Absolute cell referencing



SPREADSHEET GLOSSARY

Absolute Cell Referencing:

Sometimes you will need to refer to the same specific cell on a worksheet.

Absolute references are fixed and never change even if you move or copy a formula. They are created by putting a $ sign in front of the row or column part of the cell reference to be fixed, e.g. $D$5, $D5, or D$5.

Active Cell:

Is the cell ready for data entry. A black border surrounds the active cell. You may change the active cell the using your cursor keys or using your mouse (pointing and clicking).

Auto Fill:

Excel is able to recognise simple numeric patterns. Suppose you are creating a worksheet and you need to add 2, 4, 6 and so forth to a column. Rather than typing all the numbers to 20, Excel can ‘auto fill’ them for you as long you tell it the pattern to begin with by highlighting a short sequence of numbers and dragging them.

Auto Sum:

Because the most common calculation is the totalling of data, Excel has a button on the toolbar called Auto Sum. Auto Sum writes a formula that uses the SUM function.

Calculations:

Formulae are a method of writing your own calculations. When you change data used in a formula, the formula automatically re-calculates, e.g. the formula =B2+C2 always adds what is in cell B2 to what is in cell C2.

Cell:

Where a row and column meet. Data or formulae can be added to a cell.

Cell Reference (sometimes called Relative Cell Reference):

Identifies the cell - the column letter and row number, e.g. A5 or B4.

Column:

Are labelled alphabetically across the top, beginning with “A” in the left corner.

Conditional Formatting:

A conditional format, allows you to only format cells that meet certain conditions, i.e. above, below or between a specific value or set of values.

Formatting could be colour fill, type, size or boldness of text.

Filtering:

Filtering allows you to display only the records that share specific criteria, or field values. Within Excel Auto filter allows you to perform this task. When you turn on Auto filter, filter arrows which look like down arrows, will appear next to the column headings. You click an arrow to display a list of values in that field, and then select a value to use as a condition.

Formulae (Plural) Formula (Singular):

Equations that calculate a value. In spreadsheets a formula begins with an “=” sign, e.g. = B2*C2 multiplies cell B2 by cell C2.

Formula Bar:

Appears directly below the toolbar in the worksheet and displays a formula when the cell of a worksheet contains a calculated value.

Functions:

Not all calculations are simple. Excel’s many functions it is made much easier to carry out calculations. Functions are built in formulas that perform complex maths for you. You enter the function name and any extra information that the function requires and Excel performs the calculations. E.g. to add the values in 6 cells together you could use the formula =B1+B2+B3+B4+B5+B6, however, an easier way of doing it would be with the SUM function, =SUM(B1:B6)

Protecting Cells, Worksheets and Workbooks:

It is possible to protect individual cells an entire worksheet or workbook from amendments by another user. Passwords can also be applied for security.

Range:

A selected group of cells is called a range. In a range, all cells touch each other and form a rectangle.

Row:

Are numbered down the left-hand side, starting with “1” in the top left corner.

Status Line:

Displays both the co-ordinates and contents of the highlighted cell.

Styles:

A style is a collection of formatting attributes such as font, size, bold, italic, cell shading etc. When you apply a style to a cell, all of the formatting attributes contained as part of that style are applied to the cell.

Template:

There may be occasions when you want to save the general layout of a workbook for future use. Creating a template can do this.

Validation:

Data validation is where entering data into a cell is restricted to a particular data type, data value, or formula.

Worksheet:

A whole spreadsheet page.

Workbook:

A number of worksheets that can be linked together in a spreadsheet file.

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