New Perspectives Excel 2010
Tutorial 1: Getting Started with Excel
Key Terms
active cell The cell currently selected in the active worksheet. (EX 3)
active sheet The sheet currently displayed in the workbook window. (EX 2)
adjacent range A group of cells in a single rectangular block of cells. (EX 23)
arithmetic operator An mathematical symbol representing the operations of addition,
subtraction, multiplication, division, or exponentiation. (EX 30)
AutoComplete The feature that helps make entering repetitive text easier; as you type
text into the active cell, Excel displays text that begins with the same letters as a
previous entry in the same column. (EX 11)
autofit To eliminate empty space by matching the row height or column width to its
tallest or longest cell entry. (EX 17)
AutoSum A button that inserts Excel functions to sum, average, or count all the values in
a column or row, or display the minimum or maximum value in a column or row. (EX 23)
cell range A group of cells, which can be either adjacent or nonadjacent. (EX 22)
cell reference The column and row location that identifies a cell within a worksheet; for
example, the cell reference B6 refers to the cell located where column B intersects row
6. (EX 6)
cell The intersection of a single row and a single column. (EX 3)
chart sheet A sheet that contains only the chart and no worksheet cells. (EX 5)
clear To remove data from a worksheet, leaving blank cells where the data had been.
(EX 20)
column headings The letters along the top of the worksheet that identify the different
columns in the worksheet. (EX 3)
cut To place cell contents into computer memory or on the Clipboard; the contents can
then be pasted from the Clipboard into a new location in the worksheet. (EX 28)
date data A value in a recognized date format. (EX 9)
delete To remove both the data and the cells from the worksheet. (EX 20)
drag and drop The technique to move a cell or range by selecting it, positioning the
pointer over the bottom border of the selection, and then dragging the selection to a
new location. (EX 27)
Edit mode The mode in which you can edit cell contents. (EX 39)
formula A mathematical expression that returns a value. (EX 22)
formula bar The bar located below the Ribbon that displays the value or formula
entered in the active cell. (EX 2)
formula view A view of the worksheet that displays formulas instead of the resulting
values. (EX 46)
function A named operation that returns a value; used to simplify formulas. (EX 34)
landscape orientation The page orientation where the page is wider than it is tall. (EX
44)
Microsoft Excel 2010 A spreadsheet program used to enter, analyze, and present
quantitative data. (EX 1)
Name box The box located at the left side of the formula bar that displays the cell
reference of the active cell. (EX 2)
nonadjacent range The combination of two or more distinct adjacent ranges. (EX 23)
Normal view The default Excel view that shows the contents of the worksheet. (EX 43)
number data Any numerical value that can be used in a mathematical calculation. (EX 9)
operator A mathematical symbol used in a formula to combine different values,
resulting in a single value that is displayed within the cell. (EX 30)
order of precedence A set of predefined rules used to determine the sequence in which
operators are applied in a calculation. (EX 30)
Page Break Preview The view of the worksheet that displays the location of each page
break. (EX 43)
Page Layout view The view that shows how the worksheet will appear when printed.
(EX 43)
pixel A single point on a computer monitor or printout. (EX 16)
planning analysis sheet A series of questions that help you think about the workbook’s
purpose and how to achieve the desired results. (EX 8)
point A unit of measure equal to approximately 1/72 of an inch. (EX 17)
portrait orientation The page orientation where the page is taller than it is wide. (EX 44)
range reference The location and size of a cell range. (EX 24)
replacement string A string of characters to use in place of the search string. (EX 40)
row headings The numbers along the left side of the worksheet that identify the
different rows in the worksheet. (EX 2)
scale To reduce the width and the height of the printout to fit the number of pages you
specify by shrinking the text size as needed. (EX 47)
search string A string of characters to locate. (EX 40)
Select All button The button used to select all of the cells in the active worksheet. (EX 2)
sheet tab scrolling buttons Buttons used to scroll the list of sheet tabs in the worksheet.
(EX 2)
sheet tab The area at the bottom of the worksheet that identifies the sheet by name.
(EX 2)
spelling checker A feature that verifies the words in the active worksheet against the
program’s dictionary; you can replace or ignore the words it flags as misspelled. (EX 22)
spreadsheet A collection of text and numbers laid out in a rectangular grid. (EX 4)
text data Any combination of letters, numbers, and symbols that form words and
sentences. (EX 9)
text string Two or more text characters. (EX 9)
time data A value in a recognized time format. (EX 9)
truncate To hide from the view (EX 10)
view buttons The buttons that change how the worksheet content is displayed—Normal
view, Page Layout view, or Page Break Preview. (EX 23)
what-if analysis An approach in which you change one or more values in a spreadsheet
and then assess the effect those changes have on the calculated values. (EX 4)
workbook An Excel file containing a collection of worksheets and chart sheets. (EX 2)
worksheet A grid of rows and columns in which the contents of the spreadsheet are laid
out. (EX 3)