A quick peek to MS Excel for the Working Class

1. Basic Excel Skills for Workplace Efficiency
1. Navigating Excel: Learn to move around Excel efficiently using arrow keys, the mouse, and
keyboard shortcuts. Use the scroll bars to navigate through large spreadsheets.
- The Excel Window parts
- Movement around excel worksheets
- Open and close excel
- Create and Save a New Excel workbook
-
2. Data Entry and Editing: Understand how to enter data into cells, edit existing data, and use
keyboard shortcuts like F2 for editing. Excel also allows you to cut, copy, and paste data.
- The keyboard and Excel
- Data types in Excel
3. Basic Formulas: Familiarize yourself with basic Excel functions like SUM, AVERAGE, MAX, and
MIN. These functions help you perform calculations on your data.
4. Cell Formatting: Learn how to format cells, including changing font styles, colours, and cell
borders. Proper formatting can make your data more presentable.
5. Number Formatting: Excel provides various number formats such as currency, percentage,
and date formats. Use these to display data correctly.
6. AutoFill: Use the AutoFill feature to quickly fill in a series of data, like dates or numbers, by
dragging the fill handle.
7. Sorting and Filtering: Arrange your data in a logical order by sorting columns. Filter data to
display only the information you need for analysis.
8. Data Validation: Apply data validation rules to ensure data entered into cells meets specific
criteria, reducing errors.
9. Conditional Formatting: Highlight cells based on certain conditions. This can be helpful for
data visualization and analysis.
10. Charts and Graphs: Create charts and graphs to visually represent your data. Excel offers
various chart types, including bar charts, pie charts, and line graphs.
11. Freeze Panes: Keep headers or specific rows/columns visible while scrolling through large
spreadsheets by using the Freeze Panes feature.
12. Basic Functions: Beyond simple arithmetic functions, learn more advanced functions like IF,
VLOOKUP, and CONCATENATE, which can be powerful tools for data manipulation.
13. Keyboard Shortcuts: Memorize common keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl+C (copy), Ctrl+V
(paste), Ctrl+S (save), and Ctrl+Z (undo). These can significantly speed up your work.
14. Protecting Worksheets: Password-protect sensitive data and lock cells to prevent accidental
changes.

2. 15. Printing: Understand how to set print areas, adjust page layout settings, and preview your
documents before printing.
16. Formula Auditing: Use tools like Trace Precedents and Trace Dependents to understand the
relationships between cells in complex formulas.
17. Data Analysis Tools: Explore Excel's data analysis tools, such as PivotTables and PivotCharts,
for in-depth data analysis and reporting.
18. Macros (Optional): For more advanced users, consider learning how to record and use
macros to automate repetitive tasks.
19. Collaboration: Understand how to share and collaborate on Excel files using cloud-based
services like Microsoft OneDrive or Google Sheets.
20. Keyboard Accessibility: If your job requires extensive Excel use, consider improving your
keyboard skills to minimize reliance on the mouse, which can boost your speed and accuracy.