What is an Excel Worksheet and How to Use It

Microsoft Excel Worksheet Overview

A worksheet is comprised of millions of cells arranged in a row / column grid configuration. Columns are labeled with alphabetical letters while rows are numbered. These headers can be seen on the left side of the worksheet and the top of the worksheet.

A cell on a worksheet is identified by its column / row position like A1, just use the row / column headers to locate the cell. The job of a cell is to store typed data. It can also store a formula that performs a calculation.

The worksheet has the basic ability to:

Store massive amounts of data
Perform algebraic calculations with formulas
Run worksheet functions that perform complex calculations
Analyze data
Display embedded charts
Display drawing shapes, pictures, and other embedded objects
Link with external data like databases, text files, and other workbooks

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The worksheet above contains a view of some its most important elements and functionality. Notice the tab at the bottom that says Sheet1, you click on a tab to view a worksheet. In Excel, a user learns to combine these elements together to form a solution. The trick is to know how to combine them and have them operate as one. We know the tricks.

How to type in and edit an Excel worksheet cell.

To type in an empty Excel worksheet cell, you click on the desired cell then you type. This will enter the contents in the cell. You always press Enter which is a very important habit to develop as it will help you type formulas on a worksheet later.

To edit the contents of a cell, you double-click on the cell and it will go into Edit mode, You can also click on the cell and press the F2 function key. You can then click in the cell, Backspace, Arrow Key... just like Word and edit the contents. When done press Enter.

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The example above demonstrates how to type information in a worksheet cell and how to edit a worksheet cell. Always remember to press the Enter key when completed.

What can the Excel worksheet do?

The Microsoft Excel worksheet is a very versatile tool that can perform many additional tasks to the ones stated above including:

Organizing and storing massive amounts of data on a worksheet like a database
Formulas that perform basic algebraic operations as well as logical operations
Array Formulas that can analyze massive amounts of worksheet data and perform advanced logic
Worksheet functions that perform automated tasks on massive amounts of data that simple formulas cannot do
Data validation that is used to protect against invalid data entry in cells, allows advanced forms to be constructed
Conditional formatting that is used to color cells based on logic
Excel tables that organize and adapt to resizing worksheet data
Dashboard creation using ActiveX controls, shapes, pictures, charts, Excel tables, and pivot tables
Power Query that can fuse, clean, and edit data from multiple data sources (called shaping data)
PivotTables and Power Pivot that can be used to rapidly organize, analyze, and display worksheet data
Grouping outlines that can group, hide, and display data
Built-in programming language called Visual Basic for Applications (VBA, Macros) that can be used to automate Excel's features and develop time saving tools

By using Microsoft Excel to create tools, company funds and time are not invested in developing software tools from the "ground up" in computer languages that take large staffs to maintain.

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In the example above, PivotTables, Power Query, Conditional Formatting, Data Validation, array formulas, Excel Tables , and logic formulas are pictured. Combining these elements together is what enables high powered Excel tools to be constructed.

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