To open an Excel workbook

• Click start in the lower left corner of your Windows screen

• Click programs, and then Excel

• A blank workbook opens--each workbook has several worksheets.

Here is a picture of your toolbar:

On your blank workbook:

• Data can be entered in each cell

• Data can be bold, italic, different font color, and/or color filled (see example of labels in the spreadsheet below).

To Rename any worksheet

• Click on the tab at the bottom of the worksheet (see illustration below)

• Type the name desired.

• Example sheet 1 is renamed Sample 1 in the picture:

To make cells bigger

• Place your cursor between columns until you get a double headed arrow and drag to fit data.  

To highlight a area

• To highlight a whole column click on the top label of the column, example column A

• To highlight a whole row click on the number of the row.

Adding a formula

• Formulae go in the label line and they all start with an = sign. In the example to the right, the cell A4 is highlighted. The formula for A4, which adds the values of cells A1 through A3, is in the "fx" label bar, located below the toolbar.

• To see more kinds of formulae click here.

Adding pictures

• Under insert on your toolbar

• Click pictures  

• Add from file or from clip art.

To add charts, graphs, and pies

• Under insert 

• choose chart or use the chart wizard on your  toolbar

• Select what type of chart you desire

• Click finished