IIMA/CISG91

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20. Annexure
A Brief Summary of Excel Features

1. Worksheet Components

Cell: A Column, Row inter-section element referenced by cell address (say H5)
Can hold: Text (starting with Alpha char); Number (starting with digit and following number
syntax), Date (following windows Date convention) or Formula (start with =, and following
proper syntax of a formula)
Can keep notes about cell (shift F2 - function key).

Range: A range of cells enclosed in a rectangular area: referenced by range address (cell address of
the left hand top corner element, followed by colon (:), followed by cell address of the right
hand bottom corner element). Example: B3:H12

Naming: Ranges or cells can be conveniently named through Insert menu and choosing the Name
option and then the Define option.

Named ranges or cells can be referenced (in functions etc.) using the assigned name. Named
ranges automatically adjust to size changes (insertion or deletion of rows/columns) made
within the specified range. Any subsequent references through names address the revised
range.

Button: Buttons can be created through Forms tool bar. These can be used to invoke procedures
(written in Visual BASIC for Applications). Normally, a sequence of keys (involving marking of
ranges, selection of menu options, entering data, etc.) can be recorded as Macros and can be
assigned to the buttons. The VBA code required to execute these key sequences is
automatically created by Excel and is included in the workbook (normally named Module).
Advanced users may edit the code for debugging and enhancement. Buttons can be edited
(renamed, altered in size, or moved to a different location, copied or even deleted).

Worksheet:
When a new file (WorkBook in Excel's terminology) is open, Excel provides 16 worksheets
(named Sheet1, Sheet2, .. ,Sheet16) to be used simultaneously (if required). These
worksheets can be renamed as desired. They can be deleted or new sheets can be inserted
based on requirements.

Referencing:
Elements (contents of cells or ranges) of any sheet can be referenced in any other sheet by
simply prefixing the sheet name followed by an exclamation mark (!) to the address of the
element. Example: Sheet2!B15 refers to cell B15 of Sheet2.

Similarly, [SALES.XLS]!Sheet1!smtab refers to the range smtab of the Sheet1 of the Excel
file SALES.XLS. Ensure that the referenced sheets are active prior to making any such
references.
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2. Formulae

- Entering (start with = character and type in the formula, end with Enter key)
- $ to fix the row , column, or both components of the address
- Editing (F2 Function key)
- Copying (^C) |
- Moving (^X) | Range level also
- Erasing (del) |
- Copying Values (^V)|
- Relative / Absolute address toggle for Cell Addresses (F4 Function key)
- Fill
- Go to (F5- function key)

3. Formatting

Through Toolbar buttons to a large extent

- Bold (B); Italic (I); Font; Increase decimals; Decrease decimals

Format menu option

- Cells, Row, Column (choose available options for each type of data)

4. Re-sizing

Column width: Mouse click on the column boundaries:

- double click for automatic sizing
- single click and drag for manual sizing

Insert / Delete Rows or Columns : From Edit menu

Splitting the screen: Window, Split

5. Features and Tools

SOLVER Solves a linear programming problem

GOAL SEEK Facilitates goal-seeking (one formula, one parameter)
SCENARIO Build solutions with multiple parameters, multiple results
AUDITING Displays relationships between cells through formulae
ANALYSIS Provides a tool kit for statistical and engineering analysis
MACRO Creation, recording, editing, or deleting of macros
CHART Facilitates creation and embedding of charts into the worksheet
OBJECTS Facilitates insertion of graphic objects on the worksheet
PIVOT TABLE Facilitates generation of cross tables through drag-drop
FILTER Enables to specify criterion; displays rows meeting the criterion
FORM Provides default data form for browsing
TABLE Tabulates specified formula based on input values (row, column, both)
ALT, F11 Visual Basic Editor
CONSOLIDATE Consolidates data from different source areas into a destination
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6. Functions

Function Format

IF IF (logical_condition, value_if_true, value_if_false)

AND AND (condition1, condition2,..)
OR OR (condition1, condition2,..)
MAX MAX (value1, value2, ...)
MIN MIN (value1, value2, .. )
MOD MOD (number, divisor)
SUM SUM (value1, value2, ...)
AVERAGE AVERAGE (value1, value2, ...)
SQRT SQRT (number)
STDEV STDEV (value1, value2, ...)
RANK RANK (value, range, [0 or 1])
RAND RAND()

NPV NPV (discount rate, cashflow range)

IRR IRR (cashflow range, guess)

NOW NOW()
TODAY TODAY()

VLOOKUP VLOOKUP (lookup_value, table, column [,true or false])

HLOOKUP HLOOKUP (lookup_value, table, row, [,true or false])
INDEX INDEX (table, row number, column number)
MATCH MATCH (lookup_value, lookup_array [,0, 1, or -1])

TRANSPOSE TRANSPOSE (range)

MMULT MMULT (array1, array2)
SUMPRODUCT SUMPRODUCT (range1, range2, ..)

SUMIF SUMIF (source range, criterion, range to sum)

COUNTIF COUNTIF (range, criterion)

DSUM DSUM (database range, field, criterion range)

DCOUNT DCOUNT (database range, [num-field], criterion range)

RIGHT RIGHT (text, no._of_chars)

LEFT LEFT (text, no._of_chars)
MID MID (text, start_no., no._of_chars)
LEN LEN (text)
FIND FIND (find_text, within_text, start_no.) [case sensitive]
SEARCH SEARCH (find_text, within_text, start_no.) [not cs]
REPLACE REPLACE (old_text, start_no, no_chars, new_text)
REPT REPT (text, no_of_times)
TRIM TRIM (text)
CONCATENATE CONCATENATE (text1, text2, ..) can use & operator also

ISNUMBER ISNUMBER(value)
ISBLANK ISBLANK(value)
ISERROR ISERROR(value)