Excel is used for organizing, filtering, and visualizing large amounts of data. It is most often used in accounting, but can be used by virtually any professional to manage long and unwieldy datasets. Examples of Excel applications include balance sheets, budgets, editorial calendars, and data calculators.
Contents
- 1 What are the 3 common uses for Excel?
- 2 What is excel most commonly used for?
- 3 What are 5 common uses for Microsoft Excel?
- 4 What are 7 things you can use Excel for?
- 5 How does excel help students?
- 6 What can I use a spreadsheet for?
- 7 What to use excel for at home?
- 8 How can excel functions help in future career?
- 9 What are the benefits of spreadsheet to you as a student?
- 10 What is the main advantage of using a spreadsheet?
- 11 What are basic Excel skills?
- 12 Why should I learn Excel?
- 13 How Excel is used in business?
- 14 Why do teachers use spreadsheets?
What are the 3 common uses for Excel?
The main uses of Excel include:
- Data entry.
- Data management.
- Accounting.
- Financial analysis.
- Charting and graphing.
- Programming.
- Time management.
- Task management.
What is excel most commonly used for?
The most impressive thing about MS Excel is that it can be used anywhere for any kind of work. For example, it is used for billing, data management, analysis, inventory, finance, business tasks, complex calculations, etc.
What are 5 common uses for Microsoft Excel?
Top 10 Uses of Microsoft Excel in Business
- Business Analysis. The number 1 use of MS Excel in the workplace is to do business analysis.
- People Management.
- Managing Operations.
- Performance Reporting.
- Office Administration.
- Strategic Analysis.
- Project Management.
- Managing Programs.
What are 7 things you can use Excel for?
More Than a Spreadsheet: 7 Things You Can Do with Microsoft Excel
- Accounting. Excel has long been a trusted accounting tool.
- Data Entry, Storage, and Verification. At its core, Excel is data-entry software.
- Data Visualisation.
- Data Forecasting.
- Inventory Tracking.
- Project Management.
- Creating Forms.
How does excel help students?
Excel reduces the difficulty of plotting data and allows students a means for interpreting the data.This goes a long way toward helping them understand the relationship between the data and the chart. Excel can easily convert any chart or data set into a web page, making it very easy to share information among groups.
What can I use a spreadsheet for?
The three most common general uses for spreadsheet software are to create budgets, produce graphs and charts, and for storing and sorting data. Within business spreadsheet software is used to forecast future performance, calculate tax, completing basic payroll, producing charts and calculating revenues.
What to use excel for at home?
What Are Some Practical Uses for Excel?
- Make a List for Home or Work.
- Graph Your Data in a Chart.
- Automate Bookkeeping With Functions.
- Calculate With Complex Formulas.
How can excel functions help in future career?
Benefits of Excel for Employees
- Sharpening Your Skill Set.
- Improving Your Efficiency and Productivity.
- Making Yourself a More Valuable Member of the Company.
- Making You Better at Organizing Data.
- It Can Make Your Job Easier.
- It Creates Greater Efficiency and Heightens Productivity.
What are the benefits of spreadsheet to you as a student?
Spreadsheet skills allow students to organize, calculate, graph, and analyze data. These skills provide a critical foundation in preparation for future studies and the workplace.
What is the main advantage of using a spreadsheet?
More flexible presentation. Alter column widths and easily delete or add columns and rows. Justify your data to the left, centre or right. Control the types of numbers you enter – for example you can choose percentage, currency or set the number of decimal places.
What are basic Excel skills?
Below you have the top ten basic Excel skills which anyone who is just starting out with Excel needs to learn.
- Saving and Opening a Workbook.
- Managing Worksheets.
- Formatting Cells.
- Printing.
- Excel Functions (Basic)
- Charts.
- Sorting Data.
- Find and Replace Option.
Why should I learn Excel?
It can boost your employability and career prospects whilst also being a useful tool to analyse data in everyday life, such as when managing personal finances. Excel is an easily accessible software that is a valuable tool in all aspects of life and should be considered critical for personal development.
How Excel is used in business?
How to use Excel for Business
- Accounting. Virtually every accounting professional uses Excel in some capacity.
- Inventory Tracking. Inventory tracking is central to the success of any business selling a physical product.
- Compiling Mailing and Contact Lists.
- Visualizations.
- HR Management.
- Checklists and Task Lists.
- Time Logs.
Why do teachers use spreadsheets?
A computer user can collect, organize and analyze data in a spreadsheet program. Teachers can use it to record attendance and homework assignments and to calculate grades. Students can use the program to improve their research and analytical skills while they work on studies and reports.
List of Top 12 Important Uses of Microsoft Excel
There are plenty of uses of excel, and the list goes on, but here we have listed some of the important uses of Microsoft excel to start the things for a beginner.
- Get Quick Totals
- Data Analysis and Interpretation
- Plenty of Formulas to Work with Data
- Data Organising and Restructuring
- Data Filtering
- Goal Seek AnalysisThe Goal Seek in excel is a “what-if-analysis” tool that calculates the value of the input cell (variable) with respect to the desired outcome. In other words, the tool helps answer the question, “what should be the value of the input in order to attain the given output?”
read more - Flexible and User-Friendly
- Online Access
- Building Dashboards
- Interactive ChartsCharts visuals are better in data depiction, but interactivity gets it better. Interactivity is when the user sees specific values in the excel chart in a more effective, efficient and crystal clear way.read more and Graphs
- Dynamic Formulas
- Automation Through Excel
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Source: Uses of MS Excel (wallstreetmojo.com)
Now let us discuss each of them in detail along with an Example –
#1 – Get Quick Totals
Getting total or subtotalThe SUBTOTAL excel function performs different arithmetic operations like average, product, sum, standard deviation, variance etc., on a defined range.read more is common, so Excel provides a quick sum of numbers with its AutoSum option. For example, look at the below data in Excel.
We have monthly numbers above, so to get the quick total in cell B7, press the Auto Sum shortcutThe Excel SUM Shortcut is a function that is used to add up multiple values by simultaneously pressing the “Alt” and “=” buttons in the desired cell. However, the data must be present in a continuous range for this function to function.read more key ALT + = sign.
As you can see, it has inserted the SUM function in excel. Press the “Enter” key to get the result.
We have a quick total of the numbers above.
#2 – Data Analysis & Interpretation
The spreadsheet contains data, so telling the story behind the data is what the decision-makers need to make vital decisions in the business world. So, when the data is available with Excel, we can use MS Excel features like pivot tableA Pivot Table is an Excel tool that allows you to extract data in a preferred format (dashboard/reports) from large data sets contained within a worksheet. It can summarize, sort, group, and reorganize data, as well as execute other complex calculations on it.read more and formulas to analyze the data and interpret the numbers quickly and efficiently.
#3 – Plenty of Formulas to Work with Data
MS Excel comes with plenty of built-in functions to work with data. There are 450+ functions in excel,Excel functions help the users to save time and maintain extensive worksheets. There are 100+ excel functions categorized as financial, logical, text, date and time, Lookup & Reference, Math, Statistical and Information functions.read more, so these functions are categorized as “Financial,” “Logical,” “Text,” “Date & Time,” “Lookup & Reference,” “Math & Trig,” “Statistical,” “Engineering,” “Cube,” “Information,” and “Web.”
#4 – Data Organizing & Restructuring
You cannot get the data ready to use, so we can organize the data using Excel tools. We can reorganize the data according to the users’ needs.
#5 – Data Filtering
Using the option of “Filter” in Excel, we can filter the particular data from the number of rows of data. For example, we can apply a single-column filter and the filter to multiple columns to match multiple criteriaCriteria based calculations in excel are performed by logical functions. To match single criteria, we can use IF logical condition, having to perform multiple tests, we can use nested IF conditions. But for matching multiple criteria to arrive at a single result is a complex criterion-based calculation.read more to filter the data.
#6 – Goal Seek Analysis
When the target is set, and at a certain project stage, we may need to review that target achievement. So, using Excel, we can track all those things and identify what needs to be done in the remaining steps to achieve the desired goals.
#7 – Flexible and User-Friendly
When you compare MS Excel with other spreadsheets, you will find MS Excel as relatively friendly and flexible enough to fit the needs of the users. First, however, one needs the proper training to start things in Excel.
#8 – Online Access
Not all the time, we get the done offline, so some of the data needs to be fetched from online websites. We can import data from “MS Access File,” “Text File,” “From Web,” “From SQL Servers,” “From XML Data Import,” etc. So, getting the data to Excel is not a constraint.
#9 – Building Dashboards
When the story behind the data is read to tell, end users may want to see those summary results in a single page view. So using MS Excel, we can build dashboards that can tell the stories in a single page view. So, not only can we build a dashboard, but it also makes the dashboard interactive.
#10 – Interactive ChartsCharts visuals are better in data depiction, but interactivity gets it better. Interactivity is when the user sees specific values in the excel chart in a more effective, efficient and crystal clear way.read more and Graphs
When the Excel formulas are applied, we can make them dynamic so that when the data range gets an addition or deletion, our formula shows the updated results instantly.
#11 – Dynamic Formulas
When the excel formulasThe term «basic excel formula» refers to the general functions used in Microsoft Excel to do simple calculations such as addition, average, and comparison. SUM, COUNT, COUNTA, COUNTBLANK, AVERAGE, MIN Excel, MAX Excel, LEN Excel, TRIM Excel, IF Excel are the top ten excel formulas and functions.read more are applied, we can make them dynamic so that when the data range gets an addition or deletion, our formula shows the updated results instantly.
#12 – Automation Through Excel
At last, when you move to the advanced level of MS Excel, you may get bored with daily work in Excel. In that case, we can automate the reports in Excel by using the VBA codingVBA code refers to a set of instructions written by the user in the Visual Basic Applications programming language on a Visual Basic Editor (VBE) to perform a specific task.read more language.
Recommended Articles
This article is a guide to the Uses of Excel. Here, we discuss the top 12 important uses of Microsoft Excel, including getting quick totals, data analysis and interpretation, plenty of formulas to work with data, data filtering, etc., and examples and downloadable Excel templates. You may learn more about Excel from the following articles: –
- Divide Cell in Excel
- Excel Count Colored Cells
- Excel Negative Numbers
- Scroll Bars in Excel
This versatile program helps you make sense of your data
Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet program used to store, organize, and manipulate data.
Excel is a spreadsheet-based software program developed by Microsoft that allows users to organize, format, and calculate data using formulas.
This software is part of the Microsoft Office suite and is compatible with other Office applications. Like other Microsoft Office applications, Microsoft Excel can be purchased in the cloud with a subscription through Microsoft 365.
Note: The information we have compiled applies to Microsoft Excel and is not specific to any particular program version.
Why Do People Use Excel?
There are numerous reasons people use Excel. For example, someone may keep track of their expenses using Excel and a spreadsheet.
What Microsoft Excel Is Used For
Initially, electronic spreadsheet programs were based on paper spreadsheets used for accounting. As a result, the basic layout of computerized spreadsheets is the same as that of paper spreadsheets. Data gets stored in tables — which are collections of small rectangular boxes or cells organized into rows and columns.
Excel and other spreadsheet programs can store multiple spreadsheet pages in a single computer file in all versions. The saved computer file is known as a workbook, and each page in the workbook is a separate worksheet.
Spreadsheet Cells and Cell References
When you look at the Excel screen — or any other spreadsheet screen — you will notice a rectangular table or grid of rows and columns.
Each worksheet in newer versions of Excel contains roughly a million rows and more than 16,000 columns, necessitating an addressing scheme to track where data gets stored.
Numbers identify the horizontal rows (1, 2, 3) and the vertical columns by alphabetical letters (A, B, C). Columns with more than 26 are identified by two or more letters, such as AA, AB, AC or AAA, AAB, etc.
The small rectangular box known as a cell is where a column and a row intersect. The cell is the fundamental unit for storing data in a worksheet, and because each worksheet contains millions of them, you can identify each one by its cell reference.
A cell reference combines the column letter and the row number, for example, A3, B6, and AA345. The column letter is always listed first in these cell references.
Data Types, Formulas, and Functions
The types of data that a cell can contain include:
- Numbers
- Text
- Dates and times
- Boolean values
- Formulas
You can use formulas for calculations, usually including data from other cells. On the other hand, these cells could be on different worksheets or in different workbooks.
Enter the equal sign in the cell where you want the answer displayed. Formulas can also contain cell references to data locations and one or more spreadsheet functions.
Functions in Excel and other electronic spreadsheets are built-in formulas designed to simplify a wide range of calculations – from simple operations like entering the date or time to more complex ones like finding specific information in large tables of data.
Excel and Financial Data
You can frequently use spreadsheets to store financial information. You can use the following formulas and functions on this type of data:
- Performing fundamental mathematical operations such as adding columns or rows of numbers
- Identifying values such as profit and loss
- Calculating loan or mortgage repayment schedules
- Identifying the average, maximum, minimum, and other statistical values in a given data set.
- Conducting What-If analysis on data, in which variables are changed one at a time to see how the change affects other data, such as expenses and profits
Other Uses of Excel
You can also use Excel to do the following tasks:
- Data graphing or charting to aid users in identifying data trends
- Data formatting to make important information easier to find and understand
- To print data and charts for use in reports
- Data sorting and filtering to find specific information
- Creating links between worksheet data and charts for use in other programs such as Microsoft PowerPoint and Word
- Data import from database programs for analysis
Spreadsheets were the first “killer apps” for personal computers because they could compile and interpret data. Early spreadsheet programs like VisiCalc and Lotus 1-2-3 were primarily responsible for the rise in popularity of computers like the Apple II and IBM PC as business tools.
Where Do You Find or Start Excel?
You can find Excel in the Windows Start menu if you have Excel or the entire Microsoft Office package installed on your Windows computer.
On Windows 10
On Windows 11
Keep in mind that most new computers do not come with Excel. Before you can use it on your computer, you must first purchase and install it. If you do not want (or cannot afford) to buy Excel, a limited version is available on the Microsoft Office website.
If Excel is installed on your computer but isn’t visible in the Start menu, use the steps below to launch it manually.
1. Open My Computer or File Explorer.
2. Select the C: drive. Select that drive instead if you have installed Microsoft Office on a drive other than the C: drive.
3. Locate the Program Files (x86) or Program Files folder and double-click on it.
4. Find and Open the Microsoft Office folder.
5. In the Microsoft Office folder, click the root folder. Then open the OfficeXX folder, where XX is the version of Office (e.g., Office21 for Microsoft Office 2021) installed on your computer.
Note: If there is no root folder, find and open the folder with Office in the folder name.
6. Locate and double-click the file named EXCEL.EXE to start the Excel program.
How to open Microsoft Excel without using a mouse
- To start, press the Windows key.
- Type Excel in the “Type here to search” and select the Microsoft Excel entry.
- If Microsoft Excel does not open after selecting it, press Enter to open it.
Excel Alternatives
Other spreadsheet programs that are currently available for use include:
- Google Sheets: A free web-based spreadsheet application.
- Excel Online: A free, streamlined web-based version of Excel.
- Open Office Calc: A spreadsheet program that is available for free download.
Содержание
- Excel help & learning
- Learn from live instructors
- Explore Excel
- Справка и обучение по Excel
- Учитесь у инструкторов в режиме реального времени
- Обзор Excel
- What is Microsoft Excel and What Does It Do?
- What Excel Is Used For
- Spreadsheet Cells and Cell References
- Data Types, Formulas, and Functions
- Excel and Financial Data
- Excel’s Other Uses
- Excel Alternatives
- Excel
- Excel overview
- Where do you find or start Excel?
- How to open Microsoft Excel without using a mouse
- How can Excel be formatted?
- Download an example of a spreadsheet file
- Why do people use Excel?
- Why would someone use Excel over another spreadsheet program?
- Excel file extensions
- What are the different versions of Microsoft Excel?
- Windows versions
- Mac versions
- What came before Excel?
Excel help & learning
Learn from live instructors
Microsoft offers live coaching on how to work with Excel. We’ll have you dazzling with your new skills in no time! (Available in English only.)
Explore Excel
Find Excel templates
Bring your ideas to life and streamline your work by starting with professionally designed, fully customizable templates from Microsoft Create.
Analyze Data
Ask questions about your data without having to write complicated formulas. Not available in all locales.
Plan and track your health
Tackle your health and fitness goals, stay on track of your progress, and be your best self with help from Excel.
Support for Excel 2010 has ended
Learn what end of Excel 2010 support means for you and find out how you can upgrade to Microsoft 365.
Источник
Справка и обучение по Excel
Учитесь у инструкторов в режиме реального времени
Корпорация Майкрософт предлагает динамическое обучение работе с Excel. Мы сможем вам ослепить ваши новые навыки в течение всего времени! (Доступно только на английском языке.)
Обзор Excel
поиск шаблонов Excel
Воплотить свои идеи в жизнь и упростить работу, начните с профессионально разработанных и полностью настраиваемых шаблонов от Microsoft Create.
Анализ данных
Можно задавать вопросы о данных, нет необходимости писать сложные формулы. Доступно не для всех языковых стандартов.
Планирование и отслеживание состояния здоровья
Достигайте своих целей в отношении здоровья и фитнеса, следите за прогрессом и будьте на высоте с помощью Excel.
Поддержка Excel 2010 прекращена
Узнайте, что означает окончание поддержки Excel 2010, и узнайте, как перейти на Microsoft 365.
Поиск премиум-шаблонов
Воплощайте свои идеи в жизнь с помощью настраиваемых шаблонов и новых возможностей для творчества, оформив подписку на Microsoft 365.
Анализ данных
Можно задавать вопросы о данных, нет необходимости писать сложные формулы. Доступно не для всех языковых стандартов.
Планирование и отслеживание состояния здоровья
Достигайте своих целей в отношении здоровья и фитнеса, следите за прогрессом и будьте на высоте с помощью Excel.
Поддержка Excel 2010 прекращена
Узнайте, что означает окончание поддержки Excel 2010, и узнайте, как перейти на Microsoft 365.
Источник
What is Microsoft Excel and What Does It Do?
This versatile program helps you make sense of your data
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Excel is an electronic spreadsheet program that is used for storing, organizing, and manipulating data.
The information we’ve prepared refers to Microsoft Excel in general and is not limited to any specific version of the program.
What Excel Is Used For
Electronic spreadsheet programs were originally based on paper spreadsheets used for accounting. As such, the basic layout of computerized spreadsheets is the same as the paper ones. Related data is stored in tables — which are a collection of small rectangular boxes or cells organized into rows and columns.
All versions of Excel and other spreadsheet programs can store several spreadsheet pages in a single computer file. The saved computer file is often referred to as a workbook and each page in the workbook is a separate worksheet.
Spreadsheet Cells and Cell References
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When you look at the Excel screen — or any other spreadsheet screen — you see a rectangular table or grid of rows and columns.
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). For columns beyond 26, columns are identified by two or more letters such as AA, AB, AC or AAA, AAB, etc.
The intersection point between a column and a row is the small rectangular box known as a cell. The cell is the basic unit for storing data in the worksheet, and because each worksheet contains millions of these cells, each one is identified by its cell reference.
A cell reference is a combination of the column letter and the row number such as A3, B6, and AA345. In these cell references, the column letter is always listed first.
Data Types, Formulas, and Functions
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The types of data that a cell can hold include:
- Numbers
- Text
- Dates and times
- Boolean values
- Formulas
Formulas are used for calculations — usually incorporating data contained in other cells. These cells, however, may be located on different worksheets or in different workbooks.
Creating a formula starts by entering the equal sign in the cell where you want the answer displayed. Formulas can also include cell references to the location of data and one or more spreadsheet functions.
Functions in Excel and other electronic spreadsheets are built-in formulas that are designed to simplify carrying out a wide range of calculations – from common operations such as entering the date or time to more complex ones such as finding specific information located in large tables of data.
Excel and Financial Data
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Spreadsheets are often used to store financial data. Formulas and functions that are used on this type of data include:
- Performing basic mathematical operations such as summing columns or rows of numbers
- Finding values such as profit or loss
- Calculating repayment plans for loans or mortgages
- Finding the average, maximum, minimum and other statistical values in a specified range of data
- Carrying out What-If analysis on data, where variables are modified one at a time to see how the change affects other data, such as expenses and profits
Excel’s Other Uses
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Other common operations that Excel can be used for include:
- Graphing or charting data to assist users in identifying data trends
- Formatting data to make important data easy to find and understand
- Printing data and charts for use in reports
- Sorting and filtering data to find specific information
- Linking worksheet data and charts for use in other programs such as Microsoft PowerPoint and Word
- Importing data from database programs for analysis
Spreadsheets were the original «killer apps» for personal computers because of their ability to compile and make sense of information. Early spreadsheet programs such as VisiCalc and Lotus 1-2-3 were largely responsible for the growth in popularity of computers like the Apple II and the IBM PC as a business tool.
Excel Alternatives
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Other current spreadsheet programs that are available for use include:
- Google Sheets: A free, web-based spreadsheet program
- Excel Online: A free, scaled-down, web-based version of Excel
- Open Office Calc: A free, downloadable spreadsheet program.
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Источник
Excel
Excel is a spreadsheet application developed and published by Microsoft. It is part of the Microsoft Office suite of productivity software.
Unlike a word processor, such as Microsoft Word, Excel organizes data in columns and rows. Rows and columns intersect at a space called a cell. Each cell contains data, such as text, a numerical value, or a formula.
Excel was originally code-named Odyssey during development. It was first released on September 30, 1985.
Excel overview
Excel is a tool for organizing and performing calculations on data. It can analyze data, calculate statistics, generate pivot tables, and represent data as charts or graphs.
For example, you could create an Excel spreadsheet that calculates a monthly budget, tracks associated expenses, and interactively sorts the data by criteria.
Below is an example of Microsoft Excel with each of its major sections highlighted. See the formula bar, cell, column, row, or sheet tab links for further information about each section.
Where do you find or start Excel?
If you have Excel or the entire Microsoft Office package installed on your Windows computer, you can find Excel in the Start menu.
Keep in mind that new computers do not include Excel. It must be purchased and installed before running it on your computer. If you do not want (or cannot afford) to purchase Excel, you can use a limited version for free at the Microsoft Office website.
If Excel is installed on your computer but isn’t in your Start menu, use the following steps to launch Excel manually.
- Open My Computer or File Explorer.
- Click or select the C: drive. If Microsoft Office is installed on a drive other than the C: drive, select that drive instead.
- Find and open the Program Files (x86) or Program Files folder.
- Open the Microsoft Office folder.
- In the Microsoft Office folder, open the root folder. Then open the OfficeXX folder, where XX is the version of Microsoft Office (e.g., Office16 for Microsoft Office 2016) installed on your computer.
If there is no root folder, look for and open the folder with Office in the folder name.
- Find and double-click the file named EXCEL.EXE to start the Excel program.
How to open Microsoft Excel without using a mouse
- Press the Windows key .
- Type Excel and select the Microsoft Excel entry in the search results.
- If Excel does not open after selecting it in the search results, press Enter to launch it.
How can Excel be formatted?
Each of the rows, columns, and cells can be modified in many ways, including the background color, number or date format, size, text font, layout, etc. In our example above, you can see that the first row (row 1) has a blue background, bold text, and each cell has its text centered.
Download an example of a spreadsheet file
We created a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that you can download and open in any spreadsheet program, including Microsoft Excel. This spreadsheet illustrates some capabilities of a spreadsheet, formulas, and functions, and lets you experiment more with a spreadsheet.
Why do people use Excel?
There are many reasons people use Excel. For example, someone might use Excel and a spreadsheet to keep track of their expenses. See our spreadsheet definition for a complete list of reasons and examples of how people use a spreadsheet.
Why would someone use Excel over another spreadsheet program?
Today, there are many free spreadsheet programs that someone could use instead of Excel. However, even with the available free options, Excel remains the most-used spreadsheet because of all its available options, features, and because many businesses still use the program.
Even with all Excel’s options, a free spreadsheet program like Google Sheets is often all most users need.
If you want to get Excel because it’s a job requirement, it’s still okay to learn all the basics in a free spreadsheet program. However, there are still many differences between Excel and a free spreadsheet program.
Excel file extensions
Microsoft Excel supports the following file extensions. The default format for saving a Microsoft Excel workbook is .xlsx in all modern versions and .xls in early versions.
| Extension | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| .csv | CSV (Comma-separated values) | A minimal format compatible with many spreadsheet applications. Rows of data are represented as lines in the text file, with columnar breaks delimited by a single character, usually a comma. |
| .dbf | DBF 3, DBF 4 | The native database file format of DBASE III and IV. |
| .dif | Data interchange format | A feature-limited, widely-supported file format. Supports saving a single-page spreadsheet only. |
| .htm, .html | HTML | Contains data formatted in HTML. When exported by Excel, supporting files such as images and sounds are stored in a folder. |
| .mht, .mhtml | Single-page HTML | HTML-formatted single-page data. |
| .ods | OpenDocument Spreadsheet | An open-source file format supported by word processors including OpenOffice and LibreOffice. |
| PDF (Portable Data Format) | An industry-standard document format created by Adobe. | |
| .prn | Space-delimited formatted text | A format similar to CSV that supports text formatting, created by Lotus. Supports only a single sheet. |
| .slk | SYLK Symbolic Link Format. | Supports only a single sheet. |
| .txt | Tab-delimited text | A text file format similar to CSV, using tab as the delimiter character. Also, stores Unicode-encoded single-page spreadsheets. |
| .xla | Excel Add-in | Supporting file for Visual Basic VBA projects, compatible with Excel 95-2003. |
| .xlam | Excel Add-in with Macros | XML-based format compatible with Excel 2007 and 2013-2019, supporting VBA projects and Excel 4.0 macros. |
| .xls | Excel Workbook (deprecated) | The native Excel file format for Excel versions 97-2003. |
| .xlsb | Excel Binary Workbook | A fast load-and-save format compatible with Excel 2007-2019. Supports VBA projects and Excel 4.0 macros. |
| .xlsm | Excel Workbook with Macros | XML-based format compatible with Excel 2007-2019, supporting VBA and Excel 4.0 macros. |
| .xlsx | Excel Workbook | The native Excel file format for Excel versions 2007-2019. Supports «ISO Strict» formatting. Does not support macros. |
| .xlt | Excel Template (deprecated) | Excel template file format, Excel 97-2003. |
| .xltx | Excel Template | Excel template file format, Excel 2007-2019. |
| .xlw | Excel Workbook Only | Saves only worksheets, chart sheets, and macro sheets but does not save spreadsheets. Compatible with Excel 2013-2019. |
| .xml | XML Data | Spreadsheet data exported as XML. |
| .xps | OpenXML Paper Specification | An open-source document format similar to PDF. |
What are the different versions of Microsoft Excel?
Microsoft Excel has had many versions throughout its history. The different releases with their release dates are listed below.
Windows versions
Mac versions
What came before Excel?
Microsoft Excel was not the first spreadsheet program. Lotus 1-2-3 and VisiCalc were popular spreadsheet programs released before Excel.
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Introduction in Excel
In order to automate the various functions and management of data, Microsoft has developed an electronic spreadsheet application which is called Microsoft Excel. With Excel, you can collect large amounts of data that too you can put in the form of rows and columns. The data which we can enter through is alphabets, numbers, graphs, charts, and pictures.
With the Excel application, you can even add, delete, modify, link, and relocate the data. In Excel, you can have 256 columns and 65,536 rows per worksheet. With this tremendous data storage functionality, you can search, sort, and filter the data as per your requirement.
Why one should know Microsoft Excel?
Earlier data management and calculative work were done manually. But with excel, everything became automated. If we see all the business fields, including finance, statistics, marketing, engineering, and human resources, especially the businesses which deal with large amounts of data (numbers, statistics) use Excel
Some important features of Excel
- Hyperlink: With this, we can link one file to another file.
- Pivot Tables: Pivot Tables are used for creating and maintaining records like employee records and product databases.
- Clip art: Even we can add images, audio, and video clips in Excel.
- Charts: with Charts, we can put numerical data in the pictorial format, which is much easier to compare.
- Macros: With Macros, we can record an event that is used to perform repeated tasks.
- Sorting: The data can be sorted as and when needed in any direction
- Filters: With this, we can filter the required data from a huge set of data.
- Page layout: with the page layout option, we can set up the page as per our comfort level
- Arithmetic and Logical Functions: Excel provides various mathematical functions like ADD, SUBTRACT, Multiply, division, etc. It also provides logical functions like AND, OR, IF, etc.
- Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is used for designing user-friendly interfaces.
Application of Excel
- Database Management
- Recording of Financial statements
- Performing calculations
- Inventory Management
- Analysis of data
- Creating user-friendly interfaces
Professionals and the use of Microsoft Excel
As said above, wherever you work, you will find every workplace has a priority for MS Excel. Ease of use and efficiency are the features that make MS Excel popular.
Investment Banking Analyst
The analysts are required to perform financial modeling, and for that, excel is essential. They use it for calculating ratios, drawing graphs, and comparison purposes.
Financial Analysts
These are the other set of people who breathe with excel.
Management Consultant
These people are required to perform complex regression analysis and segment indications for that purpose, and excel is the tool that they use.
Accountant
These are the people for whom Excel is the brain. The majority of work is dependent on calculation, whether it is in terms of calculation or analysis.
Marketing Professional
These people use Excel for carrying out market surveys and analyzing the market’s results. The tools mostly use charts, graphs, clip images, etc.
Business Analyst
As these people analyze the business as a whole, their decisions are turned into actions.
Apart from this, people in the Human resources department use it for employee database management, salary calculation, etc. Operations and logistics departments use it for keeping product records.
How do businesses use Excel?
Scheduling
Business creates employee and resource schedules which are coded and updated whenever there is any change.
Basic Accounting
In Accounting, information is recorded, calculations are performed, and this information can be changed as and when required.
Even businesses use it for tracking product sales on a daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis.
Finding Return on Investment
For writing financial statements and calculating Return on Investment and other ratios by creating various financial statements in Excel.
Customer Data
For managing huge customer databases, businesses use excel.
Note: Become an MS Excel Expert
Learn how to organise, format, and calculate data smoothly. Develop skills to master excel tools, formulae, and functions. Analyze data from different perspectives.
Who should be Proficient in Excel?
- All the students as their future demand it.
- Charted Accountant (CA), CFA’s, Finance students
- Working professionals.
- For people who dream to work as Finance Analysts, Market Analysts, Research Analysts, or Investment bankers for them, Excel is the language that they should speak.
For those who are freshers and want to enter the job market then, Excel is the landing point for them.
Pre-requisites
There is no prerequisite for learning Excel. People from any background or at any stage should learn Excel.
Advantages
- Excel file is portable and can be sent through email
- Excel files can be protected through passwords so that only the intended users can see them.
- Excel can be directly connected to OLAP databases.
- As Excel is a part of Microsoft office, there is no need to buy it separately.
- All types of functions, including financial, are inbuilt therefore no need for additional programs.
- People can get training for learning excel.
Disadvantages
- If we use one file for huge data, it may execute slowly.
- You may unaware of the viruses which may be attached through macros with excel files.
- For ease of use, we may need to use different sheets where there are chances of loss of data.
- Also, there is a limitation on the number of columns and rows that we can use per sheet.
- Some users find it difficult to use
Useful 20 Keyboard shortcuts to speed up your work in Excel.
Excel shortcuts for both Windows and Mac, side-by-side use.
Some Important keyboard Short cuts
1 [Ctrl]O Open a workbook
2 [Ctrl]N Create a new workbook
3 [Ctrl]S Save a workbook
4 [Ctrl]P Print a workbook
5 [Ctrl]W Close a workbook
6 [Shift][F11] Insert a new worksheet
7 [Ctrl]9 Hide selected rows
8 [Ctrl][Shift]9 Display hidden rows in selection
9 [Ctrl]0 Hide selected columns
10 [Ctrl][Shift]0 Display hidden columns in selection
11 [Ctrl][Page Down] Move to the next worksheet in a workbook
12 [Ctrl][Page Up] Move to the previous worksheet in a workbook
13 Arrow keys Move one cell up, down, left, or right
14 [Ctrl] and an arrow key Move to the edge of the data region
15 [Home] Move to the beginning of a row
16 [Ctrl][Home] Move to the beginning of a worksheet
17 [Ctrl][End] Move to the end of the used portion of a worksheet
18 [Enter] Move down a cell in a selected range
19 [Shift][Enter] Move up a cell in a selected range
20 [Shift][Tab] Move one cell to the left in a selected range
Excel programming
Microsoft Excel also provides Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), which deals with the programming aspects of VB. VBA allows spreadsheet manipulation, which is impossible to perform manually. We can even design attractive user interfaces through any tasks that can be performed easily. And for this, we just need to write the event-driven code
With Microsoft Excel, accounting and financial tasks can be performed very easily.
Consider a small example where a bank wants to calculate interest for its 10000 customers in such case, if one does it manually, it is really miserable, but with VBA macro, once the coding is done, it is performed easily.
The functions of VBA are:
- Built-in functions provided by VBA
- Excel’s own functions
- Custom functions that one may develop for use