How do I tart up my spreadsheet?

sparkle_monkey

CALLING ALL TECHIES!! I'm a bit dumb when it comes to computers and my spreadsheet is v.basic, I just input the figures and then I add up on a calculator. I KNOW that excel can do amazing things like calculate how to turn my wages into millions but how do I do it or more specifically WHERE do I learn this? I have no idea how to do formulas etc... :rolleyes:
The reality is I'm a bit bored of my spreadsheet and want to jazz it up.
e.g. How do you divide up your expenditure? What categories do you use?
Can you plot some kind of chart showing your debt decreasing?
Any advice for 'spreadsheet challenged sparkle' would be wonderful

Pritesh_2

Hi Sparkle_monkey,

Basic formula's are easy.

To add a range in a column or row just use the following formula:

=sum(a1:a15)

= indicates an formula
sum indicates the action
a1:a15 calculate everything between a1 to a15 inclusive

if you wanted to calculate (add) just 2 cells the following would apply

-sum(a1,a5) a1 and a5 are examples.

Remember all the cell references are examples, your ranges probably vary.

You might be better off putting this Thread in the Tec Boards.

Hope it helps.

Pritesh_2

Click Here for a fantastic guide to Microsoft Excel

pennies2pounds_3

Try buying a book which has excel in it . Or use the above site. I managed to get a book from aldi ages ago . Basically if your adding cells together then you do =sum(a1+a2) this will add the sum of these 2 cells and put the total in the cell your currently in. If your dividing then do =sum(a1/a2) this is just an example using cells a1 and a2 obviously it could be any cells your doing a calculation with. hope this helps.

JollyNolly

Once you get into Excel spreadsheets they're really easy. Just remember the symbols:

+ add
- subtract
/ divide
* multiply

Always start a formula with =
Only use =sum() if you actually want to add a row or column of figures.
The easiest way to do it is just to type the = then click on the cells that you want to use.

Say you want to do a simple balance sheet, for example. Start with a new spreadsheet, and type in the words Item, In, Out, Balance in cells A1, B1, C1 and D1.

Then, in cell A2, type the words Carried Forward, then type your starting balance in cell D2 (which in my case might be something like -2500 for example ).
Then in cell D3 type = then click on cell D2, type +, then click in cell B3, then type -, then click in cell C3, then press enter. What this tells Excel is to take the previous balance, add anything in the In column and take away anything in the Out column.

Now you can enter whatever you like in cell A3, such as Gas Bill, and type the amount of the gas bill in the Out column, i.e. cell C3, and hey presto, your new balance appears in the D column.

But, you may say, I could have done that in a fraction of the time with my calculator.

Aha! here comes the trick. Click on the new balance in cell D3. You may notice that there is a small dot on the bottom right-hand corner of the box. Also, when you point to the dot the pointer turns from a fat white cross into a skinny black one. Use the mouse to drag this corner down a few rows (say about half a dozen). You'll find that Excel has not only copied the formula into each of these cells, but it has also adjusted each one so that it does the right sum each time.

Now you can carry on adding new items below the gas bill (Sainbury's, Interest repayments, credit card repayment - oops that's my spreadsheet) and so on. Just make sure you put the amount of money in the correct column each time, depending on whether it's coming in or going out.

A quick way to turn this into a graph is like this. Use the mouse to highlight all the items in your "items" column. Then, hold down the Ctrl key, and drag down the corresponding items in the Balance column. You should now have two sets of data highlighted, item names on the left and balance figures on the right. Now click on the "graph" button in the button bar at the top of the screen. Choose a line graph, then Next, Next, Finish, and hey presto (I hope).

Hope this works for you!

sparkle_monkey

Thanks, I'm going to have a play now!