Page 1 of 2DAT5758, Excel: Introduction, Activity 1

MS Excel, Introduction

Note: in some steps, the "how to" is given in this style.

  1. Start Excel
  2. Hide Office Assistant if you prefer
  3. Discuss window content; refer to Handout 12.16
  4. Make different cells active; use mouse and keyboard, watch Name Box, row and column indicators
  5. In A1, enter Income
  6. A2: Expenses
  7. A3: Savings
  8. B1: 1143
  9. B2: 658
  10. B3: =B1-B2Enter = from the keyboard, click B1, enter - from keyboard, click B2, click the Enter button (green check mark on formula bar)
  11. Click Save on toolbar and save as personal1_<your initials>
  12. Note file extension, "xls". If it does not display on the title bar, use Windows Explorer; go to Tools > Folder Options > View to show file extensions for registered file types.
  13. Select cells A1:B3 Click in A1 and drag to B3
  14. Change font to Arial 12 Use drop down menus for Font and Font Size on formatting toolbar
  15. Select Rows1 and 2 Click and drag in row header where the row labels appear
  16. Right click in selection > Insert
  17. Discuss Insert Options smart tag button; click Format Same As Below
  18. A1: Personal Finances
  19. Save
  20. Insert two rows between Row 4 and Row 5; Format Same As Above
  21. A5: Income taxes
  22. Widen Column A to accommodate wider content of A1 and A5; double click the column header between A and B
  23. A6: Total Expensesedit the cell content in the formula bar
  24. Enter Personal Expenses in A4:
  25. Widen Column A if and when necessary
  26. D3: Tax Rate
  27. E3: 26%
  28. B5: =E3*B3
  29. Move 658 from B6 to B4 right click B6, click Cut; right click B4, click Paste
  30. Select B4:B6
  31. AutoSum Click Autosum button on toolbar
  32. Select B6; look at formula bar
  33. Select B3:B7
  34. Right click > Format CellsNumber tabNumber, Use 1000 separatorOK
  35. Edit B7 to =B3-B6
  36. Use Format Painter to format B6 to match B7
  37. Save
  38. Change B3 to 1234.56
  39. Note cells that change
  40. E3: 28.5%
  41. Note the display in E3 (might show as 29%)
  42. Note effect on B5:B7
  43. Select E3
  44. Right click > Format CellsNumber tabPercentageDecimals 1OK
  45. A10: Updated on
  46. B10: Enter today=s date, eg. 11/1
  47. Try changing the tax rate to see the effects
  48. Select A1:E1
  49. Right click > Format CellsAlignment tabHorizontalCenter Across Selection
  50. Font tabBold, 16 point, dark blueOK
  51. A2: Based on a two week period
  52. Center across A2:E2
  53. Select A1:E2
  54. Format selection with red border
  55. Select A7:B7
  56. Click Bold on toolbar
  57. Check format of B10 Use Number tab of Format Cells dialog
  58. Adjust font for consistency, if necessary
  59. Insert two rows above Row 3; clear formatting
  60. Increase height of new Row 3
  61. In B4: Doug
  62. In C4: <Your Name
  63. Select B4:C4
  64. Alignment center
  65. Your income = 1565.75; your personal expenses = 654.15
  66. Copy Total Expenses and Savings formulas
  67. Copy Income Taxes formula; correct with absolute cell reference
  68. Adjust formatting
  69. Save

by Doug Brandy, last update April 1, 2004