Microsoft Excel basics

In Excel, each spreadsheet file is called a “workbook.”

Just as an internet browser lets you open multiple tabs in a single browser window, Excel lets you create multiple tabs (which Excel calls “worksheets”) in a single Excel workbook.

On this Help Site, I will use the terms “spreadsheet” and “tab,” but you may find it helpful to think of Excel documents as digital books containing one or more sheets of information.

The TEA Income and Expenses spreadsheet consists of four tabs:

1.       Quick start & data validation

2.       Income

3.       Expenses

4.       Summaries

If you would like a refresher on Excel lingo, the Windows Central website has a handy guide to commonly used Excel terms.

You will notice that some columns in the TEA Income and Expenses spreadsheet are “locked” – i.e., you will not be able to add, remove, or change the contents of the cells in these columns.

This is because I have used formulas in these cells so that they are automatically filled and updated when you add data elsewhere. Because these cells are locked, it is impossible to accidentally click inside one of them and delete or alter the formula.

If you would like to alter a formula or enter different data in a locked cell, please Contact Me to discuss customization options.

Whenever you want to focus on a few columns at a time without being distracted by the rest, you can “hide” the other columns from view and then “unhide” them whenever you need to see them again.

I've created a video that demonstrates how to hide and unhide columns in Excel.

You may want to “freeze” one or several rows or columns in your spreadsheet so that you can always see them on your screen even if you scroll down or to the right.

I’ve created a video that demonstrates how to freeze and unfreeze columns in Excel.