Chapter 4

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

Formula bar

a bar at the top of the Excel window that you use to enter or edit values or formulas in cells or charts; displays the constant value or formula stored in the active cell

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.

Value Axis

a chart axis that displays 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.

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.

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).

Worksheet

a computerized spreadsheet; 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.

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

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 does not contain the workbooks themselves.

Conditional Format

a format, such as cell shading or font color, that Excel automatically applies to cells if a specified condition is true

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.

Spreadsheet

a grid of rows and columns in which you enter text, numbers, and the results of calculations

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

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.

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.

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.

Text Box

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

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.

Remote Reference

a reference to data stored in a document from another program

Formula

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 (=).

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."

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.

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

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.

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.

Template

a workbook that you create and use as the basis for other similar workbooks. You can create templates for workbooks and worksheets. The default template for workbooks is called Book.xlt. The default template for worksheets is called Sheet.xlt.

Scroll Lock

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

Moving Border

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

Rows

appear horizontally and are identified by numbers on the left side of the worksheet window

Column

appear vertically and are identified by letters at the top of the worksheet window

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.

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.

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 outside of Excel. Examples include databases created using Access, dBASE, SQL Server, or a Web server.

Title

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

Excel Table

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

Range Reference

identifies the range, which is the cell in its upper-left corner and the cell in its lower-right corner, separated by a colon (e.g., A3:C5)

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

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.

Wrap

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

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.

Print Area

one or more ranges of cells that you designate to print when you do not want to print the entire worksheet. If a worksheet includes a print area, only the print area is printed.

Data Series

related data points that are plotted in a chart. Each data series in a chart has a unique color or pattern and is represented in the chart legend. You can plot one or more data series in a chart. Pie charts have only one data series.

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

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.

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.

Default Startup Workbook

the new, unsaved workbook that is displayed when you start Excel. The default startup workbook is displayed only if you have not 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

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.

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.

Microsoft Office Excel

the spreadsheet program in Microsoft Office

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Range

two or more cells on a sheet; a group of selected cells. The cells in a range can be adjacent or nonadjacent.

Sheet Tab

where the name of each worksheet appears