Introduction to Microsoft Excel (B100)

One of the very first personal computer (PC) applications was the spreadsheet, and one of the first spreadsheet creation and editing programs was Microsoft Excel. Nowadays, Excel comes preinstalled on nearly every new Windows machine—PC, tablet, and smartphone—which constitutes about 90 percent of today’s computing device market, and a huge majority of businesses use Excel in one capacity or another

While spreadsheets can be and do many things, their primary function is to display and manipulate data. And that’s what we’ll do in this short, four-week, comprehensive course—learn how to enter, display, and manipulate data in Excel spreadsheets. First, we’ll take a brief look at the two most recent versions of Excel, Excel 2013, and the cloud-based version, Excel 365, so that you can decide which one is right for you. Then, we’ll talk about all the ways in which you can enter data into spreadsheets, everything from typing it on your keyboard to importing it from other programs, such as QuickBooks and other accounting packages. After that, we’ll go over how to format your spreadsheets, so that they’re easy to read, effective, and attractive. And then, finally, we’ll cover manipulating the data in your spreadsheets, from sorting, to using formulas to add, subtract, multiply, divide, and average data, to creating professional-looking charts and graphs.

Upon completion of this course, you will understand the basics (and more) of creating spreadsheets, as well as several advanced data manipulation concepts—to prepare you for using Excel in today’s business environment, which will in turn make you a much more valuable employee (or perspective employee).

Week 1: Introducing Microsoft Excel

Using Excel 2013 Locally or Excel 365 in the Cloud
The Almighty Spreadsheet
Working with Workbooks
Working with Multiple Windows and Views
Anatomy of a Spreadsheet – Cells, Columns, and Rows
Types of Data Excel Supports
Entering Data
Data Entering Shortcuts
Importing Data
Moving, Inserting, and Replacing Data

Week 2: Formatting Spreadsheets

Displaying Data Effectively
Design, Layout, and Format
Freeze Panes and Other Neat Tricks
Using Predefined Designs and Templates
Headers and Labels
Borders and Shading
Formatting Columns
Formatting Rows
Formatting Cells
Wrap and Merge
Reformatting Worksheets

Week 3: Manipulating Data

Manipulating Data in Excel – An Overview
Sorting Data
Data Validation and Consolidation
Working with Formulas
What-If Analysis
Error Checking
Automating with Macros

Week 4: Displaying Data Visually

Charting Data – An Overview
Using the Right Chart or Graph for Your Data
Charting Your Data
Titles, Legends, Labels, and So On
Reformatting Your Charts
Deploying Your Data and Charts in Word
Deploying Your Data and Charts in PowerPoint
Data and Charts in Portable Electronic Documents
Inserting Images and Shapes
Review Mode and Comments
Working with Your Team in the Cloud
Printing Your Workbooks

Prerequisites

Basic computer skills
Knowledge of Windows or Mac OS: Creating, editing, saving, managing, and printing computer files.

Requirements

Software: Any version of Microsoft Office 2013 or Microsoft Office 365. (Users of Office 2010 will also be able to follow most of the course.)

Additional information:

Your place in the course is confirmed by your payment. Introductory courses are intended for students with no experience in the subject matter and are seeking beginner level training.

Refund Policy: Please read our Terms and Refund Policy before registering for this course.

Additional Cost: Book and software might be required for the course. Read the Requirements and Book section for more information. Course fee does not include the book and software cost .

How eClasses Work:Instructors post lectures (text-based, no video or audio), reading selections, and hands-on assignments once a week in the online classroom. Students can discuss the assignments with the instructor and amongst themselves in the classroom area. This format has no set meeting time, which allows students to attend class at a time most convenient to them, yet still provides logically organized communication between class participants. Students can apply for the completion certificate after finishing the class.

Price:

$200.00

Item No.:

B100

Instructor:

William Harrel

Open Courses: No other sessions are scheduled for this course. You can add to your wish list and you will be notified when other sessions are scheduled.

Instructor's Profile

William Harrel has owned and operated a computer design and consulting firm, WilliamHarrel.com, for over 25 years. WilliamHarrel.com has designed and maintains hundreds of websites for several notable clients, such as the California Spine Institute and Communications Technology Watch. Harrel has written 20 books and hundreds of magazine articles on digital design and computer technology in general. He created and currently instructs online courses offered at over 2,500 colleges and universities, as well as the popular Mobile Web Design, Introduction to CSS3, Introduction to Adobe Muse, and Introduction to Adobe Edge Animate courses at eClasses.org, as well as Microsoft Office, including Excel, at Cal State Northridge. His latest book, HTML, CSS and JavaScript Mobile Development for Dummies, focuses on developing Web content for mobile devices. And he has used Excel to manage his company’s finances for almost 30 years.

Before you register for this class, please read the Outline, Prerequisites, Requirements, Books, and Refund Policy sections carefully.

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