This section introduces you to the key interface elements and terms used in the application.
Book and sheets
–A book is your file in the application (for example, Report.xlsx). All data is stored in the book.
–A sheet is a single page within a book. Every book contains at least one sheet by default. Sheets are displayed as tabs at the bottom of the screen. You can add new sheets, rename them, or delete them.
Rows, columns, and cells
–Columns are vertical rows of cells. Column headers are labeled with letters (A, B, C...).
–Rows are horizontal rows of cells. Row headings are denoted by numbers (1, 2, 3...).
–Cell is the main element of the table, located at the intersection of a column and a row. It is in cells that you enter data, formulas and make calculations.
–The active cell is the currently selected cell. It is highlighted with a frame, and all input and editing operations are applied to it.
Addressing and references
–A cell's address uniquely identifies its location and is formed from a column and row header (e.g., C5). The default style used in the application is A1, where columns are labeled with letters and rows are labeled with numbers.
–The R1C1 reference style is an alternative addressing method where both columns and rows are labeled with numbers (for example, cell C5 would be labeled as R5C3).
–A cell range is a selected rectangular area of contiguous cells. A range is specified by the addresses of the top left and bottom right cells separated by a colon (e.g. A1:D10). Ranges are used for applying formulas, formatting, and analyzing data.
Formulas, functions, and calculations
–A formula is an expression that begins with an equal sign (=). Formulas are used to perform calculations with data in cells. They can contain:
•Operands: data elements for calculations. These can be constants (directly entered numbers, text, dates) or cell references and ranges (e.g. A1 or B2:B10).
•Operators: characters that define the type of operation (arithmetic: +, -, *, /; comparison: =, >, etc.).
–Function is a pre-created complex formula embedded in the application. Functions simplify complex calculations.
Pivot tables
–A pivot table is a powerful tool for summarizing, analyzing and presenting large amounts of data. It allows you to group information, summarize and find patterns without changing the original data.