A spreadsheet (or worksheet) is a configuration of rows and columns used to record, calculate, and compare numerical or financial data. In MS-Excel 2007, the user interface features a series of horizontal tabs known as the Ribbon.
A file in Excel is called a Workbook, which is a collection of Worksheets. By default, three sheets (Sheet1, Sheet2, Sheet3) are available. Only one sheet can be the Active Worksheet at a time.
A Cell Reference identifies the location of a cell or group of cells (range, e.g., A1:E2):
| Movement | Key Stroke |
|---|---|
| One cell down | Down arrow or Enter |
| One cell up | Up arrow |
| One cell left | Left arrow |
| One cell right | Right arrow or Tab |
| Top of Worksheet | Ctrl + Home |
| End of Worksheet data | Ctrl + End |
Excel follows algebraic rules to determine the order of operations, remembered by acronyms such as GEMS, PEMDAS, or BEMDAS:
Basic values are independent inputs, while derived values are calculated using formulas.
If quantity ($Q$) of an item is purchased at a price ($P$), the derived value ($V$) is calculated as:
$$V = Q \times P$$Data can be entered manually, filled automatically using the Fill Handle, or imported from external text files (such as .txt or .csv files) using the "From Text" option under the Data tab.
Data Validation restricts the type of data or values users can enter into a cell. It can be used to create drop-down lists, set limits (e.g., age between 18 and 58), or enforce custom formulas (e.g., preventing duplicate entries using COUNTIF).
A Pivot Table is an interactive way to quickly summarize, analyze, and explore large amounts of data. It allows users to group data by categories, subtotal values, and pivot rows to columns to see different summaries of the source data.