Before taking this lesson, you should:

• Understand the basics of the Windows operating system (the start menu, opening and closing applications, etc.).
• Know how to save and open a file.
• Understand different file formats (.xls).
• Be able to point, left-click, right-click, and double-click with a mouse.
• Know the basics of program screen elements: toolbars, menu bars, status bars, and scrollbars.

If you do not meet these prerequisites, we recommend you review the Operating Systems tutorial before continuing.

You should also have Microsoft Excel 2002 (also called Microsoft Excel XP) installed on your computer. All computers in Goshen's labs have Office XP. If you have an older version of Excel on your computer you will still be able to complete most of this tutorial; however, some features will be slightly different.

A powerful tool that is not utilized to its fullest is the Help menu. It is located on the menu bar and looks like this: If you ever need assistance, the Help menu can be informative.

Modified 8/2003