Beginner Excel Guides

Foundational Excel tutorials for getting comfortable with worksheets, formulas, formatting, and common spreadsheet tasks.

65 articles

FormulasBeginner
2025-02-13

XLOOKUP Function in Excel: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Learn how to use XLOOKUP in Excel with beginner-friendly steps, practical examples, and a clear comparison with VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, and INDEX MATCH....

#xlookup#lookup#excel-formulas
9 min read
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BeginnerFormulas
2024-11-26

Currency Conversion Using Live Exchange Rates in Excel and Google Sheets

This guide covers step-by-step practical instructions, for efficient multiple currency conversion with live exchange rates in Excel and Google Sheets....

#financial#conversions
14 min read
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Beginner
2024-02-28

How to Remove Last Saved By Information from an Excel File on Mac and Windows

Learn how to remove Last Saved By info from Excel files on Mac and Windows to maintain privacy when sharing documents. Follow our easy guide....

#privacy#security
3 min read
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Beginner
2023-12-04

TRUNC Function in Excel: A Comprehensive Guide

Discover the power of Excel TRUNC function with this comprehensive guide. Learn practical applications, and excel at truncating numbers in Excel....

#functions#math
7 min read
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Beginner
2023-10-16

Excel Worksheets: A Beginner's Guide

Want to start using Excel worksheets? With this guide, you can get a basic understanding of what worksheets are and how to make them work for you....

#worksheets
4 min read
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BeginnerFeatures
2023-09-18

Learn How to Add In Excel Using the SUM Function and AUTOSUM

We focus here on the SUM function and AUTOSUM feature, demonstrating how these tools are essential for understanding how to add in Excel....

#math
5 min read
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BeginnerFormatting
2019-07-04

How to Add a Row in Excel: Step by Step Process

Microsoft Excel is a great tool to use for work, school and even for personal data purposes. In case you're wondering, here's how to add a row in excel....

8 min read
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BeginnerFormulas
2019-06-20

The NOW Function in Excel: What It is and How to Use It

Are you wondering how to use the now function in Excel? Look no further. Our easy step-by-step guide has all of the information that you need to know....

#time
3 min read
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BeginnerFormatting
2019-06-19

How to Hide Columns in Excel

As great as columns are in Excel you don’t always need to see every single one. Let’s take a look at how to hide columns in Excel, and unhide them too....

#rows-columns#formatting
6 min read
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Beginner
2019-06-13

How to Randomize a List in Excel: Our Complete Guide

How to randomize a list in excel? How would you do it? In this article, we listed our complete guide to help you on this kind of formula....

8 min read
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BeginnerFeaturesGeneral Updates
2018-06-25

How to Delete Duplicates in Excel: An Easy Guide

Learn how to easily delete duplicates in Excel with our step-by-step guide. Remove duplicate entries and keep your spreadsheets clean and organized....

#duplicates
6 min read
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BeginnerFeaturesFormatting
2018-06-14

How to Freeze A Row in Excel: A Practical Guide

Learn to how to freeze a row in excel (or even more than 2 rows) using this practical how-to guide. Excel has an available feature allowing users the ability to freeze a row....

#rows-columns#freezing-rows-vs-splitting-panes
8 min read
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BeginnerFeatures
2018-06-13

How to Make a Line Graph in Excel

Organize data by learning how to make a line graph in Excel. Present information over time with this simple guide to creating a line graph....

#charts
9 min read
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BeginnerFormulas
2018-06-13

How to Subtract in Excel

Learn how to subtract in Excel with this valuable how-to guide. This article will walk you through each step of the process from start to finish....

#math
6 min read
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BeginnerFeatures
2018-05-23

5 New and Creative Ways To Utilize Excel

Excel is a program that is beneficial to anyone who wants to organize the utility bills or for professionals who need to stay organized at the office. To most Excel users, it can seem like a pretty cut and dry program. W...

8 min read
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BeginnerFeatures
2018-05-09

The 20 Most Useful Excel Shortcuts to Utilize

Do you use Excel every day but working with it seems slow and tedious? Learn 20 Excel shortcuts that help make creating spreadsheets faster and easier to do....

#shortcuts
8 min read
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BeginnerFeaturesFormatting
2018-05-02

Learn How to Unhide Cells in Excel Using Keyboard Shortcuts or the Home Menu

Learn how to unhide columns in Excel using keyboard shortcuts or the Home Menu methods. While Excel does not allow you to Hide and Unhide individual cells using the Hide/Unhide command, here’s a trick showing how to hide...

#rows-columns
6 min read
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BeginnerFormulas
2018-04-17

How to Use the AVERAGE Function in Excel

To figure out the average of a group of numbers, makes it easier for you to analyze important data. Learn how to use the average function in Excel right here....

#math#functions
6 min read
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BeginnerIntermediate
2012-03-20

Select Excel's Used Range on a Mac

Selecting the used range in an Excel worksheet is complicated by not having a Home button on the Mac keyboard. Some VBA code can solve this problem....

#excel-for-mac#shortcuts#vba
4 min read
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BeginnerFeatures
2011-08-23

Settings and Shortcuts for Excel 2003

Here is a list of things I do to "normalize" Excel 2003. Along with a few explanations, reasons, and/or rationalizations....

5 min read
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Beginner
2011-06-27

That Damn Delete Key in Excel for Mac

The Delete Key on a Mac doesn't work in Excel for Mac to delete cell and range contents like a Windows computer. fn+Delete is the magic combination....

#excel-for-mac#video
3 min read
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BeginnerTime and Date
2011-06-22

Regional Date Format in Excel for Mac and Windows

Discover how to set and use regional date format in Excel effectively. Enhance your spreadsheets with this essential Microsoft Excel tip....

6 min read
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BeginnerFeatures
2011-04-29

Spreadsheet Size in Excel for Windows

Saving an older XLS file to the newer XLSX file format in Excel will not produce a bigger spreadsheet, unless you know the quirk involved....

2 min read
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BeginnerFeatures
2011-04-28

Spreadsheet Size in Excel for Mac

When you open an XLS file in Excel for Mac versions 2008 and 2011, there are 1,048,576 rows and 16,384 columns. How odd....

2 min read
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Beginner
2011-04-15

5 Obvious Things that 80% of People Don’t Know About Excel

This guest post by ExcelEverest explains five obvious things that 80% of people don’t know about Excel. Check out ExcelEverest.com to learn Excel....

4 min read
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Beginner
2011-04-11

Table Names in Excel

Each Table created in Excel is given a default name that can be used in formulas, to select table data, and shows up in formula autocomplete lists....

2 min read
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BeginnerFeatures
2011-03-31

Table Design in Excel

I design a regular data table in Excel, show how it fails, then convert to an Official Excel Table and show how a Table remembers cell formatting....

4 min read
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BeginnerFeatures
2011-03-30

Migrating to Tables in Excel

I'm going on quest to find out all about Tables in Excel....

2 min read
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Beginner
2011-03-08

Set the Number of Default Worksheets in Your Workbook

Control the default number of worksheets in a Workbook in Excel....

1 min read
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Beginner
2011-03-07

View Excel Spreadsheets with the Google Docs Viewer

If you have a Gmail or Google Docs account, getting a quick look at an Microsoft Excel file is now supported with the Google Docs Viewer....

#cloud
2 min read
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BeginnerFormulas
2011-03-01

How to Convert GPS Coordinates in Excel

Learn how to easily convert GPS coordinates in Excel. Discover tips and tricks to input, display, and map latitude and longitude data in Excel....

#conversions#coordinates#gps
4 min read
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BeginnerFeatures
2011-02-25

Open File As Read Only in Excel

To discourage users from making any changes to a macro file you can have the file recommend Read-Only when it's opened....

1 min read
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Beginner
2011-02-21

My First Excel 2011 Chart

My first chart made in Excel 2011 with a data table below, a sparkline chart, and a picture of the ski slope. The chart shows break a event point....

#charts#excel-legacy#excel-for-mac#sparkline
2 min read
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Beginner
2011-02-11

The Mini Toolbar in Excel

Do basic formatting in Excel with the Mini Toolbar. It appears above the shortcut menu when you right-click an object - cell, range, chart, or shape....

#excel-legacy
2 min read
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Beginner
2011-02-09

F2 in Excel for Mac

The F2 key is a fundamental shortcut in Excel for Windows. But how works F2 in Excel for Mac?...

#excel-for-mac#shortcuts
2 min read
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Beginner
2011-02-04

Add Freeze Sheet Panes to the Quick Access Toolbar

Add a one-click Freeze Panes command to the Quick Access Toolbar in Excel 2010 and 2007....

#excel-legacy
2 min read
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Beginner
2011-02-02

Excel 2011 Preferences

Default Preferences that should be changed in Excel 2011 [Mac] for General, View, Edit, Calculation, and Ribbon....

#excel-for-mac
2 min read
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Beginner
2011-01-26

Copy a Help Topic URL in Excel 2010

Help topics in Excel 2010 are shown in a separate window from Office.com that allows the URL to be easily copied from the Help topic's Properties....

#excel-legacy#shortcuts
3 min read
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Beginner
2011-01-03

What Version of Excel am I Using?

A reference to find out what version of Excel you are using. Excel for Windows - versions 2010, 2007, 2003. Excel for Mac - versions 2011, 2008....

#excel-legacy#excel-for-mac
2 min read
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Beginner
2010-12-23

Apple Keyboard Symbols in Excel

One key to understanding Excel 2001 for Mac is knowing the keyboard shortcuts , but to communicate them requires displaying the symbols that are specific to a M...

#excel-for-mac
2 min read
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Beginner
2010-12-21

Keyboard Shortcuts in Excel 2011

Create, Delete, or Peruse Keyboard Shortcuts in Excel 2011 or 2008 by using the Customize Keyboard dialog box....

#excel-for-mac
3 min read
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Beginner
2010-12-17

Recently Used File List in Excel

The number of files Excel will show in the Recently Used File List depends on the version of Excel you're using and vary between 9 and 99 files....

#excel-legacy#excel-for-mac
2 min read
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Beginner
2010-12-16

Use Function Keys Normally in Excel 2011

Since I'm relatively new to the world of Mac but an old hand with Windows, making an effort to discover Excel 2011 for Mac comes with some adjustments. Using th...

#excel-for-mac
2 min read
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BeginnerFormulas
2010-12-15

Logical Operations in Excel

Logical operations in Excel on four TRUE/FALSE outcomes of A an B. Then ADD, MULTIPLY, and use functions AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR, & equals comparison....

3 min read
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Beginner
2010-12-09

Worksheet Navigation in Excel

Keyboard and mouse shortcuts for navigating Excel worksheets in Windows and Mac....

1 min read
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BeginnerFeatures
2010-12-07

Quick Access File List in Excel 2010

In Excel 2010 there's an new optional feature at the bottom of the File>Recent menu to Quickly access this number of Recent Workbooks....

1 min read
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BeginnerFormatting
2010-12-06

Indent Left and Right to Align Cell Contents

Both Left and Right Indenting is useful to align cell contents in Excel to make data more readable. Left Indent for text and Right Indent for numbers....

2 min read
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Beginner
2010-11-29

Switch Between Relative and Absolute References in Excel for Mac

Use the keyboard shortcut Cmd+T to switch between relative, absolute, and mixed formula references in Excel for Mac....

#excel-for-mac
1 min read
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BeginnerFormulas
2010-11-22

Convert Seconds with the TIME Function in Excel

An iTunes playlist download shows time in seconds. Convert these seconds with the TIME Function in Excel and some custom formatting....

2 min read
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BeginnerFormulas
2010-11-16

The IF Function in Excel

The IF Function has three arguments. The first is required, the last two optional. Comparison calculation operators and example IF Functions shown....

3 min read
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Beginner
2010-10-26

Absolute and Relative Cell References in Excel

Learn what a relative and absolute cell reference means in rows and columns, then use relative and absolute in one formula with two cell references,...

#excel-legacy
5 min read
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Beginner
2010-10-12

Switch Between Workbooks Faster in Excel 2007 and 2010

Add the Switch Window command to the Quick Access Toolbar in Excel 2010 and 2007 to switch between workbooks with only two clicks, like Excel 2003....

2 min read
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Beginner
2010-10-05

Column Width Unit of Measure in Excel Versions

The units differ for column widths between Excel made for Windows and Mac, 8.43 characters verses 1.04 inches, respectively....

2 min read
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Beginner
2010-10-02

How to Start a New Line in Excel Cell With Keyboard Shortcut and Formula

If you need to include multiple lines of text within a single cell of a worksheet, you can start a new line in Excel cell by using a line break....

5 min read
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Beginner
2010-09-23

Use the Name Box to Select a Range in Excel

Use the Name box to select a cell, range or multiple ranges in Excel....

2 min read
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BeginnerGeneral Updates
2010-09-09

Number Format Shortcut in Excel

A keyboard shortcut to format a number with a thousands separator and two decimal places. Control + Shift + ! (exclamation point)...

1 min read
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BeginnerTime and Date
2010-08-31

Date and Time Calculation in Excel

Date and Time are the components of a serial number value, and are represented by an integer and decimal, respectively....

3 min read
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BeginnerFormulas
2010-08-24

Using the SUM Function for a Running Total in Excel

Using the SUM Function in Excel to provide a running total time for song duration....

2 min read
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Beginner
2010-07-10

Change Excel 2008 to Look Normal

Change the default spreadsheet view in Excel 2008 for Mac to Normal....

#excel-for-mac
2 min read
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Beginner
2010-07-08

Pin Documents, Workbooks, and Places to the Recent File List in Excel

Pin documents, workbooks, and places to the recent file list, or jump list, in Excel 2007 and Excel 2010....

1 min read
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Beginner
2010-07-06

Add Freeze Panes Command to the Excel Quick Access Toolbar

Add the Freeze Panes command to the Quick Access Toolbar in Excel 2007 & 2010 to get back to the two-click functionality in Excel 2003. Excel 2008:mac requires the Normal page layout to Freeze Panes....

2 min read
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Beginner
2010-06-22

Navigating Regions in Excel

Navigating large regions of data can be very quick and easy using keyboard or mouse shortcuts . You can also select entire rows or columns, although multiple ro...

4 min read
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Beginner
2010-06-19

Select a Current Region of Data in Excel

How to quickly select regions of data in Excel...

3 min read
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Beginner
2010-06-17

Organizing Data Into Regions

Why it's important to organize data into regions or ranges in Excel....

2 min read
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Beginner
2010-06-15

Expand Menus in Excel 2003

Show full menus in Excel 2003...

#excel-legacy
1 min read
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