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Intro

In lesson 1 of Microsoft Excel 2007 Beginner Level 1, you will learn the basics of getting started with Excel, including the new interface, ribbon, quick access toolbar, and other main features. I will show you how to enter and edit data in a spreadsheet, format your worksheet for a polished appearance, perform simple calculations like sums and averages, and save, open, and print your workbook. This class is designed for new users with little or no experience and is focused on helping you get comfortable with Microsoft Excel 2007.

Transcript

Welcome to Excel 2007 Basic Level 1, brought to you by ExcelLearningZone.com. I am your instructor, Richard Rost.

Today's class is designed for the novice Excel user. Our goal is to get you up to speed quickly in Microsoft Excel. In today's class, we will learn about the Excel 2007 interface, including the ribbon, the quick access toolbar, and lots more features. We will learn how to enter data into a spreadsheet and then edit that data. We will learn how to properly format a spreadsheet to make it look more professional.

We will learn how to perform basic math operations in our spreadsheets, such as summing up a group of numbers and taking an average. We will also learn how to save, load, and print our spreadsheets. This lesson uses Microsoft's Office Excel 2007. If you are using Excel 2003 or older, you should visit my website and look for my Excel 101 course that covers Excel 2003, 2002, and 2000.

Before taking this course, it is strongly recommended that you have a good understanding of how to use Windows. I recommend my Windows Vista 101 course, or my Windows XP 101 or Windows 7 101, depending on which version of Windows you are using. In my Windows Vista 101 course, for example, you will learn the basics of using Windows: how to log on, how to use the keyboard and mouse, how to launch programs like Excel, how to maximize and minimize and work with windows, and how to use scrollbars. All of these things are essential for understanding Excel. If you do not know how to do any of the things I just mentioned, you may want to consider taking a Windows 101 class before learning Excel.

If you are planning on learning Microsoft Word in addition to Excel, I recommend you take Word first. Microsoft Word and word processing, in general, is easier for novice users to cope or handle than working with spreadsheets. Learning the Word interface will help you in understanding the Excel interface, as the two are very similar with regards to some features like the ribbon. If you are going to learn both Word and Excel, I recommend you learn Word first. I have got a great class, Word 2007 Basic Level 1. You will learn things like the Word interface, entering and editing text, formatting text, and lots more.

This is the Basic Level 1 course for Microsoft Excel 2007. This is for the beginner user who has little or no experience using Microsoft Excel. In today's class, we will cover just the most basic features of Excel and teach you how to edit spreadsheets effectively. Our goal for today is to get you up and running quickly with a sample Excel spreadsheet.

Our courses are broken up into four groups: Basic, Expert, Advanced, and Developer. Our basic courses are designed for novice users who have little or no experience with Microsoft Excel. You will learn one good method for accomplishing most tasks. We will save all the extraneous details for later classes.

Our Expert Series is designed for users who are already comfortable with Excel. Expert classes will teach you more about the standard features of Excel that most people use from day to day. We will cover all the options, alternatives, shortcuts, tips and tricks, and really cover all of the features of Excel exhaustively.

Our Advanced classes are designed to go beyond the expert level and teach you things like recording macros, working with user forms, creating your own templates, and more advanced features that not everyone uses, but they really add extra functionality to your spreadsheets. These are the kinds of features reserved for power users that really add extra professionalism to your spreadsheets.

Finally, our Developer Series is 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 and to integrate Excel tightly with other applications.

Each of our series is broken down into different levels. Each level represents about an hour worth of training. For example, the Basic Series starts off with Level 1, then is followed by Levels 2, 3, and so on. Each level will teach you new and different topics in Microsoft Excel, building on the lessons learned in the previous levels. When you are finished with all the levels in the Basic Series, you are ready to move up to the Expert Level Series.

Now let us take a more detailed look at exactly what is covered in today's class.

In lesson 1, we are going to begin learning about the Excel interface. We will learn how to start Excel, we will learn about the title bar, the window control buttons, and the Office button.

In lesson 2, we are continuing our look at the Excel interface. We will look at the ribbon, ribbon tabs, groups, command buttons, and dialog box launchers.

In lesson 3, continuing with the Excel interface, we will learn about the quick access toolbar, the status bar, the zoom controls, and the scroll bars.

In lesson 4, we are going to finish up our look at the Excel interface. We will talk about those features that are unique to Excel. For example, the formula bar, the parts of a spreadsheet, rows, columns, cells, the mouse pointer in Excel, and the sheet tabs.

In lesson 5, we will begin making our first spreadsheet, and you will learn how to properly enter data into your sheet.

In lesson 6, we will learn how to edit that data that we have entered into our spreadsheet.

In lesson 7, we will start taking a look at how to format our spreadsheets to make them look more professional. We will learn about alignment, cell ranges, bold, italics, and underline.

In lesson 8, we will continue with formatting. We will learn how to change the font, the font size. We will learn how to resize rows and columns, and we will learn how to change the foreground and background color in our cells.

In lesson 9, we will learn how to perform basic math calculations in Excel. We will learn how formulas work and the basic math operators.

In lesson 10, continuing on learning basic math in Excel, I will show you how to take the average of a group of cells, and we will learn about the order of operations.

Finally, in lesson 11, you will learn how to save your workbook, load it back up again, and print it.

If you need help with Microsoft Excel, you can post your questions in our student forums. If you are watching this course using our custom video player software or online in our theater, then you should see the student forums pop up right next to the video window. Here you will see all the questions and comments that other students have had regarding each lesson, as well as my responses to them. Feel free to join in the discussion and post any questions that you might have.

To get the most out of this course, I recommend you sit back, relax, and watch each lesson through completely once, without trying to do anything on your computer. Then watch the lesson again a second time, following along with my examples. Actually, create the document that I create in class, build the spreadsheet along with me, step by step. If you get stuck or do not understand something, re-watch the video again from the beginning, or rewind any point in the video at which you feel comfortable. Remember, you can always post your questions in the student forums if you really need help.

Most importantly, keep an open mind. Learning something new can be confusing at first. If there is something you do not understand at first, that is okay. Just be patient and it will come to you eventually. Try your best and again, if you still have questions, post them in our student forums.

Now just sit back and relax and get ready for lesson 1.

Quiz

Q1. What is the main goal of the Excel 2007 Basic Level 1 course?
A. To learn advanced programming in Excel
B. To provide expert tips and tricks in Excel
C. To get novice users quickly up to speed with basic Excel operations
D. To focus on database integration with Excel

Q2. Which of the following topics is NOT mentioned as a lesson in this course?
A. Recording and using macros
B. Formatting spreadsheets for a professional look
C. Performing basic math calculations
D. Learning the Excel 2007 interface

Q3. What is the recommended prerequisite knowledge before taking this Excel Basic Level 1 course?
A. How to record macros in Excel
B. A good understanding of how to use Windows
C. Basic programming in Visual Basic
D. Advanced spreadsheet formatting

Q4. Why does the instructor recommend taking a Microsoft Word course before an Excel course for completely new users?
A. Word and Excel use entirely different interfaces
B. Word processing is generally easier for novices, and learning Word helps with the Excel interface
C. Excel does not require any prior training
D. Word has more features than Excel

Q5. How are the courses structured by ExcelLearningZone.com?
A. All topics mixed together in a single course
B. As stand-alone lessons with no progression
C. In series with multiple levels in each group: Basic, Expert, Advanced, and Developer
D. Only one level is available for each topic

Q6. Which feature is specifically taught in the Advanced Series of courses, according to the transcript?
A. Entering data into a spreadsheet
B. Using Visual Basic for Applications with Excel
C. Recording macros and working with user forms
D. Formatting rows and columns

Q7. What will you learn in lesson 5 of this Excel Basic Level 1 course?
A. How to format spreadsheets with italics and underline
B. How to enter your first data into a spreadsheet
C. How to use developer tools in Excel
D. How to calculate averages

Q8. If you have questions about lessons, what should you do according to the video?
A. Contact Microsoft support directly
B. Wait until the course ends for assistance
C. Post your questions in the student forums
D. Send an email to the instructor

Q9. What is the suggested method for getting the most out of the course?
A. Watch all lessons at double speed
B. Only read the lesson transcripts
C. Watch each lesson twice: first just watch, then follow along and create the documents yourself
D. Skip directly to the advanced lessons

Q10. What is the purpose of the Quick Access Toolbar, as mentioned in the overview of what will be covered?
A. It holds only print and save commands
B. It provides easy access to frequently used commands
C. It changes cell colors automatically
D. It modifies the spreadsheet layout

Q11. In which lesson will you learn to save, load, and print your spreadsheet?
A. Lesson 2
B. Lesson 7
C. Lesson 9
D. Lesson 11

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

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 is an introduction to Excel 2007 Basic Level 1, designed specifically for those who are new to Microsoft Excel. My goal with this session is to guide you through the essentials so you'll be able to use Excel confidently and efficiently. We will cover everything from the Excel 2007 interface to entering, editing, and formatting your data, as well as handling basic calculations.

We begin by familiarizing ourselves with the fundamental parts of Excel. You'll learn how to navigate the interface, including the ribbon and quick access toolbar, so you can find and use Excel's features effectively. We'll discuss how to input and modify data in your spreadsheets, an essential skill for anyone using Excel.

A sizable part of today's lesson focuses on formatting your spreadsheets. This is important not just for aesthetics, but also for clarity and professionalism. You'll learn to adjust alignment, apply styles like bold or italics, and modify fonts and colors. We'll also see how to change row and column sizes so your data fits and is easy to read.

Mathematics in Excel is fundamental, so I'll show you how to add up numbers, calculate averages, and understand how formulas work, including the order of operations. By the end of today's class, you'll also know how to save your work, retrieve it later, and print your spreadsheets.

This lesson is based on Microsoft Office Excel 2007. If you're using an older version of Excel, such as 2003 or earlier, you'll want to check out my Excel 101 course for those versions.

For completely new users, it is highly recommended that you have a working knowledge of Windows, whether that's Windows Vista, XP, or 7. If you're not comfortable with tasks like using the mouse, launching programs, or moving windows around, you might consider taking one of my Windows 101 courses first. Understanding these basics will make your Excel experience much smoother.

If you're planning to learn Microsoft Word as well, I suggest starting with Word before Excel. Word tends to be a bit more straightforward for beginners, and since Word and Excel share many interface elements—like the ribbon—learning Word first can help you transition into Excel more easily. I offer a Word 2007 Basic Level 1 class that covers similar introductory topics for Word.

Our training is organized into four main categories: Basic, Expert, Advanced, and Developer. The Basic Series, which this course is a part of, is designed for beginners. We focus on the core concepts you need to get started, with one clear way to perform each task. The details and various alternatives are covered more deeply in later series.

The Expert Series is for users who are already comfortable with Excel and want to expand their knowledge, learning about all the standard features, options, shortcuts, and more.

Advanced classes go even further, introducing topics like macros, user forms, custom templates, and advanced features mostly used by power users who want to add extra capabilities to their spreadsheets.

For those interested in programming, the Developer Series will teach you how to create custom solutions in Visual Basic for Applications, allowing for even tighter integration between Excel and other applications.

Each of these series is broken down into levels, with each level representing about an hour of training. The Basic Series starts with Level 1 and builds up topic by topic, preparing you to progress to the Expert Level once you finish all the basics.

Let's briefly review what we'll cover today, lesson by lesson:

Lesson 1 introduces the Excel interface, including how to start Excel, recognize the title bar, use window controls, and understand the Office button.

Lesson 2 continues examining the interface, teaching you about the ribbon, ribbon tabs, groups, command buttons, and dialog box launchers.

Lesson 3 focuses on the quick access toolbar, the status bar, zoom controls, and scroll bars.

Lesson 4 covers elements unique to Excel, such as the formula bar, spreadsheet layout (rows, columns, cells), mouse pointers, and sheet tabs.

In Lesson 5, we start building a spreadsheet, learning how to enter data correctly. Lesson 6 is all about editing that data.

Moving to formatting in Lesson 7, we'll cover alignment, working with cell ranges, and applying bold, italics, and underline.

Lesson 8 continues with formatting, teaching you to change typefaces, adjust font size, resize rows and columns, and modify cell colors.

Lesson 9 introduces basic math operations in Excel, with a focus on writing and understanding formulas and mathematical operators.

Lesson 10 builds on this, showing how to average data sets and use Excel's order of operations.

Finally, Lesson 11 teaches you how to save your workbooks, open them again, and print your spreadsheets.

If you run into questions while working through the course, remember that you can post them in the student forums. If you're watching online or with our custom video player, the forums are available right alongside the lesson video, so you can read and participate in discussions, see other students' questions, and view my responses.

To get the best results from this course, I suggest watching each lesson all the way through first. After that, re-watch and follow along with your own spreadsheet as I demonstrate. Build everything step-by-step along with me. If you get stuck, feel free to rewind or review as needed. And of course, keep the forums in mind if you need more help.

Most importantly, be patient with yourself. Learning a new program can be confusing at the start, but persistence pays off. If something does not make sense right away, take your time and ask for help if needed.

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

Starting Excel 2007 and understanding the title bar
Using window control buttons and the Office button
Navigating the ribbon and ribbon tabs
Identifying groups, command buttons, and dialog box launchers
Using the quick access toolbar
Exploring the status bar, zoom controls, and scroll bars
Understanding the formula bar and parts of a spreadsheet
Recognizing rows, columns, cells, and the mouse pointer
Working with sheet tabs
Entering data into a spreadsheet
Editing data in a spreadsheet
Formatting spreadsheets with alignment and cell ranges
Applying bold, italics, and underline
Changing font and font size
Resizing rows and columns
Changing foreground and background cell color
Creating basic math formulas
Using math operators in formulas
Averaging a group of cells
Understanding the order of operations in formulas
Saving, loading, and printing workbooks