Excel 97/2000: Introduction I Windows 95/98 What is Microsoft Excel? Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet program with sophisticated charting and database functions that allow you to quickly and easily: · perform both simple and complex calculations · filter data from a database or spreadsheet list · chart data in numerous formats. The value of the spreadsheet lies in its flexibility.  For example, you can play "what-if" games with your data and its graphic representations.  You can check changes in the figures without the tedium of calculating them all yourself.  Excel also provides many formatting options that add quality to your presentation while representing both the figures and the images you want to convey. Spreadsheet Design Proper design and layout in a spreadsheet are important skills for Excel users to learn.  Unlike many other computer programs, spreadsheets require thought and planning to make them efficient and economical.  To develop useful spreadsheets, first prepare a sketch, considering the following elements: · What are the desired outputs? · What are the required inputs? · How is the data positioned? · What mathematical expressions are used? · Who will be using the spreadsheet? Starting Microsoft Excel Here are three popular ways to start Excel: From the Windows 95/98 Desktop, click Start then Programs then MS Office and then select Excel. From the Windows My Computer tool (or Windows Explorer), double click on any Excel filename to open that file. From the MS Office Toolbar, select the Excel icon. Elements of the Excel Screen The Menu Microsoft has tried to make the menus uniform in all of their products so it is easier for users to locate commands.  For example, most of the menu options found in Excel are the same as those in Word.  Clicking on any menu item with the mouse drops down a list of available commands.  Some menu items have arrows, indicating there are side menus with additional options.  Other menu items such as Format Cells bring up tabbed dialog boxes, allowing greater flexibility in making multiple changes at once.