Top Excel Terms: Workbooks, Worksheets, Active Cell

• Excel is a Microsoft Office System spreadsheet program used to create and format workbooks, analyze data, build models, write formulas, and present data in charts.
• The top 10 Excel terms are:

Workbook & Worksheet

• A workbook is a spreadsheet file created in Excel that contains one or more worksheets.
• A worksheet, also known as a spreadsheet, consists of cells organized into columns and rows for entering and calculating data, and is always stored in a workbook.
• A workbook is like a book with a single topic, while each worksheet is like a page containing part of that topic.
• Tabs at the bottom of the window allow users to switch between worksheets or insert new ones.

Active Cell

• A cell is a small rectangle or box in an Excel worksheet.
• The active cell is the selected cell where data is entered.
• Only one cell is active at a time, indicated by a black border.
• Data can only be entered into the active cell.

Column & Row

• Excel spreadsheets are divided into cells organized into vertical columns and horizontal rows.
• Columns are labeled with letters in the gray area at the top; clicking a column heading selects the entire column, and dragging the line to the right adjusts the width.
• Rows are labeled with numbers in the gray area to the left; clicking a row heading selects the entire row, and dragging the line below adjusts the height.

Cell Reference

• A cell reference is a set of coordinates identifying a cell's location in a spreadsheet.
• It consists of the column letter followed by the row number (e.g., A1 represents the first cell in the top left-hand corner).

Range

• A range is a group of two or more cells in a worksheet that can be adjacent or nonadjacent.
• Commands affect the entire range.
• A range is identified by the cell references of the upper left and lower right corners, separated by a colon ( : ), indicating all cells in between.
  • Example of adjacent cells: A1:B6
  • Example of non-adjacent cells: A1:A4, C1:C4, B6

Name Box

• The name box is located at the left end of the formula bar, identifying the selected cell, chart item, or drawing object.
• It displays the cell reference of the active cell.
• The name box is used to assign names to cells or ranges; highlighting the cell or range, typing a name in the box, and pressing ENTER will complete the name.
• To relocate and select a named cell or range, simply click its name in the Name box.

Data

• Data is information stored in a spreadsheet, with only one piece of data per cell.
• Data in a spreadsheet can be used in calculations, displayed in graphs, or sorted and filtered.
• In Excel, the three types of data are numbers, text, and dates/times.

Formula Bar

• Located next to the name box and above the worksheet area.
• It displays the data stored in the active cell.
• The formula bar is used to view, enter, and edit values and formulas in cells.

Formula

• A spreadsheet formula is a mathematical equation that calculates a result.
• Formulas are typed into the formula bar.
• A formula always begins with an equal sign (=).
  • The formula =1+1 will result in 2 being displayed.
• Cell references are normally used rather than the data itself.
  • Example: =A1*B1
  • Example: =(A1+A2)/B1

Function

• A function is a prewritten formula that simplifies and shortens calculations.
• Functions begin with an equal sign (=), followed by the function's name and its arguments in round brackets.
• The function name tells Excel what calculation to perform, and the arguments specify the data or information to use.
  • The SUM function adds the data in selected cells.
  • An example of the function typed into cell D7: = SUM (D1:D6)
  • The function adds the values of cells D1 to D6 and displays the answer in cell D7.