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14.2: Identifying Excel Windows Components

  • Page ID
    13670
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    Like all Microsoft Office Documents, Microsoft Excel has a common window organizational structure. Each excel document is called a “workbook”. Inside each workbook can be multiple “worksheets” that contain data. Each point of data has a cell address. Each cell address has a letter and a number associated with it. For example, the cell address in the first row and column (top left corner) is “A1”. The cell to the right of “A1” is “B1”. The cell below “A1” is “A2”. This naming scheme continues for the entire document.

    For a visual of Microsoft Excel, please launch the program in Microsoft Windows, and then launch a new worksheet by selecting the “File” Tab, then “New Worksheet”. The worksheet pictured below should be displayed on your computer.

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    Key Excel Components

    Common Excel components are listed below.

    Name Box: The name box displays the active cell address that is selected. The selected cell in the Name box is called the “active cell”. In the picture provided, the Name Box is “A1”.

    Formula Bar: The Formula Bar is to the right of Name Box. It allows you to enter information into the worksheet or make edits to data in the worksheet.

    Worksheet Window: The Worksheet Window consists of all of the cells in the worksheet. Cells are classified by lettered columns, and numbered rows. Every cell in the worksheet has a unique address.

    Sheet Tabs & Sheet Tab Scrolling buttons: As written previously, each workbook is composed of worksheets. Most Excel users place different, but related information in multiple worksheets in the same workbook. For example, you may maintain an Excel workbook that contains your department budgets, and each worksheet represents a different year. You can browse between worksheets by using the Sheet Tab Scrolling buttons. The active sheet appears visually to be at different depths on the document as other sheets.

    Status Bar: The Status bar displays you various information about the cell or a calculation in place. It when selecting and highlighting multiple cells, it may provide information about the sum of the components, or an average, depending on the information inside the cells.

    Range: When selecting multiple cells with a mouse and dragging the cursor to another cell address, the selected cells are referred to a range. A range of cells is usually selected to perform a calculation.


    This page titled 14.2: Identifying Excel Windows Components is shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Nick Heisserer (Minnesota State Opendora) .

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