Introduction to Excel: Basics
My first introduction to Excel was when I was building a research dataset. What’s toguh about building a table? You want me to do additional tasks using it? Sure, I can look it up and do it!
I kept adding functions I could perform on Excel yet never learned the basic skills so below are some basics that often get skipped:
1. Moving to the end of a continuous range
· CTRL + Arrow key: Moves to the end of a continuous range. This means if a cell is blank in a row or a column, this action would take you to the cell before the empty cell. Can help find empty cells or to get to the end of a table.
· To perform the same action using your mouse, click on a cell -> go to one of the sides until you see a four-sided arrow -> double click
2. Highlight a row/column:
· Keyboard Shortcut: CTRL + SHIFT + Arrow key
· Mouse shortcut: click on a cell -> press and hold shift key -> go to one of the sides until you see a four-sided arrow -> double click
3. Naming a Range:
· Select the range
Go to Formulas Tab -> Defined Names -> Define Name
· In the window that pops up, define the name and the scope. Scope means where would this range name be defined- do you need it for the entire workbook or is it applicable in just one tab. Click OK
· If you go to the Home tab, you would be able to see the named list from the drop-down menu
4. Calculations with Named Ranges: If you have numbers in a Names Ranged, you can also use Excel Functions without having to select the numbers. Eg: the range below was named “ABCD”. Type the name of the function -> Name of the range -> enter
5. Editing/deleting a named range: Go to Formula tab -> Defined Names -> Name Manager
· In the new window that opens, select the range you want to edit/delete.
Hope you find these useful!
