02.Sheet Basics

Create a new spreadsheet

From Sheets homepage: Click Here

From Google Drive: Click New > Google Sheets.

Import and convert old spreadsheets to Sheets

If you have an existing spreadsheet you created in another program, you can easily import and convert it to Sheets.

• 1. Go to Drive.

  2. Click New > File Upload. Then, choose the old spreadsheet from your computer. Supported files include .xls, .xlsx, .xlt, .ods, .csv, .tsv, .txt, and .tab.

  3. Right-click the spreadsheet you want to convert.

  4. Select Open with and choose Google Sheets.

Converting your spreadsheet from another program creates a copy of your original file in Sheets format. You can then edit it in your browser like any other Sheet.

Note: You can also edit Microsoft® Excel® documents directly, without converting them to Sheets.

Have an Excel spreadsheet? You can edit Excel spreadsheets directly from Sheets, without having to convert them.

Customize formats and fonts

Use the menus and toolbar to format the selected cells in your spreadsheet.

Work with rows and columns

Add rows and columns: Select a cell. Then, on the menu bar, click Insert and choose where to add the row or column next to that cell.

Delete or hide rows and columns: Right-click the row number or column letter and select Delete or Hide.

Move rows and columns: Click the row number or column letter to select it. Then, drag it to a new location.

Freeze header rows and columns: Freeze rows and columns to keep some of your data in the same place as you scroll through the rest of your spreadsheet. On the menu bar, click View. Then, choose an option under Freeze rows orFreeze columns.

Share with your team

To share a file you own or can edit:

• 1. Open the file you want to share.

  2. Click Share.

  3. Enter the email addresses or Google Groups you want to share with.

  4. Choose what kind of access you want to grant people:

• 1. Click Send.

Everyone you shared with will receive an email with a link to the spreadsheet.

Add comments and replies

If people aren’t always available to collaborate in real time, they can leave feedback and questions for team members to look at later.

• 1. Select a cell.

  2. In the toolbar, click .

  3. Add your notes and click Comment.

If a comment is important for a specific collaborator to see, enter + followed by their address. They’ll get an email with your comment, along with a link to the spreadsheet. They can then reply to your comments to answer questions or start a discussion.

When you’re done with a comment, click Resolve.

Download versions in other formats

To download your spreadsheet so it can be opened by other programs, click File> Download as and choose one of the following formats:

• • Microsoft Excel (.xlsx)

  • OpenDocument format (.odt)

  • Adobe® PDF document (.pdf)

  • Comma-separated values (.csv)

  • Tab-separated values (.tsv)

  • Web page (.zip)

Make a copy in Sheets

Copying a spreadsheet is useful for creating templates. For example, if you write a lot of project plans, make copies of one plan. Then, update each copy for a new project without having to format it again.

To make a copy of your spreadsheet, click File > Make a copy. You can rename the copy and optionally share it with the same collaborators.

Email a copy as attachment

If you need to collaborate with someone on your document in your old program or format, such as Excel or PDF, you can email it as an attachment.

• 1. Click File > Email as attachment.

  2. Select a format.

  3. Enter the email addresses or Groups you want to send copies to.

  4. (Optional) Enter a message.

  5. Click Send.

Note: This sends a copy of the spreadsheet instead of sharing the original, so you won’t be able to use Sheets’ collaboration tools.