Basic Worksheet Elements 7.
Column Header
Displays the column letter at the top.
1. Columns Clicking it selects the entire column.
Run vertically and are labeled with letters (A, B,
C...). 8. Row Header
Used to organize data in vertical groups. Displays the row number on the left.
Clicking it selects the entire row.
2. Rows
Run horizontally and are labeled with numbers (1, Workbook and Worksheet Controls
2, 3...). 7. Worksheet Tab / Leaf Bar
Used to organize data in horizontal groups. Located at the bottom, used to switch between
different worksheets within a workbook.
3 & 4. Cell and Cell Content
A cell is the intersection of a row and a column 8. Scroll Bar
(e.g., A1). Used to move the worksheet view up/down
Cell content is the value, text, or formula entered (vertical) or left/right (horizontal).
in the cell.
12. Zoom Control
8. Active Cell Adjusts the zoom level of the worksheet for better
The currently selected cell, where data entry visibility.
happens.
17. Status Bar
Headers and Navigation Shows information about the current mode (e.g.,
5. Name Box Ready, Edit).
Displays the address of the active cell (e.g., C23). Displays quick calculations like average, sum,
Can also be used to name ranges or jump to a cell count when cells are selected.
quickly.
18. Workbook Views
6. Formula Bar Allows switching between different viewing modes
Shows the contents of the active cell, including (Normal, Page Layout, Page Break Preview).
formulas.
Allows editing of cell contents.
Ribbon and Toolbars In short:
13. Ribbon Tab Rows & Columns organize data.
Main menu categories (Home, Insert, Page Layout,
etc.). Cells are where data is stored.
Clicking a tab displays its tools.
Formula Bar & Name Box help identify/edit cell
21. Ribbon Group content.
Tools within a Ribbon Tab are grouped by
category (e.g., Font, Alignment, Number). Ribbon & Toolbar provide tools and commands.
15. Quick Access Toolbar Status Bar, Scroll, and Zoom help with navigation
A customizable toolbar for frequently used and viewing.
commands (Save, Undo, Redo).
Worksheet Tabs manage multiple sheets in one
16. Dialog Box Launcher file.
Small arrow in some ribbon groups that opens a
detailed settings dialog box.
19. Ribbon Display Option
Allows showing, hiding, or minimizing the ribbon
for more workspace.
Window Controls
14. Title Bar
Displays the name of the file (workbook) and the
program (Excel).
20. Minimize, Restore Down, Close
Standard window control buttons: minimize Excel,
resize/restore, or close the application.
Identification:
This table lists the most frequently used shortcuts Go to the Data tab. Alt+A
in Excel.
Go to the View tab. Alt+W
To do this Press
Open the context menu. Shift+F10 or
Close a workbook. Ctrl+W Windows Menu key
Open a workbook. Ctrl+O Add borders. Alt+H, B
Go to the Home tab. Alt+H Delete column. Alt+H, D, C
Save a workbook. Ctrl+S Go to the Formula tab. Alt+M
Copy selection. Ctrl+C Hide the selected rows. Ctrl+9
Paste selection. Ctrl+V Hide the selected columns. Ctrl+0
Undo recent action. Ctrl+Z
Remove cell contents. Delete
Choose a fill color. Alt+H, H
Cut selection. Ctrl+X
Go to the Insert tab. Alt+N
Apply bold formatting. Ctrl+B
Center align cell contents. Alt+H, A, C
Go to the Page Layout tab. Alt+P
Ribbon keyboard shortcuts example, E (Edit), V (View), I (Insert), and so on. A
The ribbon groups related options on tabs. For notification pops up saying you're using an access
example, on the Home tab, the Number group key from an earlier version of Microsoft 365. If you
includes the Number Format option. Press the Alt know the entire key sequence, go ahead, and use
key to display the ribbon shortcuts, called Key it. If you don't know the sequence, press Esc and
Tips, as letters in small images next to the tabs use Key Tips instead.
and options as shown in the image below.
Excel ribbon key tips.
You can combine the Key Tips letters with the Alt
key to make shortcuts called Access Keys for the
ribbon options. For example, press Alt+H to open
the Home tab, and Alt+Q to move to the Tell me
or Search field. Press Alt again to see KeyTips for
the options for the selected tab.
Depending on the version of Microsoft 365 you are
using, the Search text field at the top of the app
window might be called Tell Me instead. Both offer
a largely similar experience, but some options and
search results can vary.
In newer versions of Office, most of the old Alt key
menu shortcuts still work, too. However, you need
to know the full shortcut. For example, press Alt,
and then press one of the old menu keys, for
To go directly to a tab on the ribbon, press one of Press:
the following access keys. Additional tabs might Alt+P
appear depending on your selection in the To do this:
worksheet. Open the Formulas tab and insert, trace, and
customize functions and calculations.
To do this: Press:
Move to the Tell me or Search field on the ribbon Alt+M
and type a search term for assistance or Help
content. To do this:
Press: Open the Data tab and connect to, sort, filter,
Alt+Q, then enter the search term. analyze, and work with data.
Press:
To do this: Alt+A
Open the File menu.
Press: To do this:
Alt+F Open the Review tab and check spelling, add
notes and threaded comments, and protect sheets
To do this: and workbooks.
Open the Home tab and format text and numbers Press:
and use the Find tool. Alt+R
Press:
Alt+H To do this:
Open the View tab and preview page breaks and
To do this: layouts, show and hide gridlines and headings, set
Open the Insert tab and insert PivotTables, charts, zoom magnification, manage windows and panes,
add-ins, Sparklines, pictures, shapes, headers, or and view macros.
text boxes. Press:
Press: Alt+W
Alt+N
To do this:
Open the Page Layout tab and work with themes,
page setup, scale, and alignment.