Here is a demonstration presentation for you to download and follow along with the instructions (right-click and “Save link as”).
Launching Excel
Launching Excel opens the start screen.
On the right-hand side, you have navigation to access to create new documents, open existing documents, saving options, printing options, account options, and configuration settings.
The top menu allows you to create a new document or select from the template library.
Below this section, you have recently saved documents.
Understanding the Ribbon
The ribbon (or dashboard) for Excel contains all the tools you can use for spreadsheet creation:
At the top of the ribbon is a Quick Menu with shortcuts (save, undo, and redo are default).
Next are tabs. Tabs break the ribbon into different types of tool sets depending on what you want to do.
Each tab contains sections of common tools to help you create and manage the sheet. Notice the highlighted arrows in each section which lead to a drop-down menu.
Below the ribbon is information about your location within the sheet (Name Box) and Cell Contents.
At the bottom of the window, you will see other information to help you manage your sheet. Each Excel file can contain multiple sheets which are displayed as tabs located on the bottom left side and view mode, page break preview, and zoom on the left side.
Opening, Closing, & Creating Sheets
Opening Sheets
From here you can navigate to the folder and document you want to open.
1. Select File > Open (or Ctrl+O).
2. Choose the location path of your file (1)
3. Select your file from the list (2).
Closing Sheets
This will close the Excel sheet file – not the application.
1. Select File > Close.
Creating Sheets from Templates
Excel contains Templates (or preformatted spreadsheets) to help you create sheets quickly. If your computer is connected to the internet, you can also download more templates directly from Microsoft.
1. Select File > Open (or Ctrl+O).
2. Scroll through the available files from the template library.
3. Select your sheet by clicking on the thumbnail.
Saving Options
The first time you save your sheet you will need to 1. select a folder path and 2. create a file name. Excel will remember these settings and use them in the future.
1. Select File > Save (or Ctrl+S).
Saving As Options
Excel can save files in a variety of formats, including previous versions of Excel, CSV, PDF, Macintosh versions of Excel, and more.
The first time you save your sheet you will need to 1. select a folder path and 2. create a file name. PowerPoint will remember these settings and use them in the future.
1. Select File > Save As.
2. Choose folder path/ directory (location).
3. Create a file name.
4. Select the format you want the file stored in.
Printing Documents
Printing Excel sheets is like Word. From the Print Dashboard, select the printer you want to use, and configure any print settings you want to adjust.
There is a print preview window on the right to check the printer output. You can scroll through the sheets using the navigation at the bottom of the window or use the scroll bar on the right.
1. Select File > Print (or Ctrl+P).
2. Select either Printer Properties or Page Setup buttons to adjust settings.
3. Set the number of copies to print.
4. Select the Print button.
Printer Settings
Excel Page Setup settings are a little different from Word – you can add extra information to your print run.
1. Select File > Print (or Ctrl+P) Edit Page Setup button to access options.
2. Make your adjustments in the settings window.
3. Select OK to save the settings.
4. Select the Print button.
Page
Page setup includes page orientation, scaling, paper size, and print quality.
Margins
Margins control the white space around the edges of the sheet, and control the centering page (horizontally and vertically).
Header / Footer
Simple to Word, the Header / Footer options allow control over the contents of the header and footer areas.
Sheet
Excel spreadsheets can be massive and you don’t always want to print everything in your sheet. The Sheet / Page Setup options allow you to specify the print area, add gridlines, print quality, row and column headings, and print page order.