Intro to Excel spreadsheets
What are the objectives of this document?
The objectives of document are:
1. Familiarize you with what a spreadsheet is, how it works, and what its capabilities are;
2. Using the concepts introduced earlier in the course, apply certain mathematical manipulations to
data;
3. Provide you with the tools to make decisions that are more informed and present reports to
interested stakeholders in your respective offices.
Before we start…
Throughout the following pages, we will reference several menu options and how you can get to them. In
order to do this, we will use the following convention: when you see the following, ViewZoom, the
first word (View) refers to a menu option usually found in the top left, under the title bar. The word that
follows (Zoom) is a menu choice found under the first option you made.
What is a spreadsheet?
A spreadsheet is the computerized equivalent of a general ledger. It has taken the place of the pencil,
paper, and calculator. Spreadsheet programs were first developed for accountants but have now been
adopted by anyone wanting to prepare a budget, forecast sales data, create profit and loss statements,
compare financial alternatives and any other mathematical applications requiring calculations.
The electronic spreadsheet is laid out similar to the paper ledger sheet in that it is divided into columns
and rows. Any task that can be done on paper can be performed on an electronic spreadsheet faster and
more accurately.
The problem with manual sheets is that if any error is found within the data, all answers must be erased
and recalculated manually. With the computerized spreadsheet, formulas can be written that are
automatically updated whenever the data are changed.
What can a spreadsheet do?
In contrast to a word processor, which manipulates text, a spreadsheet manipulates numerical data and
text. Using a spreadsheet, one can create budgets, analyze data, produce financial plans, and perform
various other simple and complex numerical applications.
By having formulas that automatically recalculate, either built by you, the user, or the built-in math
functions, you can play with the numbers to see how the result is affected. Using this “what-if?” analysis,
you can see what affect changing a data value or calculation can have on your monitoring program.
Spreadsheets can also be used for graphing data points, reporting data analyses, and organizing and
storing data.
1
, Starting Excel
You are encouraged to start using MS Excel as you read through the following materials to familiarize
yourself with the topics and procedures.
1. Click the Start button on the Windows taskbar.
a. The Start menu opens
2. Point to Programs
a. The Programs menu opens
3. Click Microsoft Excel
a. Excel opens a new workbook
Note: an icon for MS Excel may be located either on the desktop or on the Office toolbar.
Figure 1
3. MS Excel
1. The Start button 2. Programs
2
What are the objectives of this document?
The objectives of document are:
1. Familiarize you with what a spreadsheet is, how it works, and what its capabilities are;
2. Using the concepts introduced earlier in the course, apply certain mathematical manipulations to
data;
3. Provide you with the tools to make decisions that are more informed and present reports to
interested stakeholders in your respective offices.
Before we start…
Throughout the following pages, we will reference several menu options and how you can get to them. In
order to do this, we will use the following convention: when you see the following, ViewZoom, the
first word (View) refers to a menu option usually found in the top left, under the title bar. The word that
follows (Zoom) is a menu choice found under the first option you made.
What is a spreadsheet?
A spreadsheet is the computerized equivalent of a general ledger. It has taken the place of the pencil,
paper, and calculator. Spreadsheet programs were first developed for accountants but have now been
adopted by anyone wanting to prepare a budget, forecast sales data, create profit and loss statements,
compare financial alternatives and any other mathematical applications requiring calculations.
The electronic spreadsheet is laid out similar to the paper ledger sheet in that it is divided into columns
and rows. Any task that can be done on paper can be performed on an electronic spreadsheet faster and
more accurately.
The problem with manual sheets is that if any error is found within the data, all answers must be erased
and recalculated manually. With the computerized spreadsheet, formulas can be written that are
automatically updated whenever the data are changed.
What can a spreadsheet do?
In contrast to a word processor, which manipulates text, a spreadsheet manipulates numerical data and
text. Using a spreadsheet, one can create budgets, analyze data, produce financial plans, and perform
various other simple and complex numerical applications.
By having formulas that automatically recalculate, either built by you, the user, or the built-in math
functions, you can play with the numbers to see how the result is affected. Using this “what-if?” analysis,
you can see what affect changing a data value or calculation can have on your monitoring program.
Spreadsheets can also be used for graphing data points, reporting data analyses, and organizing and
storing data.
1
, Starting Excel
You are encouraged to start using MS Excel as you read through the following materials to familiarize
yourself with the topics and procedures.
1. Click the Start button on the Windows taskbar.
a. The Start menu opens
2. Point to Programs
a. The Programs menu opens
3. Click Microsoft Excel
a. Excel opens a new workbook
Note: an icon for MS Excel may be located either on the desktop or on the Office toolbar.
Figure 1
3. MS Excel
1. The Start button 2. Programs
2
