Hello, Microsoft Excel!

At the beginning of the digital age, computers were expensive. Word processing was not a compelling reason to get a computer; typewriters cost less and did just as much. People didn't buy the first computers for graphics or photography or music.

The "killer app" that everybody needed was SPREADSHEETS.

Spreadsheets offered a way to calculate rows and columns of data. Say, “Hello” to Microsoft Excel.

Meet Microsoft Excel

Look at the label in BOLD above the picture of the Start menu on this page. This label is a method for writing out the path that your mouse travels. You will see this map at the top of every picture in our course.

Start Microsoft Excel. When you start Microsoft Excel 2013, you will be prompted to choose a workbook. On the right side of the Welcome page are templates: spreadsheet apps that you can edit for your own work.

Click on Blank workbook.