Techniques for Entering Data

Excel accepts two types of cell entries: constants and formulas. Constants fall into three main categories: numeric values, text values (also called labels or strings), and date/time values. Excel also recognizes two special types of constants called logical values and error values.

Note

For more about date/time values, see Chapter 15.

Making Entries in Cells and in the Formula Bar

To make an entry in a cell, just select the cell, and start typing. As you type, the entry appears both in the formula bar and in the active cell. The flashing vertical bar in the active cell is called the insertion point.

After you finish typing, you must "lock in" the entry to store it permanently in the cell by pressing Enter. Pressing Enter ...

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