Making Decisions with Excel

Taking a very simple view, Excel is a tool that allows you to enter quantitative data into an electronic spreadsheet to apply one or many mathematical computations. These computations ultimately convert that quantitative data into information. The information produced in Excel can be used to make decisions in both professional and personal contexts. For example, employees can use Excel to determine how much inventory to buy for a clothing retailer, how much medication to administer to a patient, or how much money to spend to stay within a budget. With respect to personal decisions, you can use Excel to determine how much money you can spend on a house, how much you can spend on car lease payments, or how much you need to save to reach your retirement goals. We will demonstrate how you can use Excel to make these decisions and many more throughout this text.

Figure 1.1 "Example of an Excel Worksheet with Embedded Chart" shows a completed Excel worksheet that will be constructed in this chapter. The information shown in this worksheet is top-line sales data for a hypothetical merchandise retail company. The worksheet data can help this retailer determine the number of salespeople needed for each month, how much inventory is needed to satisfy sales, and what types of products should be purchased. Notice that the embedded chart makes it very easy to see which months have the highest unit sales.

Starting Excel

The following steps will guide you in starting the Excel application. Note that these steps along with Figure 1.2 "Start Menu" relate to the Windows 7 operating system, which is very similar to the Windows Vista operating system.

1. Click the Start button on the lower left corner of your computer screen.
2. Click the All Programs arrow at the bottom left of the Start menu.
3. Click the Microsoft Office folder on the Start menu. This will open the list of Microsoft Office applications.
4. Click the Microsoft Excel 2010 option. This will start the Excel application.

The Excel Workbook

Once Excel is started, a blank workbook will open on your screen. A workbookAn Excel file that contains one or more worksheets. is an Excel file that contains one or more worksheetsMay also be referred to as a spreadsheet and contains rectangles called cells for entering numeric and nonnumeric data. (sometimes referred to as spreadsheets). Excel will assign a file name to the workbook, such as Book1, Book2, Book3, and so on, depending on how many new workbooks are opened. Figure 1.3 "Blank Workbook" shows a blank workbook after starting Excel.

Your workbook should already be maximized (or shown at full size) once Excel is started, as shown in Figure 1.3 "Blank Workbook". However, if your screen looks like Figure 1.4 "Restored Worksheet" after starting Excel, you should click the Maximize button, as shown in the figure.

Navigating Worksheets

Data are entered and managed in an Excel worksheet. The worksheet contains several rectangles called cells for entering numeric and nonnumeric data. Each cellA specific location on a worksheet where data are entered and stored. in an Excel worksheet contains an address, which is defined by a column letter followed by a row number. For example, the cell that is currently activated in Figure 1.4 "Restored Worksheet" is A1. This would be referred to as cell locationA column letter followed by a row number used to identify specific cells on a worksheet. A1 or cell referenceWhen cell locations are used in formulas, Excel will reference the data that is entered into the cell. The cell reference is the cell location address. A1. The following steps explain how you can navigate in an Excel worksheet:

1. Place your mouse pointer over cell D5 and left click.

2. Check to make sure column letter D and row number 5 are highlighted in orange, as shown in Figure 1.5 "Activating a Cell Location".

   Figure 1.5 Activating a Cell Location

   
3. Move the mouse pointer to cell A1.
4. Click and hold the left mouse button and drag the mouse pointer back to cell D5.

5. Release the left mouse button. You should see several cells highlighted, as shown in Figure 1.6 "Highlighting a Range of Cells". This is referred to as a cell rangeAny group of contiguous cell locations; a cell range is noted as two cell locations separated by a colon. and is documented as follows: A1:D5. Any two cell locations separated by a colon are known as a cell range. The first cell is the top left corner of the range, and the second cell is the lower right corner of the range.

   Figure 1.6 Highlighting a Range of Cells

   
6. Click the Sheet3 worksheet tab at the bottom of the worksheet. This is how you open a worksheet within a workbook.
7. Click the Sheet1 worksheet tab at the bottom of the worksheet to return to the worksheet shown in Figure 1.6 "Highlighting a Range of Cells".

The Excel Ribbon

Excel’s features and commands are found in the RibbonThe upper area of the Excel screen that contains several tabs running across the top. Each tab provides access to a different set of Excel commands., which is the upper area of the Excel screen that contains several tabs running across the top. Each tab provides access to a different set of Excel commands. Figure 1.7 "Ribbon for Excel" shows the commands available in the Home tab of the Ribbon. Table 1.1 "Command Overview for Each Tab of the Ribbon" provides an overview of the commands that are found in each tab of the Ribbon.

The Ribbon shown in Figure 1.7 "Ribbon for Excel" is full, or maximized. The benefit of having a full Ribbon is that the commands are always visible while you are developing a worksheet. However, depending on the screen dimensions of your computer, you may find that the Ribbon takes up too much vertical space on your worksheet. If this is the case, you can minimize the Ribbon by clicking the button shown in Figure 1.7 "Ribbon for Excel". When minimized, the Ribbon will show only the tabs and not the command buttons. When you click on a tab, the command buttons will appear until you select a command or click anywhere on your worksheet.

Quick Access Toolbar and Right-Click Menu

The Quick Access ToolbarLocated at the upper-left side of the Excel screen above the Ribbon, this toolbar provides access to the most frequently used commands, such as Save and Undo. is found at the upper left side of the Excel screen above the Ribbon, as shown in Figure 1.3 "Blank Workbook". This area provides access to the most frequently used commands, such as Save and Undo. You also can customize the Quick Access Toolbar by adding commands that you use on a regular basis. By placing these commands in the Quick Access Toolbar, you do not have to navigate through the Ribbon to find them. To customize the Quick Access Toolbar, click the down arrow as shown in Figure 1.8 "Customizing the Quick Access Toolbar". This will open a menu of commands that you can add to the Quick Access Toolbar. If you do not see the command you are looking for on the list, select the More Commands option.

In addition to the Ribbon and Quick Access Toolbar, you can also access commands by right clicking anywhere on the worksheet. Figure 1.9 "Right-Click Menu" shows an example of the commands available in the right-click menu.

The File Tab

If you have used Office 2007, you may have noticed that the Office button has disappeared in the 2010 version. It has been replaced with the File tab on the far left side of the Ribbon. The File tab is also known as the Backstage viewThis view, which is opened through the File tab on the Ribbon, contains a variety of features and commands related to the workbook that is currently open. of the workbook. It contains a variety of features and commands related to the workbook that is currently open, new workbooks, or workbooks stored in other locations on your computer or network. Figure 1.10 "File Tab or Backstage View of a Workbook" shows the options available in the File tab or Backstage view. To leave the Backstage view and return to the worksheet, click any tab on the Ribbon or click the image of the worksheet on the right side of the window. You must click the Info button (highlighted in green in Figure 1.10 "File Tab or Backstage View of a Workbook") to see the image of your worksheet on the right side of the window.

Included in the File tab are the default settings for the Excel application that can be accessed and modified by clicking the Options button. Figure 1.11 "Excel Options Window" shows the Excel Options window, which gives you access to settings such as the default font style, font size, and the number of worksheets that appear in new workbooks.

Saving Workbooks (Save As)

Once you create a new workbook, you will need to change the file name and choose a location on your computer or network to save it. The following steps explain how to save a new workbook and assign it a file name. It is important to remember where you save this workbook on your computer or network as you will be using this file in the Section 1.2 "Entering, Editing, and Managing Data" to construct the workbook shown in Figure 1.1 "Example of an Excel Worksheet with Embedded Chart".

1. If you have not done so already, start Excel. A blank workbook should appear on your screen. Check to make sure the workbook is maximized (see Figure 1.4 "Restored Worksheet").
2. Click the File tab.
3. Click the Save As button in the upper left side of the Backstage view window, as shown in Figure 1.10 "File Tab or Backstage View of a Workbook". This will open the Save As dialog box.
4. Click in the File Name box at the bottom of the Save As dialog box.
5. Use the BACKSPACE key to remove the current file name of the workbook.
6. Type the file name: Excel Objective 1.0.
7. Click the Desktop button on the left side of the Save As dialog box if you wish to save this file on your desktop. If you want to save this workbook in a different location on your computer or network, double click the Computer option, as shown in Figure 1.12 "Save As Dialog Box", and select your preferred location.
8. Click the Save button on the lower right side of the Save As dialog box.

Excel 97-2003 File Type

If you are working with someone who is using a version of Microsoft Office that is older than Office 2007, you will have to save your workbook under the Excel 97-2003 Workbook format. A person who is running Office 2003 will not be able to open workbooks that are saved under the Office 2010 or Office 2007 file types. You can save a workbook as an Excel 97-2003 file type by clicking the down arrow next to the “Save as type” box in the Save As dialog box (see Figure 1.12 "Save As Dialog Box").

You can also change the file type of your workbook by using the File tab on the Ribbon. The following steps explain this method:

1. Open the workbook you wish to convert to the Excel 97-2003 file type.
2. Click the File tab on the Ribbon.
3. Click the Save & Send button on the left side of the Backstage view.
4. Click the Change File Type button.
5. Double click the Excel 97-2003 Workbook option on the right side of the Backstage view. This will open up the Save As dialog box and set the file type box to Excel 97-2003 Workbook (see Figure 1.13 "Changing the File Type of a Workbook").
6. Check to make sure the Save As dialog box is set to the location where you want to save your workbook.
7. Click the Save button at the bottom of the Save As dialog box.

When you convert an existing workbook created in Office 2010 to the Excel 97-2003 file type, you may not notice any changes on the workbook itself. If you are using a feature or format that is not compatible with Office 97-2003, a warning will appear upon saving the file. You may want to remove these features and formats before sending the workbook to a person who is running an older version of Office. When you open a file that is saved in the Excel 97-2003 format, you will see the Compatibility Mode indicator next to the workbook name, as shown in Figure 1.14 "Workbook That Has Been Saved in Excel 97-2003 Format".

The Status Bar

The Status BarLocated below the worksheet tabs on the Excel screen, it displays a variety of information, such as the status of certain keys on your keyboard (e.g., CAPS LOCK), the available views for a workbook, the magnification of the screen, or mathematical functions that can be performed when data are highlighted on a worksheet. is located below the worksheet tabs on the Excel screen (see Figure 1.15 "Customizing the Status Bar"). It displays a variety of information, such as the status of certain keys on your keyboard (e.g., CAPS LOCK), the available views for a workbook, the magnification of the screen, and mathematical functions that can be performed when data are highlighted on a worksheet. You can customize the Status Bar as follows:

1. Place the mouse pointer over any area of the Status Bar and right click (see Figure 1.15 "Customizing the Status Bar").
2. Select the Caps Lock option from the menu (see Figure 1.15 "Customizing the Status Bar").
3. Press the CAPS LOCK key on your keyboard. You will see the Caps Lock indicator on the lower right side of the Status Bar.
4. Press the CAPS LOCK key again. The indicator on the Status Bar goes away.

Excel Help

The Help feature provides extensive information about the Excel application. Although some of this information may be stored on your computer, the Help window will automatically connect to the Internet, if you have a live connection, to provide you with resources that can answer most of your questions. You can open the Excel Help window by clicking the question mark in the upper right corner of the screen (see Figure 1.3 "Blank Workbook"). Here you can search for specific topics or type a question in the upper-left side of the window, as shown in Figure 1.16 "Excel Help Window".