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Excel is a spreadsheet program that
allows you to store organize and analyze
information you can use it to create
contact lists budgets invoices and just
about anything else you can imagine when
you open Excel there's a good chance
you'll be taken to the Start screen
first from here you can access recent
workbooks or create something new either
from scratch or from a template in this
example we'll click blank workbook next
you might want to take a minute to
explore the interface to make sure you
know your way around let's begin with
the ribbon which is the collection of
tools and features at the top of the
screen the ribbon is divided into tabs
like page layout insert and home so you
can easily find what you're looking for
there are also commands on each tab that
have been organized into groups for
example if you look closely at the font
group you'll find it has everything you
need to work with text including options
like bold italics font color and size
some groups even have an arrow in the
bottom right corner that you can click
to view even more commands if you ever
feel like the ribbon is taking up too
much space you can always hide it or
minimize it all you have to do is click
the arrow in the upper right corner then
choose the option you want also in the
upper right corner is a place where you
can access your Microsoft account here
you can update your photo manage your
account settings or switch to a
different account altogether you can
even customize your copy of Excel to
make certain commands more convenient
take the quick access toolbar in the
upper left corner this area gives you
access to frequently used commands like
save and undo no matter where you are on
the ribbon to add more commands just
click the tiny arrow next to the toolbar
then choose the ones you want I'm going
to add new and also Quick Print because
I use both of these commands pretty
frequently in Excel 2016 you'll also
find a new feature called tell me it
works like a search bar to help you
quickly find tools or commands you want
to use just type in what you want to do
in your own words the results will give
you a few
actions and then guide you through the
process as well as offering additional
resources now let's take a look at the
workbook itself which is also sometimes
referred to as a worksheet or a
spreadsheet in this example I've opened
an order list that I'm working on every
worksheet contains cells columns and
rows for entering data plus the formula
bar for working with your data if you
need to scroll up or down or even side
to side you can use the scroll bars here
and here in the bottom right corner
you'll find several tools that will help
you change the way your worksheet is
displayed to zoom in or out click and
drag the zoom control the number next to
the slider will tell you what the zoom
percentage is you can also switch
between different worksheet views using
the three commands here normal is
selected by default this mode is great
for everyday tasks like entering and
editing data page layout shows you what
the worksheet will look like on the
printed page you can also add headers
and footers here page break preview
makes it easy to change the location of
page breaks in your workbook this can be
especially useful if you're printing
lots of data last but not least let's
take a quick tour of the backstage view
you can get here by clicking the file
tab just look for it on the far left of
the ribbon here you can access all kinds
of information related to your current
workbook and more this includes commands
like new open save and print all you
have to do is click an item and it will
open in the right pane this makes it
easy to find what you're looking for and
review your options all in one place
that covers the basics of Excel 2016 now
that you're more comfortable with the
interface including the backstage view
the ribbon and the work area you're
ready to start your first worksheet
you