Excel 2007 - Main Interface Changes

Ribbon The Ribbon in Excel contains the same tools and options as before (with a few additions), organized in a different way (as mentioned earlier). The following describes each tab. Home-This tab contains the most commonly used tools for formatting cells and fonts, etc. Options are grouped by Clipboard, Font, Alignment, Styles, Cells, and Editing. Insert-This tab displays many of the tools from the old Insert menu. Options are grouped by Tables, Illustrations, Charts, Links, and Text. Page Layout-This tab contains many features from the old Page Setup window (File | Page Setup). The Themes options are new, predefined sets of colors, lines, fonts, and fill effects, comparable to a template. Customize them to keep a constant look and feel to your documents. Options are grouped by Themes, Page Setup, Scale to Fit, Sheet Options, and Arrange. Formulas-Many of the options from the old Tools menu and the Insert Function window can be found on this tab. Options are grouped by Function Library, Defined Names, Formula Auditing, and Calculation. Data-The options on this tab were found on the old Data menu. Options are grouped by Get External Data, Connections, Sort and Filter, Data Tools, and Outline. Review-This tab contains the commands you need to review a document, such as Spell Check, Track Changes, etc. Many of these items were on the old Tools menu. Options are grouped by Proofing, Comments, and Changes. View-In addition to the items that used to be on the old View menu, this tab also contains Excel s new Page Layout view. The view is comparable to that the Print Layout in Word. It allows you to view a document as it will look when printed. Options are grouped by Workbook Views, Show/Hide, Zoom, Window, and Macros. Office Button Excel s Office button displays a menu that contains commands from the old File and Tools menus and more. For example, the Prepare feature includes new options to encrypt your document and run a compatibility checker. Remember, if the menu item has a right-facing arrow on the right, additional related options are available. Access the Excel Options window by clicking the Excel Options button. See the explanation of the Word Options in the previous section. The Excel Options window is quite similar. Formula AutoComplete Improvements The Formula AutoComplete feature now makes it easier to create and edit formulas and minimize typing and syntax errors. After typing = (an equal sign) and the first letter(s), Excel displays a dynamic drop-down list of matching valid functions, names, and text strings beneath the cell. All you have to do is select an item from the drop-down list. Tables This new feature replaces the old Lists feature in previous versions of Excel with additional functionality. The Tables feature allows you to do everything Lists did with the following added benefits. · The autofilter and sort functions are improved. · You can scroll through just the table, leaving the headers visible at all times. · Tables automatically expand and reformat. · Source ranges for charts and other objects automatically adjust. Claire Blinman is the training manager at Computer Training Solutions in Bristol. Computer Training Solutions offer Excel training courses or call 0800 019 6882