data series.

Report filter

A field that's used to filter a subset of data in a PivotTable or PivotChart report into one page for further layout and analysis. You can either display a summary of all items in a report filter, or display one item at a time, which filters out the data for all other items.

XPS (XML Paper Specification)

A file format developed by Microsoft that enables people to open and print documents in XPS Reader without access to the original programs with which the documents were created (such as Excel).

Workspace file

A file that saves display information about open workbooks, so that you can later resume work with the same window sizes, print areas, screen magnification, and display settings. A workspace file doesn't contain the workbooks themselves.

Offline cube file

A file you create on your hard disk or a network share to store OLAP source data for a PivotTable or PivotChart report. Offline cube files allow you to keep working when you are not connected to the OLAP server.

Alternate startup folder

A folder in addition to the XLStart folder that contains workbooks or other files that you want to be opened automatically when you start Excel and templates that you want to be available when you create new workbooks.

Regression analysis

A form of statistical analysis used for forecasting. Regression analysis estimates the relationship between variables so that a given variable can be predicted from one or more other variables.

Array formula

A formula that performs multiple calculations on one or more sets of values, and then returns either a single result or multiple results. Array formulas are enclosed between braces { } and are entered by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER.

Font

A graphic design applied to all numerals, symbols, and alphabetic characters. Also called type or typeface. Arial and Courier New are examples of fonts. Fonts usually come in different sizes, such as 10 point, and various styles, such as bold.

Trendline

A graphic representation of trends in data series, such as a line sloping upward to represent increased sales over a period of months. Trendlines are used for the study of problems of prediction, also called regression analysis.

Data table in charts

A grid that can be added to some charts and contains the numeric data used to create the chart. The data table usually is attached to the horizontal axis of the chart and replaces the tick-mark labels on the horizontal axis.

Status bar

A horizontal bar that appears at the bottom of the Excel 2010 window and keeps you informed of Excel's current mode. In addition, you can use the Status bar to select a new worksheet view and to zoom in and out on the worksheet.

Data label

A label that provides additional information about a data marker, which represents a single data point or value that originates from a datasheet cell.

SQL

A language used to retrieve, update, and manage data. When you create a query, Query uses SQL to build the corresponding SQL SELECT statement. If you know SQL, you can view or change the SQL SELECT statement.

Axis

A line bordering the chart plot area used as a frame of reference for measurement. The y axis is usually the vertical axis and contains data. The x-axis is usually the horizontal axis and contains categories.

Shortcut menu

A menu that displays context-sensitive commands when you right-click a cell or object in a worksheet.

Custom calculation

A method of summarizing values in the data area of a PivotTable report by using the values in other cells in the data area. Use the Show data as list on the PivotTable Field dialog for a data field to create custom calculations.

Goal seek

A method to find a specific value for a cell by adjusting the value of one other cell. When goal seeking, Excel varies the value in a cell that you specify until a formula that's dependent on that cell returns the result you want.

Scenario

A named set of input values that you can substitute in a worksheet model.

Microsoft Excel control

A native Excel control other than an ActiveX control.

R-squared value

A number from 0 to 1 that reveals how closely the estimated values for the trendline correspond to your actual data. A trendline is most reliable when its R-squared value is at or near 1. Also known as the coefficient of determination.

Function

A part of a formula that takes a number of specific arguments and then returns a single value based on those arguments.

Template

A pre-designed worksheet that can be used as a basis for creating new worksheets. The default template for workbooks is called Book.xlt. The default template for worksheets is called Sheet.xlt.

Function (Office Excel)

A prewritten formula that takes a value or values, performs an operation, and returns a value or values. Use functions to simplify and shorten formulas on a worksheet, especially those that perform lengthy or complex calculations.

What-if analysis

A process of changing the values in cells to see how those changes affect the outcome of formulas on the worksheet. For example, varying the interest rate that is used in an amortization table to determine the amount of the payments.

Data source driver

A program file used to connect to a specific database. Each database program or management system requires a different driver.

Web query

A query that retrieves data stored on your intranet or the Internet.

Mapped range

A range in an XML list that has been linked to an element in an XML map.

Data table

A range of cells in a worksheet in which you enter a series of possible values that Excel plugs into a formula so you can perform what-if analysis on the data.

Data region

A range of cells that contains data and that is bounded by empty cells or datasheet borders.

External data range

A range of data that is brought into a worksheet but that originates outside of Excel, such as in a database or text file. In Excel, you can format the data or use it in calculations as you would any other data.

Matrix

A rectangular array of values or a range of cells that is combined with other arrays or ranges to produce multiple sums or products. Excel has predefined matrix functions that can produce the sums or products.

Text box

A rectangular object on a worksheet or chart, in which you can type text.

Dialog box

A rectangular window with settings and commands that appears when you click a dialog box launcher or certain other commands on the Ribbon.

External reference

A reference to a cell or range on a sheet in another Excel workbook, or a reference to a defined name in another workbook.

Implicit intersection

A reference to a range of cells, instead of a single cell, that is calculated like a single cell. If cell C10 contains the formula =B5:B15*5, Excel multiplies the value in cell B10 by 5 because cells B10 and C10 are in the same row.

3-D reference

A reference to a range that spans two or more worksheets in a workbook.

Remote reference

A reference to data stored in a document from another program.

Subtotals

A row or column that displays subtotals for detail cells in a row or column in a pivot table.

Grand total

A row or column that displays totals for all cells in a row or column in a pivot table. You can specify that grand totals be calculated for rows, columns, or both.

PivotTable subtotal

A row or column that uses a summary function to display the total of detail items in a PivotTable field.

Group

A section of a tab on the Excel 2010 Ribbon that organizes related command buttons into subtasks normally performed as part of the tab's larger core task. The name of a group appears at the bottom of the group, such as the Font group on the Home tab. In an outline or PivotTable report, one or more detail rows or columns that are adjacent and subordinate to a summary row or column.

Nonadjacent selection

A selection of two or more cells or ranges that don't touch each other. When plotting nonadjacent selections in a chart, make sure that the combined selections form a rectangular shape.

History worksheet

A separate worksheet that lists changes being tracked in a shared workbook, including the name of the person who made the change, when and where it was made, what data was deleted or replaced, and how conflicts were resolved.

Moving average

A sequence of averages computed from parts of a data series. In a chart, a moving average smooths the fluctuations in data, thus showing the pattern or trend more clearly.

Macro

A series of commands or actions in Excel that are recorded and saved together in a file. You can run the macro whenever you need to perform the task.

View

A set of display and print settings that you can name and apply to a workbook. You can create more than one view of the same workbook without saving separate copies of the workbook.

Grid

A set of intersecting lines used to align objects.

Comparison criteria

A set of search conditions that is used to find data. Comparison criteria can be a series of characters that you want to match, such as "Northwind Traders," or an expression, such as ">300."

OLAP provider

A set of software that provides access to a particular type of OLAP database. This software can include a data source driver and other client software that is necessary to connect to a database.

Read-only

A setting that allows a file to be read or copied but not changed or saved.

Chart sheet

A sheet in a workbook that contains only a chart. A chart sheet is beneficial when you want to view a chart or a PivotChart report separately from worksheet data or a PivotTable report.

Operator

A sign or symbol that specifies the type of calculation to perform within an expression. There are mathematical, comparison, logical, and reference operators.

Comparison operator

A sign that is used in comparison criteria to compare two values. The six standards are = Equal to, > Greater than, < Less than, >= Greater than or equal to, <= Less than or equal to, and <> Not equal to.

Merged cell

A single cell that is created by combining two or more selected cells. The cell reference for a merged cell is the upper-left cell in the original selected range.

Dialog box launcher

A small icon in the lower-right corner of a group of command buttons on the Ribbon that you click to access a dialog box with additional related settings and commands.

Mini toolbar

A small toolbar that displays commonly used formatting commands (along with a shortcut menu) when you right-click a cell in the worksheet.

Quick Access toolbar

A small toolbar to the right of the Office button that includes buttons for commands you use often, such as Save and Undo. You can add buttons to customize the toolbar.

ScreenTip

A small window that displays descriptive text when you point to but don't click a command on the Ribbon or other objects in a worksheet.

Total row

A special row in an Excel table that provides a selection of aggregate functions useful for working with numerical data.

Pivot table

A special type of table unique to Excel 2010 that enables you to summarize large amounts of data and pivot or rearrange the table's data to display different summaries of the information it contains.

Workbook

A spreadsheet program file that you create in Excel. A workbook contains worksheets of rows and columns in which you can enter and calculate data.

Data source

A stored set of "source" information used to connect to a database. A data source can include the name and location of the database server, the name of the database driver, and information that the database needs when you log on.

Item

A subcategory of a field in PivotTable and PivotChart reports. For instance, the field "Month" could have items such as "January," "February," and so on.

Formula Palette

A tool that helps you create or edit a formula and also provides information about functions and their arguments.

Summary function

A type of calculation that combines source data in a PivotTable report or a consolidation table, or when you are inserting automatic subtotals in a list or database. Examples of summary functions include Sum, Count, and Average.

Formula

A type of cell entry that instructs Excel to perform a calculation.A sequence of values, cell references, names, functions, or operators in a cell that together produce a new value. A formula always begins with an equal sign (=).

SmartArt

A type of graphic object in Excel 2010 that gives you the ability to quickly and easily construct graphical lists and diagrams in the worksheet.

Parameter query

A type of query that, when you run it, prompts for values (criteria) to use to select the records for the result set so that the same query can be used to retrieve different result sets.

Point

A unit of measurement equal to 1/72 of an inch.

Compatibility Checker

A utility in Excel 2010 that you use to find potential compatibility issues if you plan to save an Excel workbook file in the older Excel 97-2003 file format.

Constant

A value that is not calculated. For example, the number 210 and the text "Quarterly Earnings" are constants. An expression, or a value resulting from an expression, is not a constant.

Sort order

A way to arrange data based on value or data type. You can sort data alphabetically, numerically, or by date. Sort orders use an ascending (1 to 9, A to Z) or descending (9 to 1, Z to A) order.

Password

A way to protect your worksheet or workbook. When you protect worksheet or workbook elements with a password, it is very important that you remember that password. Strong password: Y6dh!et5. Weak password: House27.

Name

A word or string of characters that represents a cell, range of cells, formula, or constant value. Use easy-to-understand names, such as Products, to refer to hard to understand ranges, such as Sales!C20:C30.

Shared workbook

A workbook set up to allow multiple users on a network to view and make changes at the same time. Each user who saves the workbook sees the changes made by other users.

Query design

All elements included in the Query window, such as tables, criteria, the order in which fields are arranged, and so on. The design also specifies whether Auto Query is turned on, and whether you can edit the source data.

Analysis ToolPak

An Excel 2010 add-in program that adds extra financial, statistical, and engineering functions to Excel's pool of built-in functions.

AutoFill

An Excel 2010 feature that quickly creates a series of entries based on the data you enter in one or two cells. AutoFill works with days of the week, months of the year, yearly quarters; consecutive series of numbers; and formulas. You also can add your own custom AutoFill series.

Data validation

An Excel feature that you can use to define restrictions on what data can or should be entered in a cell, and to display messages that prompt users for correct entries and notify users about incorrect entries.

Report template

An Excel template (.xlt file) that includes one or more queries or PivotTable reports that are based on external data. When you save a report template, Excel saves the query definition but doesn't store the queried data in the template.

ObjectLink

An OLE data format that describes a linked object, identifying the class, document name, and name of an object. Each of these data items is a null-terminated string.

OwnerLink

An OLE data format that describes an embedded object, identifying the class, document name, and name of an object. Each of these data items is a null-terminated string.

Moving border

An animated border that appears around a worksheet range that has been cut or copied. To cancel a moving border, press ESC.

Cell comment

An electronic version of a sticky note that you can add to a cell but that does not print.

Function (Microsoft Query)

An expression that returns a value based on the results of a calculation. Query assumes that data sources support the Avg, Count, Max, Min, and Sum functions. Some data sources may not support all of these, or may support additional functions.

PivotTable report

An interactive, cross-tabulated Excel report that summarizes and analyzes data, such as database records, from various sources including ones external to Excel.

PivotTable report

An interactive, cross-tabulated Excel report that summarizes and analyzes data, such as database records, from various sources, including ones that are external to Excel.

Calculated item

An item within a PivotTable field or PivotChart field that uses a formula you create. Calculated items can perform calculations by using the contents of other items within the same field of the PivotTable report or PivotChart report.

Zoom slider

An object on the Status bar in Excel 2010 that enables you to increase the magnification in a worksheet or shrink it down to get an overall picture of the worksheet data.

Section

Any combination of a worksheet, view, and scenario that you choose when you create a report. A report can contain several sections.

Tracer arrows

Arrows that show the relationship between the active cell and its related cells. Tracer arrows are blue when pointing from a cell that provides data to another cell, and red if a cell contains an error value, such as #DIV/0!.

Vertexes

Black, square, draggable points that appear at the ends and intersections of lines or curves in certain AutoShapes (such as freeforms, scribbles, and curves) when you edit points on the AutoShape.

Name box

Box at left end of the formula bar that identifies the selected cell, chart item, or drawing object. To name a cell or range, type the name in the Name box and press ENTER. To move to and select a named cell, click its name in the Name box.

Multiple-level category labels

Category labels in a chart that, based on worksheet data, are automatically displayed on more than one line in a hierarchy. For example, the heading Produce might appear above a row with headings Tofu, Apples, and Pears.

Precedents

Cells that are referred to by a formula in another cell. For example, if cell D10 contains the formula =B5, cell B5 is a precedent to cell D10.

Dependents

Cells that contain formulas that refer to other cells. For example, if cell D10 contains the formula =B5, cell D10 is a dependent of cell B5.

Excel add-in

Components that can be installed on your computer to add commands and functions to Excel. These add-in programs are specific to Excel. Other add-in programs that are available for Excel or Office are Component Object Model (COM) add-ins.

Criteria

Conditions you specify to limit which records are included in the result set of a query. For example, the following criterion selects records for which the value for the Order Amount field is greater than 30,000: Order Amount > 30000.

External data

Data that is stored in a database, such as Access, dBASE, or SQL Server, that is separate from Query and the program from which you started Query.

External data

Data that is stored outside of Excel. Examples include databases created in Access, dBASE, SQL Server, or on a Web server.

Titles in charts

Descriptive text that is automatically aligned to an axis or centered at the top of a chart.

Page break

Divider that breaks a worksheet into separate pages for printing. Excel inserts automatic page breaks based on the paper size, margin settings, scaling options, and the positions of any manual page breaks that you insert.

XML

Extensible Markup Language (XML): A condensed form of Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) that enables developers to create customized tags that offer flexibility in organizing and presenting information.

PDF (Portable Document Format)

File format developed by Adobe Systems Incorporated that enables people to open and print documents without access to the original programs with which the documents were created.

Summary data

For automatic subtotals and worksheet outlines, all rows or columns that summarize detail data. Summary data usually is adjacent to and below the detail data.

Detail data

For automatic subtotals and worksheet outlines, the subtotal rows or columns that are totaled by summary data. Detail data is typically adjacent to and either above or to the left of the summary data.

Excel table

Formerly known as an Excel list, you can create, format, and expand an Excel table to organize the data on your worksheet.

Slicers

Graphic objects in Excel 2010 that enable you to quickly filter the contents of a PivotTable on more than one field.

Command buttons

Graphical or text buttons located in groups on Excel 2010's Ribbon that you select to perform a particular action or to open a gallery from which you can click a particular thumbnail.

Scroll bars

Horizontal and vertical bars that appear on the bottom and right side of the worksheet window and enable you to quickly move to a different area of a worksheet.

Sheet Tab scroll buttons

Icons that appear immediately to the left of the sheet tabs in a workbook, which enable you to bring new tabs into view for worksheets that contain too many sheets for their tab names to appear at the bottom of a workbook.

High-low lines

In 2-D line charts, lines that extend from the highest to the lowest value in each category. High-low lines are often used in stock charts.

Series lines

In 2-D stacked bar and column charts, lines that connect the data markers in each data series that are used to emphasize the difference in measurement between each series.

Parameter

In Excel, you can add, change, or remove parameters to specify cells that are editable in the viewable worksheet data of Excel Services. When you save the workbook, the changes are automatically reflected on the server.

Query

In Query or Access, a means of finding the records that answer a particular question you ask about the data stored in a database.

Outer join

In Query, a join where all records from one table are selected, even if there are no matching records in another table. Records that match are combined and shown as one. Records that don't have matches in the other table are shown empty.

join line

In Query, a line that connects fields between two tables and shows Query how the data is related. The type of join indicates which records are selected for the query's result set.

Inner join

In Query, default type of join between two tables where only the records that have the same values in the joined fields are selected. The two matching records from each table are combined and displayed as one record in the result set.

Plot area

In a 2-D chart, the area bounded by the axes, including all data series. In a 3-D chart, the area bounded by the axes, including the data series, category names, tick-mark labels, and axis titles.

Field (PivotTable report)

In a PivotTable or PivotChart report, a category of data that's derived from a field in the source data. PivotTable reports have row, column, page, and data fields. PivotChart reports have series, category, page, and data fields.

PivotTable data

In a PivotTable report, the summarized data that's calculated from the data fields of a source list or table.

Relative reference

In a formula, the address of a cell based on the relative position of the cell that contains the formula and the cell referred to. If you copy the formula, the reference automatically adjusts. A relative reference takes the form A1.

Change history

In a shared workbook, information that is maintained about changes made in past editing sessions. The information includes the name of the person who made each change, when the change was made, and what data was changed.

Calculated column

In an Excel table, a calculated column uses a single formula that adjusts for each row. It automatically expands to include additional rows so that the formula is immediately extended to those rows.

Insert row

In an Excel table, a special row that facilitates data entry. The Insert row is indicated by an asterisk.

Drop lines

In line and area charts, lines that extend from a data point to the category (x) axis. Useful in area charts to clarify where one data marker ends and the next begins.

Up-down bars

In line charts with multiple data series, bars that indicate the difference between data points in the first and last series.

Wrap

In text, to break a line of text automatically on reaching a margin or object and continue the text on a new line.

Property fields

Independent attributes associated with items, or members, in an OLAP cube. For example, if city items have size and population properties stored in the server cube, a PivotTable report can display the size and population of each city.

Data points

Individual values that are plotted in a chart. Related data points make up a data series. Data points are represented by bars, columns, lines, slices, dots, and other shapes. These shapes are called data markers.

Operand

Items on either side of an operator in a formula. In Excel, operands can be values, cell references, names, labels, and functions.

Gridlines in charts

Lines you can add to a chart that make it easier to view and evaluate data. Gridlines extend from the tick marks on an axis across the plot area.

Totals

One of the five calculation types Query defines for you: Sum, Avg, Count, Min, and Max.

Primary key

One or more fields that uniquely identify each record in a table. In the same way that a license plate number identifies a car, the primary key uniquely identifies a record.

Print area

One or more ranges of cells that you designate to print when you don't want to print the entire worksheet. If a worksheet includes a print area, only the print area is printed.

Trendline label

Optional text for a trendline, including either the regression equation or the R-squared value, or both. A trendline label can be formatted and moved; it cannot be sized.

Clip art

Readymade drawings, illustrations, and photos offered by Microsoft for use in Microsoft Office applications.

Refresh

Recalculates the pivot table after making changes to the source data.

Data series

Related data points that are plotted in a chart and originate from datasheet rows or columns. Each data series in a chart has a unique color or pattern. You can plot one or more data series in a chart. Pie charts have only one data series.

Iteration

Repeated calculation of a worksheet until a specific numeric condition is met.

Print titles

Row or column labels that are printed at the top of or on the left side of every page on a printed worksheet.

Sheet tabs

Small tabs near the bottom of a worksheet that you click to move between the worksheets in a workbook. You can assign descriptive names to sheet tabs.

Hyperlink

Specially formatted text that anyone can click to jump to Web sites, move to other cells or workbooks, or create an e-mail message.

WordArt

Stylized text objects that you use to add pizzazz and emphasis to headings and other text in Excel 2010 worksheets.

Legend keys

Symbols in legends that show the patterns and colors assigned to the data series (or categories) in a chart. Legend keys appear to the left of legend entries. Formatting a legend key also formats the data marker that's associated with it.

Outline symbols

Symbols that you use to change the view of an outlined worksheet. You can show or hide detailed data by pressing the plus sign, minus sign, and the numbers 1, 2, 3, or 4, indicating the outline level.

Default workbook template

The Book.xlt template that you create to change the default format of new workbooks. Excel uses the template to create a blank workbook when you start Excel or create a new workbook without specifying a template.

Associated PivotTable report

The PivotTable report that supplies the source data to the PivotChart report. It is created automatically when you create a new PivotChart report. When you change the layout of either report, the other also changes.

Default worksheet template

The Sheet.xlt template that you create to change the default format of new worksheets. Excel uses the template to create a blank worksheet when you add a new worksheet to a workbook.

Table pane

The area of the Query window that displays the tables in a query. Each table displays the fields from which you can retrieve data.

Criteria pane

The area of the window that displays the criteria used to limit the records included in the result set of your query.

Data pane

The area of the window that displays the result set of your query.

3-D walls and floor

The areas surrounding many 3-D chart types that give dimension and boundaries to the chart. Two walls and one floor are displayed within the plot area.

Workbook

The basic file type that you create when you use Excel 2010. A new workbook consists of three worksheets by default.

Cell cursor

The black border that surrounds the active cell in a worksheet.

Current region

The block of filled-in cells that includes the currently selected cell or cells. The region extends in all directions to the first empty row or column.

Cell address

The cell identifier, determined by its column letter(s) followed by the row number, as in cell A1, the very first cell of each worksheet at the intersection of column A and row 1.

Input cell

The cell in which each input value from a data table is substituted. Any cell on a worksheet can be the input cell. Although the input cell does not need to be part of the data table, the formulas in data tables must refer to the input cell.

Source areas

The cell ranges that you consolidate in the destination area you specify. Source areas can be on any worksheet in a workbook, in other open or closed workbooks, or on Lotus 1-2-3 worksheets.

Copy area

The cells that you copy when you want to paste data into another location. After you copy cells, a moving border appears around them to indicate that they've been copied.

Locked field or record

The condition of a record, field, or other object in a database that permits it to be viewed but not changed (read-only) in Query.

Outline data

The data that is contained within a worksheet outline. Outline data includes both the summary and detail rows or columns of an outline.

Standard font

The default text font for worksheets. The standard font determines the default font for the Normal cell style.

Chart area

The entire chart and all its elements.

Select All button

The gray rectangle in the upper-left corner of a datasheet where the row and column headings meet. Click this button to select all cells on a datasheet.

Formula bar

The horizontal toolbar located below the Ribbon that displays the cell address and the contents of the current cell. Use the Formula bar to enter or edit formulas and cell entries and assign names to cells.

DDE conversation

The interaction between two applications that are communicating and exchanging data through special functions and code known as dynamic data exchange (DDE).

Name box

The left-most section of the Formula bar that displays the address or name of the current cell.

Column heading

The lettered or numbered gray area at the top of each column. Click the column heading to select an entire column. To increase or decrease the width of a column, drag the line to the right of the column heading.

Constraints

The limitations placed on a Solver problem. You can apply constraints to adjustable cells, the target cell, or other cells that are directly or indirectly related to the target cell.

Source data

The list or table that's used to create a PivotTable or PivotChart report. Source data can be taken from an Excel table or range, an external database or cube, or another PivotTable report.

Default startup workbook

The new, unsaved workbook that's displayed when you start Excel. The default startup workbook is displayed only if you haven't included other workbooks in the XLStart folder.

Row heading

The numbered gray area to the left of each row. Click the row heading to select an entire row. To increase or decrease the height of a row, drag the line below the row heading.

Values area

The part of a PivotTable report that contains summary data. Values in each cell of the values area represent a summary of data from the source records or rows. Excel offers several ways to summarize the data (sum, average, etc.).

Address

The path to an object, document, file, page, or other destination. An address can be a URL (Web address) or a UNC path (network address), and can include a specific location within a file, such as a Word bookmark or an Excel cell range.

Worksheet area

The portion of an Excel 2010 worksheet in which you enter cell data and add objects such as charts and graphics.

Worksheet

The primary document that you use in Excel to store and work with data. Also called a spreadsheet. A worksheet consists of cells that are organized into columns and rows; a worksheet is always stored in a workbook file.

Destination area

The range of cells that you select to hold the summarized data in a consolidation. The destination area can be on the same worksheet as the source data or on a different worksheet. A worksheet can contain only one consolidation.

Base address

The relative path that Excel uses for the destination address when you insert a hyperlink. This can be an Internet address (URL), a path to a folder on your hard drive, or a path to a folder on a network.

Office button

The round button with the four-color Office icon at the top left corner of the Excel 2010 program window, which provides access to common file-related commands.

Active cell

The selected cell in which data is entered when you begin typing. Only one cell is active at a time. The active cell is bounded by a heavy border.

Cell reference

The set of coordinates that a cell occupies on a worksheet. For example, the reference of the cell that appears at the intersection of column B and row 3 is B3.

Result set

The set of records returned when you run a query. You can see the result set of a query in Query, or you can return a result set to an Excel worksheet for further analysis.

Active sheet

The sheet that you're working on in a workbook. The name on the tab of the active sheet is bold.

Fill handle

The small black square in the lower-right corner of the selection. When you point to the fill handle, the pointer changes to a black cross.

Consolidation table

The table of combined results that appears in the destination area. Excel creates the consolidation table by applying the summary function that you select to the source area values that you specify.

Paste area

The target destination for data that's been cut or copied by using the Office Clipboard.

Value

The text, date, number, or logical input that completes a condition that a field must meet for searching or filtering. For example, the field Author with the condition <b>equals</b> must include a value, such as <b>John</b>, to be complete.

Argument

The values that a function uses to perform operations or calculations. The type of argument a function uses is specific to the function. Common arguments that are used within functions include numbers, text, cell references, and names.

Tabs

The various "pages" of Excel 2010's Ribbon interface that you click to display command buttons relating to the tab's name, such as Page Layout and Formulas.

Pivot area

The worksheet area into which you drag PivotTable or PivotChart fields to change the layout of the report. On a new report, dashed blue outlines indicate the pivot area on the worksheet.

Current cell

The worksheet cell that contains the cell cursor. Each worksheet can have only one current cell.

Tick marks and tick-mark labels

Tick marks are small lines of measurement, similar to divisions on a ruler, that intersect an axis. Tick-mark labels identify the categories, values, or series in the chart.

Sparklines

Tiny graphs (miniature charts) that fit within a single cell in the worksheet, used to show basic trends in data.

Justify

To adjust horizontal spacing so that text is aligned evenly along both the left and right margins. Justifying text creates a smooth edge on both sides.

Filter

To display only the rows in a list that satisfy the conditions you specify. You use the AutoFilter command to display rows that match one or more specific values, calculated values, or conditions.

Microsoft Visual Basic Help

To get help for Visual Basic in Excel, on the Developer tab, in the Code group, click Visual Basic, and then under the Help menu, click Microsoft Visual Basic Help.

Select

To highlight a cell or range of cells on a worksheet. The selected cells will be affected by the next command or action.

Activate

To make a chart sheet or worksheet the active, or selected, sheet. The sheet that you activate determines which tabs are displayed. To activate a sheet, click the tab for the sheet in the workbook.

Protect

To make settings for a worksheet or workbook that prevent users from viewing or gaining access to the specified worksheet or workbook elements.

Refresh (external data range)

To update data from an external data source. Each time you refresh data, you see the most recent version of the information in the database, including any changes that were made to the data.

Refresh (PivotTable report)

To update the contents of a PivotTable or PivotChart report to reflect changes to the underlying source data. If the report is based on external data, refreshing runs the underlying query to retrieve new or changed data.

PivotTable grand totals

Total values for all cells in a row or all cells in a column of a PivotTable report. Values in a grand total row or column are calculated by using the same summary function used in the data area of the PivotTable report.

Range

Two or more cells on a sheet. The cells in a range can be adjacent or nonadjacent.

Non-OLAP source data

Underlying data for a PivotTable or PivotChart report that comes from a source other than an OLAP database. These sources include relational databases, tables on Excel worksheets, and text file databases.

System channel

Used in a DDE conversation between applications to get information about the system, such as the current connections, open queries, and the status of the destination application.

Array

Used to build single formulas that produce multiple results or that operate on a group of arguments that are arranged in rows and columns. An array range shares a common formula; an array constant is a group of constants used as an argument.

Error bars

Usually used in statistical or scientific data, error bars show potential error or degree of uncertainty relative to each data marker in a series.

Scroll lock

With scroll lock turned on, the arrow keys scroll the active sheet rather than make a different cell active. To turn scroll lock off or on, press the SCROLL LOCK key.

Outline

Worksheet data in which rows or columns of detail data are grouped so that you can create summary reports. The outline can summarize either an entire worksheet or a selected portion of it.

Page break preview

Worksheet view that displays the areas to be printed and the locations of page breaks. The area to be printed is displayed in white, automatic page breaks appear as dashed lines, and manual page breaks appear as solid lines.

Query channel

You use a query channel in a DDE conversation between the destination application and a specific query (for example, Query1) in Query. To use a query channel, you must have already opened the query window using a system channel.

Pmt function

calculate payments for any type of loan

Mixed reference

contains both relative and absolute references. locks on part of cell while other part changes

F4 key

excel cycles through the different reference types starting by changing a relative reference to an absolute reference; edit mode

Logical function

function that works with values that are either true or false

Nested

functions can also be placed inside another function

If function

logical funtion that returns one value if the statement is true or false and returns a different value if the statement is false; works with text also

Optional arguments

not required for the function to return a value, but can be included to provide more control over the returned value.

Insert function

organizes all of the function by category and allows you to search for functions that perform particular calcations

Absolute references

references that are fixed

Syntax

specifies how the function should be written

Date function

update automatically... today or now does not have an augement