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Intro

In lesson 5 of the Microsoft Excel 2010 Beginner series, you will learn how to insert different types of text into your spreadsheets, including hyperlinks, text boxes, and Word Art, as well as how to add signature lines and symbols. We will cover working with headers and footers, managing large spreadsheets using freeze and split features, adding borders and printing gridlines, and using various formatting tools like merge and center, wrap text, and Format Painter. You will also see how to add comments, use Excel's research tools, and download templates such as calendars, invoices, and mortgage calculators.

Transcript

Welcome to Excel 2010 Beginner, Level 5, brought to you by ExcelLearningZone.com. I am your instructor, Richard Rost.

Today's class is going to cover a bunch of different topics. These topics do not necessarily fit into any major categories, but I felt they were important to cover for you, the beginner user.

We are going to start out learning how to insert different types of text into our spreadsheets, including hyperlinks, text boxes, Word Art, signature lines, and more. We will learn how to work with headers and footers in our spreadsheets. That is handy if you want to have the same information repeat on the top of each page when you print it, or have things like page numbering or automatic date codes.

We are going to learn some techniques for working with large spreadsheets. We will see how we can freeze the header row or column, and how to split the spreadsheet into two. We are going to learn how to add borders to our spreadsheets and turn the gridlines on and off.

We are going to learn a lot of different formatting tricks, including merging and centering cells, wrapping the text in a cell, and how to use the Format Painter. We will learn how to add comments to our spreadsheet so we can add notes that will automatically hide or pop up whenever we hover over them. We will learn about Excel's research functions, including the spell check, Thesaurus, language translator, and I will show you how to get live stock quotes off the web.

We will learn how to work with templates from Microsoft Office Online. I will show you how to download free templates, including a calendar, an invoice, and a mortgage calculator.

This class is designed to be used with Excel 2010, part of Microsoft Office 2010. If you are using an older version of Excel, you should visit my website at ExcelLearningZone.com and look for my older tutorials covering Excel 2000 through 2007. If you are using Excel 2007, you should have little difficulty following along, as most of the topics covered in this course are the same as with 2007. If you are using Excel 2003 or earlier, you really should either upgrade to Excel 2010 or purchase a tutorial for your older version of Excel, which again you can find on my website.

This is the Beginner Level 5 course for Microsoft Excel 2010. This class is for the novice user who has little or no experience with Excel outside of my Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4 Excel courses. In today's course, we will cover additional topics building on the lessons learned in the first four classes of the series.

Before taking this course, I strongly recommend that you take my Excel Beginner Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4 courses first. Number 4 covers charts and data tables. If any of these concepts seem unfamiliar to you, stop now and take Excel Level 4 before taking this course.

My courses are broken up into four groups: Beginner, Expert, Advanced, and Developer.

My Beginner courses are for novice users who have little or no experience with Microsoft Excel. They are designed to give you an overview of the basic features of Excel and cover just what you need to know to be productive.

When you finish the basics, it is time to move up to the Expert series, which is designed for users who are already comfortable with Excel. Expert classes are designed to teach you more about all the standard features of Excel that people use from day to day, and will go into more depth about each topic than the Beginner classes. You will learn all about the options, alternatives, shortcuts, tips and tricks, and extra features that we might have skipped over in the Beginner lessons.

When you have mastered the Expert classes, the Advanced lessons are for Excel power users. You will learn how to record macros, build user forms, create your own templates, and many more advanced features that not everyone will use, but they really add enhanced functionality and professionalism to your spreadsheets.

Finally, my Developer level courses are designed to teach you how to program in Visual Basic for Applications with Microsoft Excel. This will allow you to create Excel-based programs for your users, automate your spreadsheets, and to integrate Excel tightly with other Microsoft Office applications.

Each of my series is broken down into different levels. For example, the Beginner series started with Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4, which you should have taken previously, and is followed by Level 5. That is this class. Each level teaches you new and different topics in Microsoft Excel, building on the lessons learned in the previous levels. When you finish all the Beginner classes, move up to the Expert series, then Advanced, and finally, Developer.

Now, let us take a more detailed look at exactly what we are going to learn in today's class.

In Lesson 1, we are going to begin working with inserting text into our spreadsheets. We will start off by learning about hyperlinks. We will see how to create a hyperlink to a web page, a hyperlink to an email address, and I will show you how to create a hyperlink to Google Maps so you can link directly to someone's address, for example.

In Lesson 2, we are going to continue inserting text into our spreadsheets. We are going to learn about text boxes, Word Art, signature lines, objects, and symbols.

In Lesson 3, we are going to learn to work with the header and footer in our spreadsheets. We will see how to insert a header and footer. We will learn about the three different sections of each header and footer. We will learn how to insert special codes, such as the current page number, the current date and time, and lots more.

In Lesson 4, we are going to be looking at the View tab in the Window group. We will learn some tips for working with large sheets, including freezing panes and splitting the spreadsheet window.

In Lesson 5, we are going to learn how to add borders to our spreadsheets and we will learn how to print background gridlines.

In Lesson 6, we are going to learn some miscellaneous formatting tricks. We are going to learn how to merge and center cells. We will learn about cell orientation and we will see how to use the Format Painter to copy and paste the format of a cell.

You can store additional information inside each cell in your spreadsheet and in Lesson 7, we will learn how to do that using something called a comment.

In Lesson 8, we are going to learn some of Excel's research features, such as the spell checker, the Thesaurus, language translator, and I am going to show you how to get live stock quotes from the web.

In Lesson 9, we are going to learn how to download templates from Microsoft Office Online. Microsoft has thousands of different templates on their website that you can download for free right inside of Excel. We will take a look at how to download them. We will see a calendar template, an invoicing template, and a mortgage calculator template.

If you need help with the topics covered in today's lessons, please feel free to post your questions in the Excel Interactive Student Forums. If you are watching this course using my custom video player software or online in my web theater, you should see the student forum for each lesson appear in a small window next to the class videos if you have an active internet connection. Here you will see all of the questions that other students have asked, as well as my responses to them, and any other comments that other students have made. I encourage you to read through these questions and answers as you start each lesson and feel free to post your own questions and comments as well.

If you are not watching your lessons online, you can still visit the student forums later by visiting ExcelLearningZone.com/forums.

To get the most out of this course, I recommend you sit back, relax, and watch each lesson completely through once without trying to do anything on your computer. Then replay the lesson from the beginning and follow along with my examples. Actually create the same spreadsheet that I make in the video. Build this spreadsheet with me step by step. Try to apply what you are learning right now to other projects until you have mastered the sample spreadsheet.

If you get stuck or do not understand something, watch the video again from the beginning or tell me what is wrong in the student forums.

Most importantly, keep an open mind. Excel might seem intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it, you will see that it is really easy to use.

Quiz

Q1. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a type of text you can insert into an Excel 2010 spreadsheet in this course?
A. Flowcharts
B. Hyperlinks
C. Text boxes
D. Word Art

Q2. What is the primary purpose of using headers and footers in Excel spreadsheets?
A. To hide worksheet data
B. To repeat information like page numbers or dates on each printed page
C. To increase worksheet security
D. To automate calculations

Q3. What feature allows you to keep the top row or leftmost column visible while scrolling through a large spreadsheet?
A. Split view
B. Freeze Panes
C. Protect Sheet
D. Data Validation

Q4. According to the video, which tool lets you copy and paste the format of a cell to another cell?
A. Merge & Center
B. Thesaurus
C. Format Painter
D. Data Sorter

Q5. In Excel 2010, which function will allow you to add hidden notes that automatically display when you hover over a cell?
A. Data Validation
B. Footers
C. Comments
D. Hyperlinks

Q6. Which research features are demonstrated in the course?
A. Spell checker, Thesaurus, language translator, live stock quotes
B. Mail merge, Track Changes, Pivot Tables
C. Goal Seek, Solver, Scenario Manager
D. Barcode creator, Digital Signature, Data Protection

Q7. Where can you download free templates like calendars, invoices, and mortgage calculators as discussed in the class?
A. Microsoft Office Online
B. Windows Store
C. Amazon Marketplace
D. Third-party Excel add-ins only

Q8. The Beginner Level 5 course is recommended for which group of users?
A. Someone who has never used a computer
B. Experienced Excel programmers
C. Novice Excel users who have completed levels 1 through 4
D. People looking to learn advanced macros

Q9. If you have trouble with a lesson or concept in the course, what does the instructor recommend?
A. Call Microsoft support
B. Watch the video again and use the student forums to ask questions
C. Immediately move to the next course level
D. Skip the lesson and continue

Q10. Which group is aimed at users who want to learn Excel program automation and integration with other Office applications?
A. Beginner
B. Expert
C. Advanced
D. Developer

Q11. When is it recommended to replay the video and follow along with your own spreadsheet?
A. Only if you get everything right the first time
B. After watching a lesson completely once
C. Never; just watch and try to remember the material
D. Before starting any other level

Q12. Which lesson focuses on working with borders and gridlines in Excel?
A. Lesson 2
B. Lesson 4
C. Lesson 5
D. Lesson 7

Q13. If you are using Excel 2003 or earlier, what does the instructor suggest?
A. No action is needed
B. Upgrade to Excel 2010 or purchase a tutorial for your version
C. Skip directly to the Advanced lessons
D. Use Excel Online only

Q14. What is one purpose of merging and centering cells in Excel, as taught in this course?
A. To perform complex calculations
B. To create visually appealing headings or titles across multiple columns
C. To lock cells from edits
D. To hide extra worksheet rows

Answers: 1-A; 2-B; 3-B; 4-C; 5-C; 6-A; 7-A; 8-C; 9-B; 10-D; 11-B; 12-C; 13-B; 14-B

DISCLAIMER: Quiz questions are AI generated. If you find any that are wrong, don't make sense, or aren't related to the video topic at hand, then please post a comment and let me know. Thanks.

Summary

Today's video from Excel Learning Zone covers Microsoft Excel 2010 Beginner Level 5. In this lesson, I will guide you through a collection of important topics that, while they may not all fit into the same category, are essential for anyone just starting out with Excel.

We begin by exploring various ways to insert text into your spreadsheets. This includes adding hyperlinks, text boxes, Word Art, signature lines, and other elements that enhance your documents. We will also go over working with headers and footers, which is especially helpful when you want consistent information or page numbers to appear at the top or bottom of every printed page.

Next, I will show you some useful techniques for managing large spreadsheets. You will learn how to freeze header rows or columns so they stay visible as you scroll, and how to split your worksheet into separate panes for easier navigation. I will also demonstrate how to add borders for better readability and how to toggle gridlines on and off for a cleaner printout.

Formatting is another area we will focus on. You will learn how to merge and center cells, wrap text within a cell, and use the Format Painter to quickly copy formatting from one section to another. I will also cover how to insert comments into your spreadsheet for adding notes that can be hidden or appear when you hover over a cell. Additionally, we will explore Excel's built-in research tools, including spell check, the Thesaurus, a language translator, and how to retrieve live stock quotes from the internet.

We will also spend time on templates. I will teach you how to download free templates from Microsoft Office Online right inside Excel, including calendars, invoices, and a mortgage calculator.

This class is designed for users working with Excel 2010, which is part of the Microsoft Office 2010 suite. If you are using an older version of Excel, I have earlier tutorials available on my website. Most of the content in this course will also apply if you are using Excel 2007, but if you are still on Excel 2003 or earlier, I recommend upgrading or seeking a tutorial tailored to those versions.

Level 5 is intended for those who are new to Excel and have little experience beyond what is covered in my Levels 1 through 4 courses. We will build on the concepts introduced in the earlier classes, so if there are any areas that you are not familiar with, especially those from Level 4 which covers charts and data tables, I recommend reviewing those first before proceeding with this course.

My Excel courses are organized into four series: Beginner, Expert, Advanced, and Developer. The Beginner series provides a solid foundation and introduces you to essential features to help you be productive right away. Once comfortable, the Expert series goes deeper into everyday features and best practices, covering shortcuts, tips, and more advanced options. For power users, the Advanced series teaches you about macros, user forms, creating your own templates, and other high-level functionalities to boost your spreadsheets' capabilities. Finally, the Developer series focuses on programming in Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), enabling you to automate tasks and create custom solutions.

These series are split into levels, with each level building on the previous one's material. After completing all foundational Beginner lessons, you can progress to Expert, and then on to Advanced and Developer once you are confident.

Now, let's look at the specific lessons covered in this course:

Lesson 1 introduces you to inserting text into spreadsheets, with a focus on hyperlinks. You will learn how to create hyperlinks to websites, email addresses, and even mapping services like Google Maps to direct users to specific locations.

Lesson 2 continues the theme of adding text, this time showing you how to use text boxes, Word Art, signature lines, insert objects, and symbols.

Lesson 3 covers headers and footers, teaching you to add them to your worksheets and use their separate sections. You will discover how to include data such as current page numbers, dates, and times.

Lesson 4 focuses on Excel's View tab, where you will find tools for managing large spreadsheets. Here, you will practice freezing panes and splitting windows to make navigation easier.

Lesson 5 is about adding borders to spreadsheets and managing how gridlines print with your documents.

Lesson 6 highlights advanced formatting options like merging and centering cells, adjusting cell orientation, and using the Format Painter for efficient formatting.

Lesson 7 introduces the concept of comments, allowing you to store extra information within your cells. These comments are useful for adding tips, reminders, or explanations that appear only when you need them.

Lesson 8 demonstrates Excel's research features, including spell checking, using the Thesaurus and language translator, and connecting to online sources for live stock updates.

Lesson 9 teaches you how to access and use templates directly from Microsoft Office Online. You will see how to download and use templates for calendars, invoices, and mortgage calculators to save time and enhance your spreadsheets.

If you have questions on any topics from today's lessons, I encourage you to use the Excel Interactive Student Forums. When you participate in the course online, forums appear alongside each video lesson if you have internet access. Here, you can read other students' questions and my answers, as well as add your own questions and comments. If you are watching offline, you can visit the forums later through my website.

To get the maximum benefit from this course, I recommend you first watch each lesson without following along in Excel. Then, replay the lesson and work through the examples with me step by step. Build the same spreadsheet shown in the video, and try applying the same ideas in your projects. If you get stuck or need clarification, rewatch the lesson or ask for help in the student forums.

Most importantly, approach Excel with an open mind. While it might seem challenging at first, it becomes much easier with practice and you will soon find it is a very user-friendly tool.

You can find a complete video tutorial with step-by-step instructions on everything discussed here on my website at the link below. Live long and prosper, my friends.

Topic List

Inserting hyperlinks to web pages and email addresses
Creating hyperlinks to Google Maps addresses
Inserting and formatting text boxes
Using Word Art in spreadsheets
Adding and formatting signature lines
Inserting objects and symbols
Working with headers and footers
Adding page numbers and date codes in headers/footers
Freezing panes to keep rows or columns visible
Splitting the spreadsheet window
Adding and customizing borders
Turning background gridlines on and off for printing
Merging and centering cells
Changing cell orientation
Using Format Painter to copy formatting
Adding and editing cell comments
Using spell check and Thesaurus
Using the language translator
Getting live stock quotes from the web
Downloading templates from Microsoft Office Online
Using calendar, invoice, and mortgage calculator templates