Excel is a common program that everyone should be able to use to some extent. It is a remarkable tool but it only does you good if you know how to use it. Here are 5 things that everyone should be able to do in Excel. If you don't know how to do these things then you might just want to take the time to learn.
Input Information
This is the most basic skill that you need to use an Excel spreadsheet. You should be able to effortlessly input text and numbers into Excel cells. You should know how to move from one cell to the next to input information into each cell and how to go back to make any necessary changes to information you have already entered. By inputting information into Excel you can organize it so that it is easier to understand at a glance.
Complete Mathematical Calculations
Another thing that you should know how to do is how to get Excel to complete your mathematical calculations for you. You can set up your Excel spreadsheet in such a way that all you have to do is enter in the first few numbers of an equation and then Excel can instantly solve that equation and put the answer in the next cell. This is something you should definitely learn to do as it can save you from having to make calculations one at a time on your own.
Use Excel Functions
There are a number of Excel functions that you may find useful as well. If you know how to do it, you can use Excel to come up with all sorts of information. You can find the highest and lowest figures in a given list and you can have Excel count the number of items in any given list. If your information has to be filled in logically in a series then there is a good chance that you can get Excel to do the work for you. For instance, Excel can help you out by supplying a complete list of days, months, or years.
Create A Chart
One of Excel's strengths is helping you to turn your information into charts that give you a visual representation of your information. This can make it easier for you to take a quick look at your information or to present it to others. You can choose a number of different charts too. You could do a column, pie, line, bar, area, or scatter chart. You should be able to create any one of these.
Change The Style
Finally, you should be able to change the style of any chart that you create. Altering the color and format of a chart that you make can make it more effective and more accessible to the casual observer. Excel offers you a number of styles to choose from so you do not have to do all the work yourself but you should be able to modify the chart until it meets your standards.
Tom Rheinecker writes posts on where to get a
master in computer science.
