Lesson 1 Microsoft Excel 2010 Jumpstart

In this lesson, you will get a general introduction to Microsoft Excel 2010. This lesson is intended to provide a quick introduction, so you can jump right in and get your feet wet. If you aren’t ready for a quick overview, feel free to skip this lesson and move to Lesson 2, “Getting Started with Microsoft Excel 2010,” and then return to this lesson later.

• Inserting rows and columns into a worksheet
• Merging and formatting cells
• Adjusting cell width and increasing font size
• Copying and pasting to a range of cells

Starting up

You will work with a file from the Excel01lessons folder in this lesson. Make sure that you have loaded the OfficeLessons folder onto your hard drive.

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  See Lesson 1 in Action! Use the accompanying video to gain a better understanding of how to use some of the features shown in this lesson. The video tutorial for this lesson can be found on the included DVD.

The project

In this lesson, you will open an existing worksheet. You will then add data and format the worksheet.

1 Launch Microsoft Excel 2010.

2 Choose File > Open and navigate to the Excel01lessons folder that you copied to your computer from the DVD that came with your book, and then double-click excel01. An Excel document opens to display a worksheet.

The Excel workspace is similar to that of other Microsoft Office applications. The tools are conveniently located on the Ribbon running across the top of the window.

You can enter data into any cell of a worksheet by typing directly in the cell or using the formula bar. The formula bar appears directly below the Ribbon and displays the contents of the selected cell. The Name box appears to the left of the formula bar and displays the cell address.

3 Click File > Save As. Excel displays the Save As dialog box.

4 Type excel01_done, and then click Save.

Inserting rows and columns into a worksheet

You can add rows and columns to a worksheet to include more data. When you insert a row, you must first select the row below where you want the new row to appear. For example, if you want a new row to appear between rows 1 and 2, you must select row 2 and then insert the row.

When you insert a column, you must select the column to the right of where you want the new column to appear. For example, if you want a column to appear between columns B and C, you must select column C, and then insert the column.

In this exercise, you’ll add a row and a column to a worksheet and label them.

1 In the excel01_done document, move the cursor to the left side of row 7, and click to select the row. On the Home tab, in the Cells group, click Insert to insert a row above the selected row.

2 In cell A7, type Transportation.

3 Move the cursor to the top of column H, and click to select the column. On the Home tab, in the Cells group, click Insert twice. Excel inserts two columns to the left of the selected column.

4 Click cell H2 and then type Jan-Jun Total. Click cell P2 and then type Jul-Dec Total.

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  If you want to insert more than one row or column, select the number of rows or columns that you want to insert before you apply the Insert command. For example, if you want to insert two rows, select two existing rows.

5 Choose File > Save to save your work.

Merging and formatting cells

Sometimes you need to create a single large cell. For example, you can merge many cells to make room for a worksheet title to give the worksheet a cleaner appearance.

In this exercise, you’ll merge cells and center the text within the resulting cell. Then you’ll add a cell style to the title.

1 In the worksheet, click cell A1 and drag to cell P1. In the Home tab in the Alignment group, click Merge and Center.

2 In the Styles group, click Cell Styles to displays the Cell Styles menu.

3 Select Heading 1. Excel changes the font size and style to Heading 1 and adds a line under the row.

Adjusting cell width and increasing font size

In this exercise, you’ll adjust the width of a row of cells to allow the text to fit more comfortably within the cells.

1 Place the cursor to the right of row H, and move the cursor over the border until the cursor changes to a cross with arrows pointing right and left. Click and drag the border line until the words Jan-Jun Total fit comfortably within the cell, and then release the mouse button.

2 Repeat step 1 for row P with the words Jul-Dec Total.

3 Click cell H2; press and hold Ctrl, and then click cell P2. Excel selects both cells.

4 In the Font group, click Increase Font Size () twice to increases the font size to 14 points.

5 Select File > Save.

Copying and pasting to a range of cells

You can easily copy a cell to a range of cells.

1 Click cell B7 and type 25. Place the cursor over the bottom-right corner of the cell, and the cursor changes to a cross (+). Click and drag across the row, all the way through cell G7, and then release the mouse button. Excel copies the number 25 across the range of cells.

2 Click cell J7 and type 30. Place the cursor over the bottom-right corner of the cell, and the cursor changes to a cross (+). Click and drag across the row, all the way through cell O7, and then release the mouse button. Excel copies the number 30 across the range of cells.

3 Click anywhere outside your current selection to de-select.

4 Click File > Save.

Adding a column of numbers

You can add a column of numbers using the AutoSum function. In the following steps, you will use the AutoSum function to add a range of cells.

1 Place the cursor in cell B8, and then click the Home tab.

2 In the Editing group, click the AutoSum button () and then press Enter. Excel displays the recreation total for January.

3 Repeat steps 1 and 2 for cells C8, D8, E8, F8, and G8.

4 Click cell H8; click AutoSum and press Enter. Excel adds the Recreation totals for January through June and displays the total of these amounts.

Adding a fill

You can make a range of cells stand out from the rest of a worksheet by applying a fill to the range.

1 Click and drag from cell B8 through cell G8, and then release the mouse button.

2 In the Font group, click the arrow next to the Fill Color icon () and Excel displays the Fill Color menu.

3 Select the third color in the top row; Tan Background 2.

4 Click File > Save, and then click File > Close.

Congratulations! You have started to see some of what Microsoft Excel 2010 has to offer with this quick tour of several significant features. Throughout the book, you will learn about these features in greater depth.

Self study

1 In the excel01_done document. Click cell J8, and perform the AutoSum function for the July column of numbers. Perform the AutoSum function for August through December, and calculate the July through December total.

2 In excel01_done document, select cells J8 through O8 and apply a yellow fill. Select cells B3 through G3 and increase the font size to 12.

Review

Questions

1 What are two ways to add data to a cell?

2 If you want a row to appear above row 4, which row would you select before you apply the Insert command?

3 If you want a column to appear between columns C and D, which column would you select before you apply the Insert command?

Answers

1 You can type directly into the cell or type the data into the formula bar.

2 You would select row 4, and then click Insert for a row to appear above row

3 You would select column D and then click Insert for a column to appear between columns C and D.

Congratulations! You have finished Lesson 1, “Microsoft Excel 2010 Jumpstart.”