Recognize how an Excel file is organized into workbooks, worksheets, rows, columns, cells, and ranges. Use cell addresses like A1 and range references like A1:C5 to describe exactly where data lives.

Find the parts of the Excel window you use most: the ribbon, tabs, groups, formula bar, Name Box, sheet tabs, scroll bars, and status bar. Decide where to look when you need a command, a cell’s contents, or your current location.

Apply the previous explanations in a guided problem.

Create a new workbook, open an existing one, and save changes without losing track of where the file lives. Compare common file types such as XLSX, XLSM, CSV, PDF, and older XLS so you can choose the right format for the job.

Move quickly within a worksheet and between sheets using clicks, scroll bars, sheet tabs, the Name Box, and keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl+Home, Ctrl+End, and Ctrl+Arrow. Trace how Excel keeps one active cell even while you view different parts of the grid.

Select the exact cells Excel should act on, from a single cell to a block, whole rows or columns, the entire sheet, or non-adjacent ranges. Practice using drag, Shift, and Ctrl selections so commands affect only the intended part of the worksheet.

Apply the previous explanations in a guided problem.

Check your understanding with a short quiz.

Review this chapter with practice based on your mistakes.