3 Ways to Create a Worksheet in Excel

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-15 08:07

This wikiHow teaches you how to create your first spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel. A spreadsheet is a document consisting of columns and rows of boxes that can be used to sort and manipulate data. Each box is designed to contain one piece of data (e.g. numbers, letters, and/or formulas that refer to other boxes). This data can be structured, formatted, visualized with graphics, or referenced in other documents. Once you know the basics of a spreadsheet, you can test your skills by creating a home inventory and/or monthly budget. Visit our library of wikiHow articles about Microsoft Excel to learn more about more complex Excel functions.

Step

Method 1 of 3: Creating a Basic Spreadsheet

Step 1. Open Microsoft Excel

You can find it in the “Start” menu (Windows) or the “Applications” folder (MacOS). The application window opens and displays a page that allows you to create or select a document.

If you don't have a paid version of Microsoft Office, you can use the free online version at https://www.office.com to create a basic spreadsheet. Just log in to your Microsoft account and click “ Excel ” in the row of existing icons.

Step 2. Click Blank workbook to create a new workbook

Workbook is the name of the document that creates the spreadsheet. Blank spreadsheet named Sheet1 ” will be created and you can see it as a tab at the bottom of the screen.

When creating a more complex spreadsheet, you can add a new sheet by clicking the “ + ” next to the first sheet. Use the tabs at the bottom of the screen to switch from one sheet to another.

Step 3. Get to know the layout of the spreadsheet

The first thing you see is a spreadsheet with hundreds of boxes organized in vertical columns and horizontal rows. Some of the important aspects you need to keep in mind from this layout are:

• All rows are labeled with numbers next to the sheet, while columns are labeled with letters at the top of the sheet.
• Each box has an address consisting of a column letter, followed by a row number. For example, the address of the box in the first column (“A) and the first row (“1”) is “A1”. The address of the box in column “B” and row “3” is “B3”.

Step 4. Enter the data

Click any box once and type in the data immediately. When you're done, press the Tab key to move to the next box in the same row, or the Enter key to move to the next box in the same column.

• Keep in mind that when you type data into the box, the data or entries will be displayed on the bar at the top of the spreadsheet. This bar is called the formula bar (" Formula Bar ”) and is useful for entering long data and/or formulas.
• To edit a box that already contains data, double-click the box to display the cursor. Alternatively, click the box once and make changes via the formula bar.

• Step 5. Check the available Excel functions for further use

  One of Excel's most useful features is its ability to search for data and perform calculations based on mathematical formulas. Each formula you enter contains an Excel function, that is, an "action" that you perform. Formulas always begin with the equals symbol (“=”), followed by the function name (e.g. “=SUM”, “=LOOKUP”, or “=SIN”). After that, you need to enter the parameters and surround them with brackets (“()”). Follow these steps to find out what types of functions you can use in Excel:

  • Click the tab " Formulas ” at the top of the screen. You'll see several icons on the toolbar at the top of the Excel window, in the pane labeled "Function Library". Once you know the differences between each function, you can browse the function library with the icons.
  • Click the icon " Insert Function ” which also displays the “fx” symbol. This icon is the first icon on the bar. The “Insert Function” panel will open and you can search for the required function or browse the function options by category.
  • Select a category from the "Or select a category" menu. The default category shown is "Most Recently Used". For example, to view mathematical functions, you can select “ Math & Trig ”.
  • Click a function in the " Select a function " panel to review its syntax, as well as a description of the function. For more information about the function, click “ Help on this function ”.
  • Click " Cancel ” after finished browsing the function.
  • To learn more about how to enter formulas, read the article on how to type formulas in Microsoft Excel.

  

  Step 6. Save the file after you finish editing it

  To save the file, click the " File ” in the upper left corner of the screen and select “ Save As " You usually get the option to save the file to your computer or OneDrive storage space, depending on the version of Excel you're using.

  Once you understand the basics of Excel, read the "Home Inventory from Scratch" method of building to find out how to put the information above into practice

  Method 2 of 3: Creating a Home Inventory from Scratch

  

  Step 1. Open Microsoft Excel

  You can find it in the “Start” menu (Windows) or the “Applications” folder (MacOS). The application window opens and displays a page that allows you to create or select a workbook.

  

  Step 2. Name the column

  Step 3. Enter the item name on each line

  Once the columns are labeled, you can easily enter data into rows. Each item gets its own line, and each piece of information gets its own box.

  • For example, if you list an Apple HD monitor in your workspace, you could type HD Monitor in the “A2” box (in the “Item”) box, Workspace in the “B2” box (in the “Location” column), and Apple Cinema 30. -inch M9179LL in the box “B3” (in the “Type/Model” column).
  • Mention the other items in the following lines. If you need to delete entries in a single box, click the box once and press Del.
  • To delete an entire row or column, right-click the column letter or row number and select “ Delete ”.
  • You may have typed so much text that the entry overwrites the column next to it. Fix this error by resizing the column to accommodate text. Place the cursor on the row between the column letters (above the row “1”) until the cursor changes to a double-headed arrow, then double-click the row.

  

  Step 4. Change the column headers to drop-down menus

  Let's say you list hundreds of items at home, but only want to see what's stored in your workspace. Click"

  Step 1.” at the beginning of the line “1” to select the entire line, then follow these steps:

  • Click the tab " Data ” at the top of the Excel window.
  • Click " Filter ” (funnel icon) on the toolbar. Small arrows will appear in each column header.
  • Click the drop-down menu " Location ” (in the box “B1”) to open the filter menu.
  • Since you only need to see what's in the workspace, check the box next to "Workspace" and uncheck the rest.
  • Click " OK " Now, you only see the items in the selected room. You can perform this step on any column and data type.
  • To display all items again, click the menu, tick "Select All", and select " OK ” to return all entries.

  

  Step 5. Click the Page Layout tab to modify the spreadsheet

  After entering data, you can modify colors, fonts, and rows. Here are some tips you can try:

  • Select the boxes that need to be formatted. You can select an entire row by clicking on the number, or a column by clicking on the letter. Press and hold down the Ctrl (PC) or Cmd (Mac) key to select more than one column or row at a time.
  • Click " Colors ” in the " Themes " section of the toolbar to view and select a color theme.
  • Click the menu " Fonts ” to browse and select a font.

  

  Step 6. Save the document

  When finished, you can save the spreadsheet by clicking on the menu “ File ” in the upper left corner of the screen and select “ Save As ”.

  Method 3 of 3: Creating a Monthly Fund Budget from a Template

  

  Step 1. Open Microsoft Excel

  You can find it in the “Start” menu (Windows) or the “Applications” folder (MacOS). The application window opens and displays a page that allows you to create or select a workbook.

  This method includes using Excel's built-in templates to create expense lists. There are hundreds of templates available for different types of spreadsheets. To see a list of all official Excel templates, visit

  

  Step 2. Look for the “Simple Monthly Budget” template

  This option is a free official Microsoft template that makes it easy for you to calculate your monthly budget. You can search for it by typing Simple Monthly Budget in the search bar at the top of the Excel window and pressing Enter (applies to most versions of Excel).

  

  Step 3. Select the “Simple Monthly Budget” template and click Create

  A new spreadsheet will be created from the selected formatted template.

  You may need to click “ Download ”.

  

  Step 4. Click the Monthly Income tab to type the income

  You can see three tabs (“ Summary " [summary], " Monthly Income ” [monthly income], and “ Monthly Expenses ” [monthly expense]) at the bottom of the workbook. Click the second tab. Let's say you earn revenue from two companies, wikiHow and Acme:

  • Double click the box " Income 1 ” (first entry) to display the cursor. Clear the box and type in wikiHow.
  • Double click the box " Income 2 ” (second entry), delete the contents, and type in Acme.
  • Type your monthly income from wikiHow into the first box under the " Amount " heading (the box is pre-populated with "2500" by default from the template). Do the same for the monthly income from “Acme” in the box below.
  • If you have no other income, click the other boxes (" Other " and "$250"), then press the Del key to clear them.
  • You can also add additional sources of income and their amount in the rows below the existing rows.

  

  Step 5. Click the Monthly Expenses tab to enter the revenue

  This tab is the third tab at the bottom of the workbook. On that tab, there are expense entries and their amount (already filled in by default). However, you can double-click the box to change the entry.

  • For example, let's say the monthly rental fee for your residence or boarding house is 3 million rupiah per month. Double-click the existing "$800" entry, delete it, and type in 3000000.
  • Say you have a loan that needs to be repaid. Click the amount next to " Student Loans " in the " Amount " (“$50”) column and press the Del key on the keyboard to clear it. Do the same for other expenses.
  • You can delete entire rows by right-clicking the row number and selecting “ Delete ”.
  • To add a new line, right-click the line number below the new line position you want, then select “ Insert ”.
  • Make sure there are no additional fees that you have to pay in the " Amounts " column because these costs will automatically be included in the budget.

  

  Step 6. Click the Summary tab to visualize the monthly budget

  After entering data, the chart on this tab will automatically update to reflect your monthly income and expenses.

  • If the information is not calculated automatically, press the F9 key on the keyboard.
  • Changes made to the monthly income and expenses tab will affect the information you see on the “Summary” tab.

  

  Step 7. Save the document

  After you are satisfied or finished editing the file, you can save the spreadsheet by clicking the menu “ File ” in the upper left corner of the screen and select “ Save As ”.