Whether you are newbie Excel user, an experienced data cruncher, or somewhere right in the middle, I want to share with you my top three top ways to help yourself when it comes to Excel.
The help section in Excel is packed with goodies, tips and tricks, and is really underutilized.
Let's start with most obvious one that Microsoft offers up.
1.
Press the F1 button.
This little gem is an obvious but great resource.
All you need to do is search the archives of Excel's help.
If you do require more information about a function, rather than more advanced questions then this is the place to look.
I find the articles well written and explain the basics really well.
This should point you in the right direction to allow you to expand to a more advanced level yourself in applying the basics learned in the F1 help section.
There is an offline and also an online section in this help area, use both for maximum effect.
2.
Another perhaps not so well used help section is that of contextual help.
This help is easily be accessed quite easily especially if you know the function you want help on.
Let's say you are in the charts tab.
All you need to do is click on the Insert Tab then hover your cursor above the icon you want to use.
Excel help will pop up.
If you press F1 in this area, your help section opens up right on the Data area that you are in giving direct contextual help on the area you are in.
Now, isn't that Excellent?!.
3.
It couldn't be easier that pressing on a question mark to ask for help could it? Microsoft again gives you this option.
The questions mark is available at the top right hand side of the pop up windows or boxes that appear in Excel.
It is also available at the top right hand corner of the Excel screen next to the minimizes and maximize icons.
Hit this question mark and the contextual help will be displayed as well.
These are my tops three ways to begin to help yourself in Excel.
They cover the basics and provide a good platform to pose any questions you have on the Excel functions.
So, before you ask your colleague, or some random office person passing by, give the help functions a go first, you might be surprised at yourself.
These helps areas provide an ideal starting place for the straightforward queries that often arise within Excel.
The help section in Excel is packed with goodies, tips and tricks, and is really underutilized.
Let's start with most obvious one that Microsoft offers up.
1.
Press the F1 button.
This little gem is an obvious but great resource.
All you need to do is search the archives of Excel's help.
If you do require more information about a function, rather than more advanced questions then this is the place to look.
I find the articles well written and explain the basics really well.
This should point you in the right direction to allow you to expand to a more advanced level yourself in applying the basics learned in the F1 help section.
There is an offline and also an online section in this help area, use both for maximum effect.
2.
Another perhaps not so well used help section is that of contextual help.
This help is easily be accessed quite easily especially if you know the function you want help on.
Let's say you are in the charts tab.
All you need to do is click on the Insert Tab then hover your cursor above the icon you want to use.
Excel help will pop up.
If you press F1 in this area, your help section opens up right on the Data area that you are in giving direct contextual help on the area you are in.
Now, isn't that Excellent?!.
3.
It couldn't be easier that pressing on a question mark to ask for help could it? Microsoft again gives you this option.
The questions mark is available at the top right hand side of the pop up windows or boxes that appear in Excel.
It is also available at the top right hand corner of the Excel screen next to the minimizes and maximize icons.
Hit this question mark and the contextual help will be displayed as well.
These are my tops three ways to begin to help yourself in Excel.
They cover the basics and provide a good platform to pose any questions you have on the Excel functions.
So, before you ask your colleague, or some random office person passing by, give the help functions a go first, you might be surprised at yourself.
These helps areas provide an ideal starting place for the straightforward queries that often arise within Excel.