Page 32 - Excel Workbook for Dummies

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Chapter 1: Entering the Spreadsheet Data 15
A cell range is most often described by the reference of its first and last cell (that is,
the cell in the upper-left corner and the lower-right corner of is block, respectively).
When written, a cell range is separated by a colon, as in B15:F20, for a six-row and six-
column cell range whose first cell is B15 and last cell F20. To select this cell range, you
move the cursor to cell B15 and then hold down the Shift key as you use the ↓ and →
keys to move the cursor to cell F20.

Excel, however, does not limit you to selecting a single cell range for data entry, edit-
ing, or formatting. You can select as many cell ranges (even those as small as a single
cell) by holding down the Ctrl key as you add a new range to the cell selection.

Always think of the Shift key when you want to select a single range of cells and the
Ctrl key when you want to select more than one cell range at one time.

Q. How do I select cell ranges that include rows, hold down the Shift key as you drag
complete rows and columns of the active through them, if they are consecutive, or
worksheet? click them as you hold down the Ctrl key, if
they are noncontiguous. Press Ctrl+A or
A. Click the letter of the column or the click the box at the junction of the column
number of the row whose cells are to be and row header to select all the columns
selected in the column and row header, and rows in the active worksheet (in other
respectively. To select multiple columns or words, the entire worksheet).

Q. How do I select cell ranges that span differ- A. Click the tab of the first worksheet and
ent worksheets of the active workbook? then hold down Shift as you click the last
sheet before you select the cell range or
ranges on the active sheet.

Try It

Exercise 1-8: Selecting Various Cell Ranges

Practice selecting cell ranges in the Spring Sale worksheet of Book1 by doing the
following:

1. Select the cell range A2:E2, and then click the Fill Color drop-down button on the
Formatting toolbar. Click the Gray-25% square in the pop-up color palette.
2. Select the cell ranges A3:A9 and B3:E3 as a single cell selection (I’m sure you can
ConTRoL it) and then assign Light Turquoise to it using the Fill Color drop-down
button.
3. Select the cell range B4:E9 and then assign Light Yellow to this range using the
Fill Color drop-down button. Next, move the cell cursor to cell A1 (Home).

Making Cell Entries

As you are probably already aware, Excel recognizes only two types of cell entries, text
(label) and number (or value). Numeric cell entries are those that consist solely of