Working with Numbers: Excel 97 - 2003

This set of lessons will teach you to use the most commonly used features in spreadsheet software. The directions are based on Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, or 2003. What you learn will help you with other spreadsheet programs, too. The illustration below shows how similar the major spreadsheet programs look.

Spreadsheet Programs look a lot alike:
Corel Quattro Pro, Lotus 1-2-3, Microsoft Excel

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What you need for this tutorial:

1. Basic Windows skills: The skills covered in the Working with Windows lessons- using a mouse to click, double-click, drag, & right click; parts of a window; moving, resizing, maximizing, & minimizing a window; scrolling; using the folder tree; creating and managing folders; naming files; opening a program; opening and saving files; using dialog boxes; using Help; printing.
    
2. Typing skills: You need to be familiar with the computer keyboard and have some skill in typing to do these exercises in a reasonable amount of time.
    
3. Word processing experience: The directions assume that you have at least some experience with creating documents with a word processor. You will need the basic skills: entering, deleting, and moving text; choosing a font, font size, font color; headers & footers, etc. Word processing is covered in Working with Words.
    
4. Resource files: Files that you need to create the documents in the projects are provided for download in a zip file and are also available online separately. Your instructor may have put these files on your computer already.

   To get these resource files, click on the following link to download a zipped set of files:

   resources-numbers.zip

   A download dialog will appear. Choose "Save this program to a disk" if you want to unzip later. Choose Open to let Windows or your own zipping software unzip the files. Choose a folder on your hard drive for the extracted files.

   To extract later, find the zipped file in an Explorer window and double-click it. Windows or your own zipping software will then unzip it.

   Duplicate files: Some of the resource files have duplicates in different Office file formats. Be careful to choose the file that the directions tells you to use.

   
    
5. Removable File Storage: USB drive or several floppy disks

   You need removable storage for a working copy and a backup copy of your documents.

   If you have a computer of your own, keep an up-to-date copy of your work on your home computer, too. Start good backup habits early and you won't kick yourself later when your files are lost or corrupted.

   USB drive: Recommended
   Called by many different names: flash drive, flash pen,  thumb drive,  key drive, jump drive, and mini-USB drive. A USB drive is an excellent choice for storing your class work. Your data is much safer on a USB drive than on a floppy disk.

   Before you buy:
   Check the following for both the classroom computer AND your home computer-
    

   • Computer does have USB ports.
   • You are allowed to use one of the USB ports.
   • You can physically get to the USB port.
     Some are on the the back of the computer case.
   • Operating system will recognize a USB drive.
     Windows 2000, XP, and Me will automatically recognize your USB drive. For Win95 and Win98, you must install drivers.
   • Physical arrangement of USB ports - Are they side by side? one above the other?
     Some USB drives are wider or thicker than others and may not fit all port arrangements, especially if a neighboring USB port has something plugged into it. Many drives come with a short extension cable.

   If you do not have a computer at home, consider buying 2 USB drives so that you can use one to keep a backup copy of your work. Don't lose them both at the same time!

   Floppy disks: Cheaper; Not as reliable
   You will need at least   two blank 3½" floppy disks at a time to store the documents you create. One you will use to save your documents as you work and on the other you will make a backup copy of the first disk. Keep a third blank floppy on hand as a spare in case of floppy disasters.

   You'll need more than 2 floppy disks if you don't delete any of the documents you create.  After you have put more than one document on the floppy, keep that spare blank floppy disk handy. It is no fun at all to do a lot of work and then find that the changed file won't fit on the disk!

   Floppy disks are cheap and handy but it is easy to lose the data on them from magnetic damage and physical damage when you are carrying them around all day. Be careful and have several backup copies.

   More on caring for floppy disks and caring for data

   How to handle a full disk

   The exercises often build on documents you have already created. Do not delete your exercises until you have finished all the projects.
    

6. Spreadsheet Software: To create spreadsheets you use a spreadsheet program like MS Excel, Corel Quattro Pro, or Lotus 123. All spreadsheet programs have some basic similarities. They vary considerably in what special features they include, just as word processors do. If you are not using Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003, some of the directions for the projects and exercises will not work for you. In that case, use your software's Help files to find out if there is an equivalent method or tool. Even Excel 95, which is much more like Excel 97 than Word 95 is like Word 97, does not handle everything quite like Excel 97 does. The differences in Excel 2000/2002/2003 are mostly in the interface changes that are part of all Office 2000 and Office XP applications.

Icons

A footprint marks the hands-on topics, where you are to follow Step-by-Step directions.

marks a tip - something you might find useful to know.

marks a warning about possible problems.