Chapter 15: Using Functions, Creating Tables, and Managing

Large Workbooks
OBJECTIVES

Objective 1: Use Flash Fill and the SUM, AVERAGE, MEDIAN, MIN, and MAX Functions
Arguments The values that an Excel function uses to perform calculations or operations.

AVERAGE function An Excel function that adds a group of values, and then divides the result by the
number of values in the group.

Flash Fill Recognizes a pattern in your data, and then automatically fills in values when you enter
examples of the output that you want. Use it to split data into two or more cells or to combine data
from two cells.

Function A predefined formula—a formula that Excel has already built for you—that performs
calculations by using specific values in a particular order or structure.

MAX function An Excel function that determines the largest value in a selected range of values.

MEDIAN function An Excel function that finds the middle value that has as many values above it in the
group as are below it; it differs from AVERAGE in that the result is not affected as much by a single
value that is greatly different from the others.

MIN function An Excel function that determines the smallest value in a selected range of values.

Statistical functions Excel functions, including the AVERAGE, MEDIAN, MIN, and MAX functions, which
are useful to analyze a group of measurements.

SUM function A predefined formula that adds all the numbers in a selected range of cells.

Objective 2: Move Data, Resolve Error Messages, and Rotate Text

Drag and drop The action of moving a selection by dragging it to a new location.

Objective 3: Use COUNTIF and IF Functions and Apply Conditional Formatting

Comparison operators Symbols that evaluate each value to determine if it is the same (=), greater than
(>), less than (<), or in between a range of values as specified by the criteria.

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Conditional format A format that changes the appearance of a cell—for example, by adding cell
shading or font color—based on a condition; if the condition is true, the cell is formatted based on that
condition, and if the condition is false, the cell is not formatted.

COUNT function A statistical function that counts the number of cells in a range that contain numbers.

COUNTIF function A statistical function that counts the number of cells within a range that meet the
given condition and that has two arguments—the range of cells to check and the criteria.

Criteria Conditions that you specify in a logical function.

Data bar A cell format consisting of a shaded bar that provides a visual cue to the reader about the
value of a cell relative to other cells; the length of the bar represents the value in the cell—a longer bar
represents a higher value and a shorter bar represents a lower value.

Find and Replace A command that searches the cells in a worksheet—or in a selected range—for
matches and then replaces each match with a replacement value of your choice.

IF function A function that uses a logical test to check whether a condition is met, and then returns one
value if true, and another value if false.

Logical functions A group of functions that test for specific conditions and that typically use conditional
tests to determine whether specified conditions are true or false.

Logical test Any value or expression that can be evaluated as being true or false.

Objective 4: Use Date & Time Functions and Freeze Panes

Freeze Panes A command that enables you to select one or more rows or columns and freeze (lock)
them into place; the locked rows and columns become separate panes.

NOW function An Excel function that retrieves the date and time from your computer’s calendar and
clock and inserts the information into the selected cell.

Pane A portion of a worksheet window bounded by and separated from other portions by vertical and
horizontal bars.

Volatile A term used to describe an Excel function that is subject to change each time the workbook is
reopened; for example, the NOW function updates itself to the current date and time each time the
workbook is opened.

Objective 5: Create, Sort, and Filter an Excel Table

Excel table A series of rows and columns that contains related data that is managed independently
from the data in other rows and columns in the worksheet.
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Filter The process of displaying only a portion of the data based on matching a specific value to show
only the data that meets the criteria that you specify.

Sort The process of arranging data in a specific order based on the value in each field

Objective 6: View, Format, and Print a Large Worksheet

Print Titles An Excel command that enables you to specify rows and columns to repeat on each printed
page.

Scale to Fit Excel commands that enable you to stretch or shrink the width, height, or both, of printed
output to fit a maximum number of pages.

Split Splits the window into multiple resizable panes that contain views of your worksheet. This is
useful to view multiple distant parts of your worksheet at one time.

Objective 7: Navigate a Workbook and Rename Worksheets

Navigate The process of moving within a worksheet or workbook.

Sheet tabs The labels along the lower border of the workbook window that identify each worksheet.

Objective 8: Enter Dates, Clear Contents, and Clear Formats

Objective 9: Copy and Paste by Using the Paste Options Gallery

Paste The action of placing cell contents that have been copied or moved to the Clipboard into another
location.

Paste area The target destination for data that has been cut or copied using the Office Clipboard.

Paste Options gallery A gallery of buttons that provides a Live Preview of all the Paste options available
in the current context.

Objective 10: Edit and Format Multiple Worksheets at the Same Time

Objective 11: Create a Summary Sheet with Column Sparklines

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Detail sheets The worksheets that contain the details of the information summarized on a summary
sheet.

IFS function A function that checks whether one or more conditions—logical tests—are met, and then
returns a value corresponding to the first TRUE condition.

Summary sheet A worksheet where totals from other worksheets are displayed and summarized.

Objective 12: Format and Print Multiple Worksheets in a Workbook

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