A spreadsheet is an interactive computer application program for organization and analysis

of data in tabular form. Spreadsheets developed as computerized simulations of paper

accounting worksheets. The program operates on data represented as cells of an array, organized in
rows and columns. Each cell of the array is a modelviewcontroller element that can contain either
numeric or text data, or the results of formulas that automatically calculate and display a value based
on the contents of other cells.
A spreadsheet is a table of values arranged in rows and columns. Each value can have a predefined relationship to
the other values. If you change one value, therefore, you may need to change other values as well.

Spreadsheet
Alternatively referred to as a worksheet, a spreadsheet is a data file
made up ofrows and columns that are used to sort data and allow a
user to manipulate and arrange data easily, commonly numerical data.
What makes a spreadsheet softwareprogram most unique is its ability
to calculate values using mathematical formulasand the data in
the cells. A good example of how a spreadsheet may be used is
creating an overview of your bank's balance. Below is a basic example
of what aMicrosoft Excel spreadsheet looks like as well as all the major
portions of a spreadsheet highlighted.

A spreadsheet is a document that stores data in a grid of horizontal rows and
vertical columns. Rows are typically labeled using numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.), while
columns are labeled with letters (A, B, C, etc). Individual row/column locations,
such as C3 or B12, are referred to as cells. Each cell can each store a unique
instance of data. By entering data into a spreadsheet, information can be stored in
a more structured way than using plain text The row/column structure also allows
the data to be analyzed using formulas and calculations.
For example, each row of a spreadsheet may store information about a person who
has an account with a certain company. Each column may store a different aspect
of the person's information, such as the first name, last name, address, phone
number, favorite food, etc. The spreadsheet program can analyze this data by
counting the number of people who live in a certain zip code, listing all the people
who's favorite food is fried veal, or performing other calcuations. In this way, a
spreadsheet is similar to a database.
However, spreadsheets are more streamlined than databases and are especially
useful for processing numbers. This is why spreadsheets are commonly used in
scientific and financial applications. For example, a spreadsheet may store bank
account data, including balance and interest information. A column that stores the
account balances of several clients can easily be summed to produce the total
value of all the clients' balances. These amounts can be multiplied by the interest
rate from another cell to see what the value of the accounts will be in a year. Once
the formula has been created, modifying the value of just the interest rate cell will
also change the projected value of all the accounts.
The most commonly used spreadsheet application is Microsoft Excel, but several
other spreadsheet programs are available including IBM Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows
and AppleWorks and Numbers for Mac OS X.

Parts of the Excel 2010 Screen
Related Tutorials:
Parts of the Excel 2007 Screen
Parts of the Excel 2003 Screen
Active Cell
The active cell is recognized by its black outline. Data is always entered into the active cell. Different
cells can be made active by clicking on them with the mouse or by using the arrow keys on the
keyboard.
File Tab
The File tab is new to Excel 2010 - Sort of. It is a replacement for the Office Button in Excel 2007 which
was a replacement for the file menu in earlier versions of Excel.
Like the old file menu, the File tab options are mostly related to file management such as opening new
or existing worksheet files, saving, printing, and a new feature - saving and sending Excel files in PDF format.
Formula Bar
Located above the worksheet, this area displays the contents of the active cell. It can also be used for
entering or editing data and formulas.
Name Box
Located next to the formula bar, the Name Box displays the cell reference or the name of the active cell.
Column Letters
Columns run vertically on a worksheet and each one is identified by a letter in the column header.
Row Numbers
Rows run horizontally in a worksheet and are identified by a number in the row header.
Together a column letter and a row number create a cell reference. Each cell in the worksheet can be
identified by this combination of letters and numbers such as A1, F456, or AA34.
Sheet Tabs
By default there are three worksheets in an Excel file.
The tab at the bottom of a worksheet tells you the name of the worksheet - such as Sheet1, Sheet2
etc.
Switching between worksheets can be done by clicking on the tab of the sheet you wish to access.
Renaming a worksheet or changing the tab color can make it easier to keep track of data in large spreadsheet
files.
Quick Access Toolbar
This customizable toolbar allows you to add frequently used commands. Click on the down arrow at
the end of the toolbar to display the toolbar's options.
Ribbon
The Ribbon is the strip of buttons and icons located above the work area. The Ribbon is organized into
a series of tabs - such as File, Home, and Formulas. Each tab contains a number of related features
and options. First introduced in Excel 2007, the Ribbon replaced the menus and toolbars found in
Excel 2003 and earlier versions