Creating an Excel XP Spreadsheet

using Windows 98/2000/Me/XP

 Created: 27 May 2002

Starting Excel XP

In the following exercises you will learn some of the necessary steps to create a spreadsheet using Microsoft Excel XP for Windows 98, 2000, Me, and XP. You will learn not only how to type various items into the spreadsheet, but also how to copy columns, widen columns, fill columns, add, subtract, multiply, divide, do graphics and a variety of other “things.”

To begin, load the spreadsheet by quickly clicking twice on the Excel XP Windows Icon in the Windows Screen.  If you do not see an Excel Icon, click-on the Start Button in the lower left corner of the screen, move the cursor up to Programs, and then move to Microsoft Excel and click-on it.

A spreadsheet is a “number manipulator.”  To make the manipulation of numbers easier all spreadsheets are organized into rows and columns.  Your initial spreadsheet will look something like the one below:

Notice that the “main” part of the spreadsheet is composed of Rows (Labeled 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.) and Columns (Labeled A, B, C, D, etc.).  There are a lot of rows and columns in a spreadsheet.  The “intersection” of each row and column is called a cell.  In the image above the cursor is on the “home” cell – A1.  Notice Row 1 and Column A are “bold.” This indicates what is called the “address of the cell.  Notice right above cell A1, that A1 is displayed in a small box called the Name Box. Whenever you “click” on a cell the address of that cell will be shown in the Name Box. 

Moving Around the Spreadsheet