Understanding the Excel Screen

Opening Excel

If you have a Microsoft Excel icon on your desktop, double-click it to open Word. Otherwise, follow these steps:

For the PC

• Choose Start from the Taskbar
• Choose Programs
• Choose Microsoft Excel

For the Mac

• Double-click your hard drive icon
• Double-click the Applications folder (usually)
• Double-click Microsoft Office
• Double-click Microsoft Excel

Understanding the Excel Screen

An Excel file is called a workbook. A workbook is made up of worksheets. (In this tutorial, we only cover working with one worksheet. Click here to go to the Excel tutorial for more on worksheets.) Each worksheet consist of rows (identified with a number) and columns (identified with a letter) which intersect at a cell. Every cell has an address that consists of the column and row (A1, B3, and so on).

• When a cell is selected it displays an outline and is called the active cell. Anything you type goes in the active cell.
• Column headings are the letters across the top of the worksheet.
• Row headings are the numbers down the side of the worksheet.
• Standard and Formatting toolbars contain buttons and drop-down lists that provide quick access to common commands.
• The Formula bar displays data entered into the active cell.