Things You'll Need:
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Step 1
Exploring ExcelTo learn how to use Microsoft Excel, you must first become familiar with the Excel spreadsheet window. Click on the image for a quick overview of an Excel spreadsheet. You'll be able to see where the Formula Bar is, the toolbars, what a column is, what a row is, etc.
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Step 2
Selecting a RangeHow to Use Excel - Selecting a Range of Cells: A “range” is a selected block of cells. To select a range of cells in Excel, just click and drag your mouse pointer across the cells. The selected cells will be highlighted. The name for the range of cells is the first cell and the last cell in the selection.
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Step 3
Selecting Columns and RowsHow to Use Excel - Selecting Rows and Columns: To select a row in Excel, click on the row heading (numbers that run vertically down the left side of the Excel spreadsheet). To select a column in Excel, click on the column heading (letters that run horizontally across the top of the Excel spreadsheet). To select multiple rows or columns in Excel, just click a column heading and drag to the left or right, or click on a row heading and drag up or down.
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Step 4
NonContiguous SelectionHow to Use Excel - Selecting Non-Contiguous Cells, Rows, Columns: You can select cells, columns, or rows in Microsoft Excel that are not right next to each other by first selecting one, then pressing the CTRL key on your keyboard while selecting more.
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Step 5
Selecting Entire WorksheetHow to Use Excel - Selecting the Worksheet: To select the entire Microsoft Excel worksheet, click on the heading box located to the left of Column A and above Row 1.
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Step 6
Inserting RowsHow to Use Excel - Inserting Rows: When you insert a new row in Excel, the new row(s) get inserted above the selected row(s). First, select the row(s) UNDER where you want your new row(s) to go. Then right-click and choose INSERT.
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Step 7
Inserting ColumnsHow to Use Excel - Inserting Columns: When you insert a new column in Excel, the new column(s) will get inserted to the left of the selected column(s). To insert columns, first select the column(s) to the RIGHT of where you want the new column(s) to be inserted. Then right-click and choose INSERT.
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Step 8
Deleting RowsHow to Use Excel - Deleting Rows: When you delete a row in Excel, all the rows underneath the deleted row(s) will move up. To delete a row, select the row(s) to be deleted, then right-click and choose DELETE.
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Step 9
Deleting ColumnsHow to Use Excel - Deleting Columns: When you delete a column in Excel, all columns to the right of the deleted column(s) will shift to the left. To delete a column, select the column(s) to be deleted, then right-click and choose DELETE.
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Step 10
Drag to FitHow to Use Excel - Changing Row and Column Size: To change the size of a row or column in Excel, place your mouse pointer on the border between the numbered or lettered headings. The pointer will change to a double arrow. Then click and drag the border to the desired size.
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Step 11
How to Use Excel - Changing Row and Column Size Using AutoFit: Excel also has an AutoFit feature that you can use to automatically re-size a column or row. Just double-click on the right column border or bottom row border and it will automatically re-size to fit the cell that contains the most characters.
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Step 12
How to Use Excel - Changing Row and Column Size Using Menu: To set a column or row to a specific size, select the column or row, right-click and choose COLUMN WIDTH or ROW HEIGHT. Enter the size in the dialog box that pops up.
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Step 13
For more MicroSoft Excel help, see the Tips and Resources section below.
Comments
dcole said
on 3/14/2009 I've made this article one of the related ones to my article (http://www.ehow.com/how_4847362_buttons-insert-delete-rows-columns.html). My article is for more advanced users. It's great to have some good basics here.
rewrite810 said
on 1/12/2009 Thanks for the help...I need all the Excel assistance I can get! :) 5*!