FRWS 3700
LAB EXERCISE 4
W ORKING IN EXCEL
Objective:
To familiarize students with spreadsheet applications, specifically EXCEL, as a
tool for entry, storage, manipulation, and analysis of natural resources I&M data.
Assigned Readings:
Donovan, T. M., and C. W. Welden. 2002. Spreadsheet exercises in
ecology and evolution, Introduction, Exercise 2 (Pages 1-18, 33-40).
Sinauer, Sunderland, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Lab Overview:
A.
Excel Program Interface Structure
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Menus (e.g., “File”)
Submenus (e.g., “Page Setup...”)
Options (e.g., “Save”)
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A submenu is indicated by “...” or “? ”. Submenus can be drop-down
or pop-up types.
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Many of the options (e.g., “Save”), as well as some of the submenus
(e.g., “Chart”), have shortcut keys on the tool bar
There are also keyboard shortcuts for many of the options. SEE
DONOVAN AND W ELDEN (2002:INTRODUCTION, TABLE 1). They are also
provided next to the option in question in the menus and submenus of
the program.
B.
Data Structure and Management of Excel Workbooks
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A workbook consists of multiple worksheets (numbered, can be
renamed).
This allows you to keep related but separate data subsets within the
same file by placing each subset on a different worksheet.
FRWS 3700
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LAB EXERCISE 4
W ORKING IN EXCEL
Each worksheet consists of an R x C matrix (i.e., a 2-dimensional array
of objects), with
R rows (numbered 1-n)
C columns (A-Z, AA-IV)
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C.
Workbooks are saved as *.xls files.
Navigating within the Excel Data Matrix
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Cell addresses
A cell’s address is made up of its column’s letter and its row’s number.
SEE DONOVAN AND W ELDEN (2002:INTRODUCTION, FIGURE 2).
Relative vs. absolute cell addresses:
A relative cell address references a cell position relative to the
currently selected cell, an absolute cell address references a cell.
By default, cell addresses are relative. To make a cell address
absolute, you have to add a “$”, e.g.,
A1 = relative, i.e., if B1 is selected, this address references the cell to
the left.
$A$1 = absolute, i.e., the first row of the first column is referenced.
Relative and absolute addresses can be mixed in a single reference,
e.g., A$1 or $B3.
Address types: (“$” are omitted for clarity)
Single addresses: “A1”, “C3”, “AX987” – reference a single cell.
Range of cell addresses:
“A1:A900” – references a single column from row 1 to row 900.
“A1:Z1” – references a single row from column A to column Z.
“A1:C3” – references a block consisting of columns A to C and rows 1
to 3.
Use the comma to reference multiple cell ranges, e.g.: “A1:A5, C1:C5”.
FRWS 3700
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LAB EXERCISE 4
W ORKING IN EXCEL
Navigation within worksheets
To select a cell, simply click on it. To select a series of continuous
cells, click and drag, or click and then shift-click. To select
discontinuous cells, see above and then control-click and drag.
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Navigation between worksheets
To work in a different worksheet, simply click on the tab.
To bring into view worksheets in a workbook containing a large number
of worksheets, use the arrows (analogous to forward, fast forward,
reverse, fast reverse) or the bar.
To reference a cell from a different worksheet, its address must be
preceded by “Sheetname!”.
D. Entering Cell Contents
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Cell/Row/Column formatting
Allows you to adjust the appearance of the cell/row/column, such as
borders and shading, height, width, font, etc.
Allows you to display different data formats, e.g., Number, Text, Date,
Time, Currency, etc.
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Data entry
To enter or edit cell contents, double click on the cell or single-click to
select the cell and then click on the command line below the tool bar,
and start typing.
To force Excel to interpret a data entry as a literal, i.e., to display it
exactly as typed, precede the entry by an apostrophe (’), or format the
cell as a general format.
Spill-over, truncation, and text wrapping
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Filling a series
FRWS 3700
LAB EXERCISE 4
W ORKING IN EXCEL
E. Manipulating Cell Contents
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Move/Cut/Copy/Paste
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Formulae
SEE DONOVAN AND W ELDEN (2002:INTRODUCTION, TABLES 2 AND 3).
Formulae perform operations on one or more cells and place the result
of that operation in the cell where the formula is located.
Formulae in Excel have to be preceded by a “=”.
Formulae are displayed in the formula bar, and initially in the cell.
Formulae may not contain circular references.
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Functions
Are similar to formulae, but usually carry out more complex operations
or series of operations, and are prewritten in Excel.
Standard vs. array functions:
Array functions operate on two or more sets of values.
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Macros
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Graphs
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Data Analysis
Assessment:
Students will complete exercise 2 (Donovan and Welden 2002:40) and e-mail the
completed Excel spreadsheet to the TA at SLRK9@cc.usu.edu as an attachment
with the filename “student’s last name(in all lowercase letters).xls”. In the body
of the e-mail message, students should include the macro shortcut (e.g., “ctrl t”),
as well as a written answer to Question 1 (Donovan and Welden 2002:47).
This assignment is due on Wednesday, September 29, at the beginning of
class.