DEFINITION OF MS EXCEL
Microsoft Excel is spreadsheet software in the Microsoft
Office Suite widely used to perform mathematical
calculations. The data is spread in a tabular form
consisting of rows and columns. It provides built-in
features and tools such as formulas, functions and data
analysis tools that make it easier to work with large
amount of data.
Spreadsheets are primarily used to work with numbers
and text. A file of MS-Excel is called a workbook and it
contains multiple worksheets or spreadsheets. A
worksheet is divided into a series of rows and columns to
store the information.
Microsoft Excel or MS-Excel allows you to store,
organize, and analyze numerical and text data. You can
use this robust application to enter numerical values or
data into the rows or columns of a spreadsheet, and to use
these numerical entries for calculations, charts, formulas,
statistical analysis, etc.
1|Page
,KEY FEATURES OF MS EXCEL
Microsoft Excel is a powerful spreadsheet application with a
variety of features designed for data analysis, manipulation, and
visualization. Here are some key features of MS Excel:
i. Worksheets and Workbooks: Excel allows users to
organize data into worksheets, which are stored within
workbooks (files). Each workbook can contain multiple
sheets.
ii. Formulas and Functions: Excel provides a wide range of
built-in formulas and functions to perform calculations,
such as SUM, AVERAGE, VLOOKUP, INDEX,
MATCH, and more advanced statistical or financial
formulas.
iii. Data Formatting: Excel allows users to format cells to
display numbers, text, currency, dates, percentages, and
more. Conditional formatting can also be applied to
highlight data based on certain conditions.
iv. Charts and Graphs: Excel has a variety of chart types
(e.g., bar, line, pie, scatters) to visually represent data and
help with data analysis.
v. PivotTables and Pivot Charts: These are advanced tools
for summarizing, analyzing, exploring, and presenting
large data sets in a compact format.
vi. Data Sorting and Filtering: Users can sort data in
ascending or descending order and apply filters to display
only relevant information.
2|Page
,vii. Data Validation: Data validation helps ensure that data
entered into cells meets specific criteria, such as numeric
values or dates within a given range.
viii. Collaborative Features: Excel allows users to share
workbooks, track changes, and collaborate in real time,
especially with integration to cloud services like OneDrive
and SharePoint.
ix. Macros and VBA (Visual Basic for Applications): Excel
supports automation using macros and allows users to
write custom code with VBA to perform repetitive tasks or
create custom functionality.
x. What-If Analysis: Tools like Goal Seek, Data Tables, and
Scenario Manager help users perform sensitivity analysis
by modeling different scenarios and outcomes.
xi. Cell Referencing: Excel supports relative, absolute, and
mixed references for efficient formula management.
xii. Protecting Workbooks and Sheets: Users can protect
workbooks or individual sheets with passwords to prevent
unauthorized editing
xiii. Importing and Exporting Data: Excel supports
importing data from various file formats (e.g., CSV, TXT)
and databases, as well as exporting data to different
formats.
i. Comments and Notes: Users can add comments or notes
to cells to provide additional context or explanations.
3|Page
, CREATING A WORKBOOK
Excel files are called workbooks. Each workbook holds one or
more worksheets (also known as spreadsheets).
Create a New workbook:
• Click the File tab.
• Select New.
• Select Blank workbook under Available Templates.
• (It will be highlighted by default.)
• Click Create. A new blank workbook appears in the Excel
window.
OPENING A WORKBOOK
There may be a situation when you open an existing workbook
and edit it partially or completely.
To Open an Existing Workbook:
• To Open an Existing Workbook:
• Click the File tab
• Select Open. The Open
• Select your desired workbook and then click Open
SAVING A WORKBOOK
Once you are done with typing in your new excel sheet, it is
time to save your workbook to avoid losing work you have done
on an Excel sheet.
4|Page
Microsoft Excel is spreadsheet software in the Microsoft
Office Suite widely used to perform mathematical
calculations. The data is spread in a tabular form
consisting of rows and columns. It provides built-in
features and tools such as formulas, functions and data
analysis tools that make it easier to work with large
amount of data.
Spreadsheets are primarily used to work with numbers
and text. A file of MS-Excel is called a workbook and it
contains multiple worksheets or spreadsheets. A
worksheet is divided into a series of rows and columns to
store the information.
Microsoft Excel or MS-Excel allows you to store,
organize, and analyze numerical and text data. You can
use this robust application to enter numerical values or
data into the rows or columns of a spreadsheet, and to use
these numerical entries for calculations, charts, formulas,
statistical analysis, etc.
1|Page
,KEY FEATURES OF MS EXCEL
Microsoft Excel is a powerful spreadsheet application with a
variety of features designed for data analysis, manipulation, and
visualization. Here are some key features of MS Excel:
i. Worksheets and Workbooks: Excel allows users to
organize data into worksheets, which are stored within
workbooks (files). Each workbook can contain multiple
sheets.
ii. Formulas and Functions: Excel provides a wide range of
built-in formulas and functions to perform calculations,
such as SUM, AVERAGE, VLOOKUP, INDEX,
MATCH, and more advanced statistical or financial
formulas.
iii. Data Formatting: Excel allows users to format cells to
display numbers, text, currency, dates, percentages, and
more. Conditional formatting can also be applied to
highlight data based on certain conditions.
iv. Charts and Graphs: Excel has a variety of chart types
(e.g., bar, line, pie, scatters) to visually represent data and
help with data analysis.
v. PivotTables and Pivot Charts: These are advanced tools
for summarizing, analyzing, exploring, and presenting
large data sets in a compact format.
vi. Data Sorting and Filtering: Users can sort data in
ascending or descending order and apply filters to display
only relevant information.
2|Page
,vii. Data Validation: Data validation helps ensure that data
entered into cells meets specific criteria, such as numeric
values or dates within a given range.
viii. Collaborative Features: Excel allows users to share
workbooks, track changes, and collaborate in real time,
especially with integration to cloud services like OneDrive
and SharePoint.
ix. Macros and VBA (Visual Basic for Applications): Excel
supports automation using macros and allows users to
write custom code with VBA to perform repetitive tasks or
create custom functionality.
x. What-If Analysis: Tools like Goal Seek, Data Tables, and
Scenario Manager help users perform sensitivity analysis
by modeling different scenarios and outcomes.
xi. Cell Referencing: Excel supports relative, absolute, and
mixed references for efficient formula management.
xii. Protecting Workbooks and Sheets: Users can protect
workbooks or individual sheets with passwords to prevent
unauthorized editing
xiii. Importing and Exporting Data: Excel supports
importing data from various file formats (e.g., CSV, TXT)
and databases, as well as exporting data to different
formats.
i. Comments and Notes: Users can add comments or notes
to cells to provide additional context or explanations.
3|Page
, CREATING A WORKBOOK
Excel files are called workbooks. Each workbook holds one or
more worksheets (also known as spreadsheets).
Create a New workbook:
• Click the File tab.
• Select New.
• Select Blank workbook under Available Templates.
• (It will be highlighted by default.)
• Click Create. A new blank workbook appears in the Excel
window.
OPENING A WORKBOOK
There may be a situation when you open an existing workbook
and edit it partially or completely.
To Open an Existing Workbook:
• To Open an Existing Workbook:
• Click the File tab
• Select Open. The Open
• Select your desired workbook and then click Open
SAVING A WORKBOOK
Once you are done with typing in your new excel sheet, it is
time to save your workbook to avoid losing work you have done
on an Excel sheet.
4|Page
