Administrative Assistant's and Secretary's Handbook, 5th Edition

Chapter 22

Using Microsoft Excel

What Is a Spreadsheet?

Many administrative assistants use computerized spreadsheet software to handle accounting chores, assist with budgets, and perform similar tasks. Spreadsheet software takes the place of the columnar pad that was so popular in the past. A columnar pad is divided into columns across the top and rows that run down the side. The rows and columns intersect in small boxes. Altogether, there are hundreds of these small boxes on each page. Similarly, an electronic spreadsheet is a large grid of columns and rows. A box where a column and row intersect is called a cell. Each cell has a unique address. Most spreadsheets label columns using letters, and rows using numbers. Therefore, the cell at the ...