BUSINESS ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE

Business Accounting and Finance

Business Accounting and Finance

Question 1

This section introduces basic Spreadsheet skills. As you read, you will be invited to "Try Out" the skill introduced.Each time you see the Interactive Mouse Iconmouse, we encourage you to return to your own spreadsheet application to practice.

Part a

All software applications have an online Help resource. Most often it is one of the last menu items on the right, and, at minimum, it will usually include an index, a list of contents, a search feature, and balloon help. Remember that this resource is here for you as you meet new challenges with your software in the future.

 

On Microsoft Excel, you might find the "Assistant" to be helpful.

This feature can be turned on and off under the help menu.

 

Look at your help on your application and find items mentioned above. Be sure you understand how to turn the balloon feature on and off. Try out your help's search feature by entering a keyword, such as "column". Also, notice what other items are listed under your help menu. Is there a tutorial listed? If so, you may want to take the time to do this tutorial at some point.

Each application has menu items across the top of the screen which allow you to use the features of your software. Notice the similarities between these two applications' menu items.

Many of the actions that can be taken through the menu items can be done through clicking a shortcut icon. Notice the shortcut icons located just below the menu items. In AppleWorks, it is called a Button Bar.

Become familiar with the menu items in your application. Slowly drag your mouse over each shortcut to familiarize yourself with your shortcut icons. You may want to use your Balloon Help feature under the Help menu.

Part B

To create a new spreadsheet, go to File>New.

Usually, this will open a blank spreadsheet. In Excel it will be called a workbook. In some integrative applications, you must choose what type of file you would like to create. In AppleWorks, after going to File>New, the following dialog box appears.

A new spreadsheet file should look something like this:

 

See what your options are after going to File>New. Create a new file in your application so that you can begin creating a practice spreadsheet. Notice if your application has a Project Gallery, a Wizard, or an Assistant. These are features that may offer you pre-formatted, blank spreadsheet files to work from, for future reference.

To save a document, go to File>Save.

The first time you save, you can choose a destination and file name. After this point your computer will automatically save it to that destination. If you would like to specify a new destination or verify the original destination of an existing document, go to File>Save As.

Here are recommended steps to saving. (The steps are outlined for the Excel dialog box, however, the steps are universal.)

To open an existing file, go to File>Open. The dialog box will look similar to the dialog ...