How to Use and Design Excel Macros - Part 2: Excel

Part 1: Macro Definition, Importance, Audience, and Learning Outcomes

Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool for data management and analysis.

• Grid layout broken into cells labeled by letter and number coordinates
• Data can be entered into these cells either manually or by importing data that is already in a digital form
• Formulas can then be entered into other cells in order to manipulate or analyze the data

• File
• Home
• Insert
• Page Layout
• Formulas
• Data
• Review
• View
• Add-Ins

Opens the main menu

Contents:

• Save
• Save As
• Open
• Close
• Info
• Recent
• New
• Print
• Save & Send
• Help
• Options
• Exit

The default tab

Provides access to:

• Font – style, size, color
• Alignment – orientation of numbers/text
• Formatting – designated style for type of information
• Clipboard – copying and pasting
• Sorting filter – low to high, A to Z, etc.
• Find tool – search for word/number
• Other general tools

• Tables
• Pictures/shapes
• Charts/graphs - column, line, pie, bar, area, scatter, and other
• Hyperlinks
• Text boxes
• Symbols

• Themes – color patterns, fonts
• Page setup – margins, orientation, size
• Scaling – change size
• Sheet options – gridlines, headings
• Arrangement of objects – forwards or backwards

• Reference materials – information about finding formulas to use in data manipulation and analysis
• Insert a formula – use a formula in a cell
• Search for a formula – browse available formulas

• Get external data – transfer data to Excel
• Sort and filter data
• Data analysis - if Analysis ToolPak has been activated (in the File Options), that add-in will be available (provides a variety of statistical tools such as correlation, histogram, and t-test)

• Proofing – spellcheck, thesaurus
• Translating – different languages
• Comments – making notes
• Protecting the workbook – passwords

• Workbook view – screen layout
• Zoom
• Window options – view multiple workbooks at once
• Macros – create, record, edit, or run macros

Can provide more tools if certain add-ins (extra programs) are enabled in the options

Part 3: Macro Basics