Everything About Excel

1. Learn About Excel
2. How To Learn Everything About Excel
3. Things To Learn On Excel
4. Learn Everything About Excel

A column chart is a graphic visualization of data using vertically placed rectangular bars (columns). Usually, each column represents a category, and all columns are drawn with a height proportional to the values they represent. The types of data column charts can display vary greatly, as the structure allows for using column charts pretty much with any type of data. Numeric, text, or even date data can be displayed on the horizontal axis, and this flexibility makes column charts a staple in dashboard applications. Excel, being the go-to software for all data tasks supports all kinds of bar and column charts with extensive customization options. Let's take a closer look!

Learn About Excel

Aug 28, 2020 As with everything else, often the simplest route is the best. If you want to prevent other people from changing your data, simply convert your spreadsheet to PDF and send out that. Converting Excel documents to a PDF file is simple and all current versions of Excel can do it without the need for additional software. Nov 11, 2019 In newer versions of Excel, each worksheet contains roughly a million rows and more than 16,000 columns, which necessitates an addressing scheme in order to keep track of where data is located. The horizontal rows are identified by numbers (1, 2, 3) and the vertical columns by letters of the alphabet (A, B, C). Spark your skills in Excel! Go from a blank worksheet to pivot tables in 36 minutes. Great for interview prep! Enter and edit Excel data. Format numbers, fonts and alignment. Make simple pivot tables and charts Create simple Excel formulas. Use Excel Functions IF and VLOOKUP Filter and sort lists of. Excel can help you do simple arithmetic like adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing any of your data. To add, use the + sign. To subtract, use the - sign. To multiply, use the. sign. To divide, use the / sign. To use exponents, use the ^ sign. Remember, all formulas in Excel must begin with an equal sign (=). Excel Tables are containers for your data. Imagine a house without any closets or cupboards to store your things, it would be chaos! Excel tables are like closets and cupboards for your data, they help to contain and organize data in your spreadsheets. In your house, you might put all your plates into one kitchen cupboard.

Sections

A column chart has 5 main sections:

• Plot Area: This is the area where the graphic representation (i.e. columns) is shown.
• Chart Title: As the name suggests, this is the title of the chart. Using a short but descriptive text is always a good practice.
• Vertical Axis: The axis that represents the measured values, also known as the y-axis.
• Horizontal Axis: The axis that contains the categories of data, also known as the x-axis. The data series can be grouped like shown in the sample chart above.
• Legend: The legend is an indicator that helps distinguish data series from each other.

Types

There are 3 types of column charts:

• Clustered: Each column for data series is clustered on the horizontal axis. This type is suitable to compare each individual value.
• Stacked: Data series rectangles are stacked on top of each other to form a single column for each category. The column heights are equal to the combined values of the categories. The stacked column charts are great for highlighting the differences between categories. However, it's difficult to compare the relative size of the rectangles against each other.
• 100% Stacked: You can choose a 100% stacked column chart to see the relative ratio of multiple items. All columns are set to 100% length. This type is best used for comparing the contribution of each item within a category. However, the actual values are omitted.

Feel free to download our sample workbook below.

To create a column chart in Excel, begin by selecting your data and include the data labels in your selection so that they can be recognized automatically. You can always change them later.

Next, go to the INSERT tab in the Ribbon, and click on the Column Chart icon to see the column chart types. Click on the chart type of your liking. We will be using ClusteredColumn in our example.

Clicking the corresponding icon will insert the default version of that chart. Now, let's take a look at customization options.

You can edit almost everything you see in a chart. Excel provides tons of options to personalize charts and make them fit nicely into any presentation. There are two ways to do this, by double-clicking the chart elements, or by right clicking them.

Double-Clicking

Double-clicking on any item will pop up the side panel, where you will find the options specific to the element you clicked. Keep in mind that once the side panel is open, you don't need to double-click any of the options there – this was just to bring up the menu! The side panel includes element specific options as well as generic ones like those for colors and effects.

Right-Click (Context) Menu

Right-clicking an element will display the contextual menu containing configuration settings. You can modify basic styling properties (like changing chart colors), delete specfic items, or activate the side panel for more options. To display the side panel, click the options that begin with 'Format' . For example, Format Data Series…

Chart Shortcut (Plus Button)

If you're using Excel 2013 or newer, you can use chart shortcuts to add/remove elements, apply predefined styles and color sets, and filter values with a few clicks.

Another useful feature is that you can now see the effects of your actions on the fly without actually applying them. For example, in the image below, we held the mouse over the Data Labels item and Excel displays the chart labels.

Ribbon (Chart Tools)

Whenever you activate a ‘special' object, Excel adds a new tab(s) to the Ribbon, and the same goes for charts. You can see chart specific tabs in a different column under the name CHART TOOLS. There are 2 tabs: DESIGN and FORMAT. The DESIGN tab allows adding new elements, applying different styles, modifying the data, and customizing the chart itself. The FORMAT tab, on the other hand, contains more generic options that are shared with other objects. Briefly, the chart tabs in the ribbon are the only menu where you can find all options in one place.

Customization Tips

Preset Layouts and Styles

Preset Layouts and Styles can help improve visuals of your charts, and streamline the process. You can find styling options in the DESIGN tab under CHART TOOLS, or clicking the brush icon in the Chart Shortcuts. Below are some examples:

Applying Quick Layout:

Changing colors:

Updating the Chart Style:

Changing chart type

You can change the type of your chart at any time from the Change Chart Type dialog. To change the type of your chart, click on the Change Chart Type item from the Right-Click (Context) Menu or DESIGN tab.

In the Change Chart Type dialog contains options for chart types and will also give you a quick preview. Select a chart type to continue.

Switch Row/Column

Excel usually assumes that horizontal labels are categories, and vertical labels are data series. If your data is structured the other way around, click the Switch Row/Column button in the DESIGN tab, when your chart is selected.

Move a chart to another worksheet

By default, charts are created in the worksheet with the underlying data. If you need to move your chart to a new sheet, or another existing sheet, you can use the Move Chart dialog. To open the Move Chart dialog, click Move Chart… under the DESIGN tab, or when you're in the chart right-click menu. Please keep in mind that you need to right-click an empty place on the chart area to see this option, as this option will not be available when you click a chart element.

In the Move Chart dialog, you have 2 options:

• New sheet: Select this option and enter a name to create a new sheet and place your chart there.
• Object in: Select this option and select an existing sheet from the dropdown to move your chart onto that sheet.

Whenever you activate a ‘special' object, Excel adds a new tab(s) to the Ribbon, and the same goes for charts. You can see chart specific tabs in a different column under the name CHART TOOLS. There are 2 tabs: DESIGN and FORMAT. The DESIGN tab allows adding new elements, applying different styles, modifying the data, and customizing the chart itself. The FORMAT tab, on the other hand, contains more generic options that are shared with other objects. Briefly, the chart tabs in the ribbon are the only menu where you can find all options in one place.

Customization Tips

Preset Layouts and Styles

Preset Layouts and Styles can help improve visuals of your charts, and streamline the process. You can find styling options in the DESIGN tab under CHART TOOLS, or clicking the brush icon in the Chart Shortcuts. Below are some examples:

Applying Quick Layout:

Changing colors:

Updating the Chart Style:

Changing chart type

You can change the type of your chart at any time from the Change Chart Type dialog. To change the type of your chart, click on the Change Chart Type item from the Right-Click (Context) Menu or DESIGN tab.

In the Change Chart Type dialog contains options for chart types and will also give you a quick preview. Select a chart type to continue.

Switch Row/Column

Excel usually assumes that horizontal labels are categories, and vertical labels are data series. If your data is structured the other way around, click the Switch Row/Column button in the DESIGN tab, when your chart is selected.

Move a chart to another worksheet

By default, charts are created in the worksheet with the underlying data. If you need to move your chart to a new sheet, or another existing sheet, you can use the Move Chart dialog. To open the Move Chart dialog, click Move Chart… under the DESIGN tab, or when you're in the chart right-click menu. Please keep in mind that you need to right-click an empty place on the chart area to see this option, as this option will not be available when you click a chart element.

In the Move Chart dialog, you have 2 options:

• New sheet: Select this option and enter a name to create a new sheet and place your chart there.
• Object in: Select this option and select an existing sheet from the dropdown to move your chart onto that sheet.

When it comes to Excel, there isn't much middle ground.

You have people who absolutely love it and will sing the praises of spreadsheets all day. 2d digital art. And, then you have the people who absolutely detest it. They'd rather lock themselves in a phone booth full of mosquitos than have to go cross-eyed looking at all of those columns and rows.

Admittedly, I used to fall into that latter group. I'd open a new Excel workbook with the best of intentions. But, after 20 odd minutes of trying to get one stupid decimal point to appear properly in its cell, I'd throw my hands up once again and claim Excel just wasn't for me.

Then, my life experienced a major plot twist: I married a total Excel whiz—someone who literally spends his entire workday creating complicated macros and some of the most impressive spreadsheets I've ever seen. And, he's made it his personal mission to convert me to his tribe of Excel-lovers (honestly, I'm surprised it wasn't in his wedding vows).

Since then? Well, he's made some progress. I've been able to put my hatred aside and recognize that Excel can actually be an incredibly powerful tool for combing through information and finding exactly what you need—provided you know how to use it correctly.

It's that last part that trips people up. But, fortunately, Excel isn't nearly as complicated as you're likely making it out to be.

In fact, there are plenty of helpful tricks and tools you can utilize—whether you're a total newbie or an established expert. Here are six things you should absolutely know how to do in Excel (and, trust me, you'll be glad you do!).

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1. Sort data

Typically, spreadsheets are useful for storing and sorting a whole bunch of information—think a contact list for 800 people that you want to invite to your company's luncheon, for example.

Now, let's say that you want to sort those people accordingly. Perhaps you want them listed in alphabetical order by last name. Or, maybe you want to group them together by city.

Excel makes it easy to comb through your entire data set and sort everything into a clean and easy to read spreadsheet.

Here's how you do it:

• Highlight the entire data set you want to sort (not just one column!) by either dragging your cursor across all of the cells or clicking the triangle in the upper left of your spreadsheet to select the entire thing.
• Hit the 'Data' tab.
• Click the 'Sort' button.
• Select how you want to sort your data (in the example below, I sorted by city!).
• Hit 'OK.'

Then, your data will be sorted accordingly—in this case, alphabetical order by city.

IMPORTANT NOTE: It's important that you select the entire data set you want to sort, and not just one column. That way, your rows will stay intact—meaning, in this case, the correct address will stay with the appropriate person.

Had I just selected the first column, Excel would've sorted only that one column alphabetically, making the addresses a mismatched mess.

2. Remove duplicates

Message facebook support. It's inevitable: When you're working with a large dataset, there are bound to be a few duplicates that sneak their way in.

Rather than getting bleary-eyed and frustrated by scrolling through that entire spreadsheet and looking for them yourself, Excel can do all of that legwork for you and remove duplicates with the click of a button.

Here's how you do it:

• Highlight the entire data set.
• Hit the 'Data' tab.
• Click the 'Remove Duplicates' button.
• Select what columns you want Excel to find duplicates in.
• Hit 'OK.'

IMPORTANT NOTE: Be careful that you choose enough qualifiers to weed out the true duplicates. For example, if I had just selected to remove duplicates in only Column A above (meaning Excel would've looked for duplicates of 'Oprah'), I would've deleted one Oprah that indeed had the same address, but one that had a different last name and address altogether (a different Oprah entirely!)

The bottom line is, utilize enough information so that you're removing rows that are true identical copies of each other—and don't just share one similar value!

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3. Basic math functions

Stop reaching for that calculator—Excel can handle all sorts of math functions for you! All you need to do is enter a few simple formulas.

Think that sounds like it's way beyond your Excel knowledge? Think again. Trust me, if I can figure this out, so you can you.

Here are the basic formulas you'll want to know:

• Addition: Type 'SUM=' in a blank cell where you want the total to appear, click the cells you want to add together, and then hit 'Enter.'
• Subtraction: Type '=' in a blank cell where you want the difference to appear, click the cell you want to subtract from, type '-', click the cell you want to subtract, and then hit enter.
• Multiplication: Type '=' in a blank cell where you want the total to appear, click the cell for a number you want to multiply, type '*', click the cell for the other number you want to multiply, and then hit enter.
• Division: Type '=' in a blank cell where you want the remainder to appear, click the cell for the number you want to divide, type '/', click the cell for the number you want to divide by, and then hit enter.

Listen, I know these are a little confusing to put down in words. But, give them a try for yourself and I'm positive you'll quickly see that they aren't complicated at all. Here's a look at what the SUM function looks like in practice:

INSIDER TIP: If you want to drag the same mathematical formula across a row, you can! After entering the formula into one cell, click that cell where the total appeared, click the little green box that appears in the lower right-hand corner, and drag it across the rest of the row where you need that formula to be applied.

Voila—it'll happen automatically! You'll be able to crunch numbers in different columns, without needing to enter the formula again and again.

4. Freeze panes

There's nothing worse than scrolling through a huge spreadsheet that requires you to continuously go back up to the top to see what your column headers are.

Fortunately, you can make your column headers and your row numbers stay right where they are—meaning you can always see them, no matter how far down the spreadsheet you go. You can do this by using Excel's handy 'freeze panes' feature.

Here's how you do it:

• Click on the row underneath your column headers.
• Click on the 'View' tab.
• Click the 'Freeze Panes' button.

How To Learn Everything About Excel

Scroll down and across your spreadsheet, and you'll see that the information you need is always right there within view!

5. Insert current date

Sick of glancing at your calendar or the bottom of your computer monitor in order to get today's date and enter it in your spreadsheet?

Excel can do it for you—with just one easy keyboard shortcut. Here it is:

Ctrl + ;

Put your cursor in the cell where you want the date to appear, use that shortcut, and Excel will automatically fill in today's date for you. Easy peasy!

IMPORTANT NOTE: Dates entered using that function are static, meaning they won't change as your spreadsheet ages!

6. Make the same change across worksheets

When you're working with multiple tabs, it's a hassle to comb through them all and make the same change over and over again. Fortunately, you don't have to!

You can select the appropriate sheets in your workbook where that change should appear. Make the change once, and it'll be applied across all of the sheets you selected.

Here's how you do it:

• Hold the 'Command' key on your keyboard (or 'Control' if you're using a PC).
• Select the appropriate tabs of your workbook.
• Make the necessary change to one cell.
• Check to make sure it applied across all of your worksheets.

Want to see this in practice? For simplicity's sake, let's assume I got married to Aaron Rodgers (hey, a girl can dream!). As a result, I changed my last name from 'Boogaard' to 'Rodgers.' Since my name appears in numerous different tabs of this spreadsheet, I'd use this handy trick to only have to enter my new last name one time.

Things To Learn On Excel

And that's what you need to know how to do in Excel

I get it—Excel can feel a little intimidating. But, once you start playing around, you'll begin to become more and more comfortable and quickly begin to realize just how much easier it can make things for you.

Get your start by mastering these six basic Excel tricks, and you'll be on the path to becoming a total Excel whiz in no time!

Want to present your Excel data in a professional way? Check out these Excel presentation tips.

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