What is Excel?What is Excel? Excel is a spreadsheet application developed by Microsoft. Excel is a spreadsheet application developed by Microsoft. It creates spreadsheets, graphs, and does basic sorting.It creates spreadsheets, graphs, and does basic sorting. A spreadsheet is the computer equivalent of a paper ledger sheet. A spreadsheet is the computer equivalent of a paper ledger sheet.

It consists of a grid made from columns and rows. It is an It consists of a grid made from columns and rows. It is an environment that can make number manipulation easy and environment that can make number manipulation easy and somewhat painless. somewhat painless.

TerminologyTerminology To understand how to use excel you must first understand the terminology To understand how to use excel you must first understand the terminology

behind it. behind it.

Cell: defined as the space where a specified row and column intersect. Cell: defined as the space where a specified row and column intersect. A cell is assigned a name according to its COLUMN letter and ROW A cell is assigned a name according to its COLUMN letter and ROW number number

Column: defined as the vertical space that is going up and down the Column: defined as the vertical space that is going up and down the window. Letters are used to designate each COLUMN'S location. window. Letters are used to designate each COLUMN'S location.

Terminology ContinuedTerminology Continued– Row: is defined as the horizontal space that is going across the window. Row: is defined as the horizontal space that is going across the window.

Numbers are used to designate each ROW'S location. Numbers are used to designate each ROW'S location.

– Formulas/Functions: are entries that have an equation that calculates the Formulas/Functions: are entries that have an equation that calculates the value to display value to display

In this example, the solution was $252.61This was NOT typed into the keyboard. The formula that was typed into the spreadsheet was:=PMT(C4/12,C5,-C3)

Starting OutStarting Out Step 0: Before you’re able to create a chat, you must first create a Step 0: Before you’re able to create a chat, you must first create a

spreadsheet with proper data values. spreadsheet with proper data values. As an example, we’ll be demonstrating how to create a line As an example, we’ll be demonstrating how to create a line

graph. Below is our data set for the chart.graph. Below is our data set for the chart.

Creating Your ChartCreating Your Chart Step 1: Highlight the data that you want to be in your chart. This Step 1: Highlight the data that you want to be in your chart. This

includes the data values and labels as well. To highlight rows and includes the data values and labels as well. To highlight rows and columns that are not next to each other simply hold control columns that are not next to each other simply hold control (CTRL) and drag the rows or columns you need.(CTRL) and drag the rows or columns you need.

In this example you simply hold CTRL and click the top column letters to select the entire two columns

Creating Your ChartCreating Your Chart Step 2: Once your data is highlighted you can either go to Insert Step 2: Once your data is highlighted you can either go to Insert

Chart from the menu Chart from the menu

Or you can simply click the Insert Chart icon on the toolbarOr you can simply click the Insert Chart icon on the toolbar

Make the Chart!Make the Chart! Step 3: Once you’ve clicked insert chart a chart wizard will pop Step 3: Once you’ve clicked insert chart a chart wizard will pop

up. It is here that you’ll select which type of chart you wish to up. It is here that you’ll select which type of chart you wish to create. For our example, we’ll be creating a line chart. So we create. For our example, we’ll be creating a line chart. So we select the select the LINELINE under the chart type menu and then we select under the chart type menu and then we select the style we want under the chart sub-type then click next.the style we want under the chart sub-type then click next.

Setting Up Your ChartSetting Up Your Chart Step 4: The next screen you’ll see shows you where your date Step 4: The next screen you’ll see shows you where your date

range is so far. Meaning what cells your chart incorporates. By range is so far. Meaning what cells your chart incorporates. By selecting either rows or columns you determine which of your selecting either rows or columns you determine which of your highlighted data represents the x-axis (the horizontal highlighted data represents the x-axis (the horizontal representation). In our case we want the dates to be the x-axis.representation). In our case we want the dates to be the x-axis.

This shows your date range

This determines what highlighted data represents your x-axis

Labeling Your ChartLabeling Your Chart Step 5: Once you click next from the previous step, the wizard Step 5: Once you click next from the previous step, the wizard

takes you where you can name your chart and where you can takes you where you can name your chart and where you can label the x-axis and y-axis to show what they represent. It’s good label the x-axis and y-axis to show what they represent. It’s good practice to label all that you can so that those reading your graph practice to label all that you can so that those reading your graph knows what you’re trying to represent.knows what you’re trying to represent.

Chart title

X-Axis Label: Date

Y-Axis Label: Return (by %)

Where’s It Going?Where’s It Going? Step 6: The final step after you click next is to choose where you Step 6: The final step after you click next is to choose where you

want your chart created. You can either create it as a new sheet want your chart created. You can either create it as a new sheet or you can create it as an object inside the spreadsheet itself. It or you can create it as an object inside the spreadsheet itself. It normally looks better on its own and you’ll only really want to use normally looks better on its own and you’ll only really want to use it as an object within the spread sheet if you want the reader to it as an object within the spread sheet if you want the reader to see the raw data values along with your chart.see the raw data values along with your chart.

We’re going to create it as both just so you can see the difference We’re going to create it as both just so you can see the difference between the two.between the two.

The Final Product!The Final Product! Once you click finish your chart will be displayed. As a new sheet Once you click finish your chart will be displayed. As a new sheet

it’ll look like this:it’ll look like this:

As an object in the spreadsheet itself it’ll look like this:As an object in the spreadsheet itself it’ll look like this:Data

Chart