Google Sheets
Intro to Google Sheets
Jump to:
Creating a New Sheet
In Google Drive, select New > Google Sheets, then choose from "Blank spreadsheet" or "From a template."
Setting the Name
Enter the title of the spreadsheet in the title field.
Formatting and Common Formats
1. Currency/Money:
a. Select Cell(s), or click in the column letter
b. Choose Format > Number > Currency
2. Date/Time:
a. Select Cell(s), or click in the column letter
b. Choose Format > Number > Date/Time
3. Text Rotation/Diagonal Text for Column Headings:
a. Select Cell(s)
b. Choose Format > Text Rotation
Inserting Extra Rows/Columns
1. Click to highlight the row or column where you want to place an extra row or column (select more than one row/column to add multiple rows/columns).
2. Choose Insert > Rows or Insert > Columns
a. Choose "Insert (x) row(s) above/below"
b. Choose "Insert (x) column(s) left/right"
Alternating Row Colors
1. Choose Format > Alternating Colors
2. In the Alternating colors menu, choose the range of cells you would like to format as well as the style of formatting.
3. Click Done.
Freezing Columns/Rows
This is used to freeze a column or row so that when scrolling through the spreadsheet, the main items are still in view.
Choose View > Freeze, then select an option. If you would like to freeze more than two columns or rows, highlight the the last cell in the row/column you want to freeze.
Removing Duplicate Records
1. Highlight the rows from which you want to remove duplicate records.
2. Choose Data > Data cleanup > Remove duplicates
3. If your data has a header, check the box "Data has Header row"
4. Check the boxes for the columns you want to compare for duplicates.
Splitting Text to Columns
1. Highlight the cell containing the text that needs to be split.
2. Choose Data > Split text to columns.
3. Choose what separator to look for when splitting the text.
Formatting Borders
1. Highlight the range whose borders you want to format.
2. Choose the Borders icon on the toolbar.
3. Select the desired border style.
To put a border around a group of cells, highlight the group and choose the solid outline border (5th one in row 1).
Border colors and thickness can also be changed.
Creating a Dropdown List in a Column
1. Create a column heading to use and enter it in the column (ie. "Example")
2. Click on the + sign in the bottom left of the window to add a new tab and label it "Template:(Name of Column)" (ie. "Template:Example").
3. Enter your list of dropdown list items in this "Template" tab column.
4. On the main tab, highlight the cell where you want the dropdown list to be located, then choose Data > Data Validation.
5. In the Data validation menu, choose "List from a range" for Criteria.
6. In the blank space next to "List from a range," enter the range of cells containing the dropdown list items (you can also click on the cells icon to manually highlight the range selection).
7. When finished, click Save to create your dropdown list.
Inserting a Checkbox Inside a Cell
This allows you to set a cell's value to "true" or "false" and display it in the form of a checkbox.
1. Highlight the cells in which you want to insert checkboxes.
2. Choose Insert > Checkbox from the top menu.
Inserting a Chart
1. Highlight the data you want to include in your chart.
2. Choose Insert > Chart.
3. A chart will be generated in your spreadsheet.
4. In the Chart Editor menu, choose the chart type and other options.
5. Items can be edited (ie. title, labels) by clicking on them within the chart.
Inserting an Image Inside a Cell
Insert an Image Inside a Cell
1. Highlight the cell in which you want to place the image.
2. Choose Insert > Image > Insert image in cell or Insert > Image > Insert image over cells.
3. Select your image.
4. Adjust cell size to adjust image size.
About Functions
1. The most commonly used functions are SUM and COUNT.
2. Highlight the cell where you want the formula result to display.
3. Choose the Summation icon in the toolbar, or choose Insert > Function.
4. Click and drag to highlight the list of values to include in the calculation.
Adding Filters
1. To turn on column filters, highlight the header row.
2. Choose Data > Create a Filter.
3. A dropdown "funnel" will appear in each header cell. Click on the funnel to choose how to sort the data in that column.
Commenting
1. Click on the cell you would like to leave a comment on.
2. Choose Insert > Comment.
3. If you would like to direct the comment toward a particular user, type an "@" sign followed by their @jdragonmail.us email address to notify them.
