Microsoft Excel Overview
In general, Microsoft Excel is a
spreadsheet tool that is capable of performing calculations,
analyzing data, presenting information in advanced dashboards
and integrating information from different programs. That is
just for starters. Microsoft Excel is comprised of
organizational units called workbooks. A standard workbook
contains worksheets and chart sheets. Worksheets perform
calculations, store and organize data, present graphics, charts
and controls like a web page; they are extremely versatile. A
worksheet is comprised of millions of cells. The job of a cell
is to store a formula that performs a calculation or
communicates with some other application (i.e. program) such as
a database. They also store and present data. A chart sheet's
job is to present a chart (graph) developed from data stored on
a worksheet or from some other data source.
- A not so typical business
dashboard, just a taste of what Excel is capable of, its elements and the workbook that contains it
are presented in the illustration below. The dashboard presents revenue and was developed in Microsoft Excel
in about an hour. It utilizes drawing shapes, charts,
and worksheet functions (behind the scenes). These
are all Excel features which operate on the worksheet.
- A typical engineering
model, its elements and the worksheet that contains it
are presented in the illustration below. This simple ramjet model
utilizes Data Validation, a chart, drawing shapes, worksheet functions and formulas.
These are all Excel features which operate on the worksheet.
Basic Capabilities of Microsoft Excel
Think of Microsoft Excel as a
modular tool set that can be rapidly configured to accomplish a
desired task. Some of Excel's key tools include:
- Worksheets that can store and
organize massive amounts of data
- Formulas that perform basic
algebraic operations
- Formulas that perform basic logic
operations using relational operators
- Array Formulas that can
analyze massive amounts of worksheet data
- Worksheet functions that perform
automated tasks on massive amounts of data that simple
formulas cannot do
- Data validation that is used to
protect against invalid cell data entry, allows forms to be
constructed
- Conditional formatting that
colors worksheet cells based on logical conditions
- Chart creation that visualizes
worksheet data
- Excel tables that organize and
adapt to resizing worksheet data
- Power Query that can fuse, clean
and edit data from multiple data sources
- Pivot Tables (Power Pivot) that
can be used to rapidly organize, analyze and display
worksheet data
- Grouping outlines that can group,
hide and display data
- Built-in drawing shapes, imported
pictures and ActiveX controls that can be used to create
advanced visual interfaces like dashboards
- Built-in programming language
called Visual Basic for Applications (VBA, Macros) that can
be used to automate Excel's features and develop time saving
tools
By using Microsoft Excel, company funds
and time are not invested in developing software tools from the
"ground up" in computer languages that take large staffs to
maintain.
