How To Use Ms Excel In Ipad

People are currently reading this guide.

👤

Published by A contributor at Hows.Tech sharing helpful insights.

📝 Article edited 0 times 🕒 Last modified by Default Author

Alright, let's dive into the world of Microsoft Excel on your iPad! It's a fantastic tool for managing data on the go, and this comprehensive guide will walk you through everything step by step. Get ready to transform your iPad into a powerful spreadsheet machine!

Step 1: Getting Started - Let's Open the Gates to Data!

Have you already downloaded the Microsoft Excel app from the App Store? If not, that's our very first mini-step! Head over to the App Store, search for "Microsoft Excel," and tap that download button. Once it's installed, go ahead and open the app. You should be greeted with a screen offering you a few options.

Exploring Your Options

• Blank Workbook: This is your clean slate, ready for you to build your masterpiece of data. Tap this if you're starting a new spreadsheet from scratch.
• Templates: Excel on iPad offers a variety of pre-designed templates for budgets, calendars, lists, and more. These can be incredibly handy for getting a head start. Scroll through and see if anything catches your eye!
• Recent Files: If you've used Excel on your iPad before, you'll see a list of your recently opened workbooks here.

For now, let's assume you want to start fresh. Tap on "Blank Workbook."

Step 2: Navigating the Interface - Your Digital Command Center

Once you open a blank workbook, you'll see the Excel interface. It might look a little different from the desktop version, but it's designed for touch and is quite intuitive.

The Ribbon - Your Versatile Toolbar

At the top, you'll find the Ribbon. This is where most of your essential tools are located. It's organized into tabs:

• Home: This is your go-to tab for common tasks like formatting text (bold, italics, font changes), aligning content, number formatting, basic formulas (like SUM and AVERAGE), and cell styles.
• Insert: Here, you can insert tables, pictures, shapes, charts, and even text boxes. Visualizing your data? This is the tab for you!
• Draw: If you have an Apple Pencil, this tab lets you annotate directly on your spreadsheet. Super useful for highlighting or adding notes.
• Formulas: Unleash the power of calculations! This tab provides access to a vast library of Excel functions, categorized by type (Financial, Logical, Text, etc.).
• Data: Working with lists? This tab offers tools for sorting, filtering, text to columns, and more.
• Review: Need to check spelling or add comments? This tab has you covered.
• View: Customize how you see your spreadsheet with options for freezing panes, zooming, and showing/hiding gridlines and headings.

You can swipe left or right on the Ribbon to see all the tabs. Tap on a tab to explore its various commands.

The Formula Bar - Where the Magic Happens

Just below the Ribbon, you'll see a long bar. This is the Formula Bar. When you select a cell, this bar will display the content of that cell. If the cell contains a formula, you'll see the formula here. You can also type directly into the Formula Bar to enter or edit data and formulas.

The Worksheet - Your Grid of Possibilities

The main area of the screen is the worksheet, a grid made up of rows (numbered 1, 2, 3...) and columns (labeled A, B, C...). Each intersection of a row and a column is called a cell. You can select a cell by simply tapping on it. The selected cell will have a green border around it.

Step 3: Entering and Editing Data - Populating Your Spreadsheet

Now, let's get some data into our blank workbook!

Typing Directly

1. Select a cell: Tap on the cell where you want to enter data.
2. Bring up the keyboard: The iPad's on-screen keyboard will appear.
3. Type your data: Enter text, numbers, or dates.
4. Confirm your entry: Tap the green checkmark above the keyboard or tap on another cell.

Editing Existing Data

1. Select the cell: Tap on the cell you want to edit.
2. Access edit mode: Double-tap the cell, or tap once and then tap in the Formula Bar. The keyboard will reappear, and you can now modify the cell's content.
3. Make your changes: Use the keyboard to edit the data.
4. Confirm your edits: Tap the green checkmark or tap another cell.

Step 4: Basic Formatting - Making Your Data Look Good

Formatting can make your spreadsheet easier to read and understand. The Home tab is your best friend here.

Font Formatting

1. Select the cell(s): Tap and drag to select a range of cells.
2. Go to the Home tab: If you're not already there, tap "Home" in the Ribbon.
3. Explore the Font group: Here you'll find options to change:
   • Font Style: Tap the current font name to see a list of available fonts.
   • Font Size: Tap the number to adjust the size of the text.
   • Bold (B), Italics (I), Underline (U): Tap these icons to apply the respective formatting.
   • Font Color (A with a color bar): Choose a color for your text.
   • Fill Color (Paint Bucket): Choose a background color for your cells.

Alignment

1. Select the cell(s).
2. Go to the Home tab.
3. Look at the Alignment group: You'll find options for:
   • Horizontal Alignment: Align text to the left, center, or right within the cell.
   • Vertical Alignment: Align text to the top, middle, or bottom of the cell.
   • Wrap Text: If text is too long to fit in a cell, this will wrap it onto multiple lines within the same cell.
   • Merge & Center: Combine multiple selected cells into one larger cell and center the content.

Number Formatting

1. Select the cell(s) containing numbers.
2. Go to the Home tab.
3. Check out the Number group:
   • General: This is the default format.
   • Number: Allows you to specify the number of decimal places, use a thousands separator, and format negative numbers.
   • Currency: Formats numbers as monetary values with a currency symbol.
   • Percentage: Displays numbers as percentages.
   • Date/Time: Offers various date and time formats.

You can also tap the arrow in the bottom right corner of the Number group to see more formatting options.

Step 5: Working with Formulas - The Power of Calculation

Excel's true strength lies in its ability to perform calculations using formulas.

Entering Basic Formulas

1. Select the cell where you want the result to appear.

2. Start with an equals sign (=): This tells Excel that you're entering a formula.

3. Enter your formula: You can use cell references (e.g., A1, B5), operators (+, -, *, /), and functions.

   • Example: To add the values in cell A1 and A2, type =A1+A2 and press the green checkmark.
   • Example: To find the average of values in cells B1 to B10, type =AVERAGE(B1:B10) and press the green checkmark.

Using Functions

Excel has a vast library of built-in functions to perform various calculations.

1. Select the cell for the result.
2. Go to the Formulas tab.
3. Browse the function categories: Tap on a category (e.g., Math & Trig, Statistical) to see the available functions.
4. Select a function: Tap on the function you want to use. Excel will often provide a brief description of the function.
5. Enter the arguments: The function will require specific inputs, called arguments. These might be cell ranges, individual cell references, or values. Follow the prompts or type them in, separated by commas.
6. Press the green checkmark.

AutoSum

For common calculations like SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, MIN, and MAX, the AutoSum feature on the Home tab is incredibly quick.

1. Select the cell below or to the right of the numbers you want to calculate.
2. Go to the Home tab.
3. Tap "AutoSum" and choose the desired function. Excel will often automatically guess the range of cells you want to use. Verify it and press the green checkmark.

Step 6: Creating Charts - Visualizing Your Data

Charts can help you understand trends and patterns in your data more easily.

1. Select the data you want to include in your chart: This usually includes the labels (e.g., months, product names) and the values.
2. Go to the Insert tab.
3. Tap "Chart": You'll see a variety of chart types.
4. Choose a chart type: Select the chart that best represents your data (e.g., Column, Line, Pie).
5. Customize your chart: Once the chart is inserted, you can tap on different elements (title, axes, data series) to modify them using the options that appear. You can change colors, add labels, and more.

Step 7: Saving and Sharing Your Work - Keeping Your Data Safe and Collaborative

Saving Your Workbook

1. Tap the "File" icon (it might look like three dots or the word "File" depending on your iPadOS version).
2. Tap "Save" or "Save As."
3. Choose a location: You can save your file to OneDrive (if you're signed in with your Microsoft account), SharePoint, or "On My iPad."
4. Enter a file name: Give your workbook a descriptive name.
5. Tap "Save."

Sharing Your Workbook

1. Tap the "Share" icon (it often looks like a person with a plus sign or an upward-pointing arrow).
2. Choose how you want to share:
   • Invite people: Share directly with others via their email address, allowing them to collaborate in real-time (if saved on OneDrive or SharePoint).
   • Send a Copy: Send a static copy of your file via email, Messages, or other apps. You can choose the format (e.g., Excel Workbook, PDF).
   • Copy Link: Create a shareable link to your file (if saved on OneDrive or SharePoint). You can set permissions (view only or edit).

Step 8: Printing Your Spreadsheet - Getting a Hard Copy

1. Tap the "File" icon.
2. Tap "Print."
3. Adjust print settings: You can choose the printer, number of copies, page range, paper size, orientation, and more.
4. Tap "Print."

Step 9: Working with Tables - Organizing Your Data

Tables make it easier to manage and analyze related data.

1. Select the range of cells you want to include in your table.
2. Go to the Insert tab.
3. Tap "Table."
4. Confirm the data range in the dialog box and make sure "My table has headers" is checked if your first row contains column titles.
5. Tap "OK."

Once your data is in a table, you can easily sort, filter, and format it using the controls that appear in the header row.

Step 10: Staying Organized - Managing Multiple Sheets

A single Excel file can contain multiple sheets. Think of them as separate pages within the same document.

• Adding a new sheet: Tap the "+" icon next to the existing sheet tabs at the bottom of the screen.
• Renaming a sheet: Double-tap on the sheet tab, type the new name, and tap "Done" or outside the tab.
• Moving or copying sheets: Tap and hold a sheet tab, then drag it to a new position or choose "Move or Copy" from the context menu.

Frequently Asked Questions (How to...)

How to freeze panes in Excel on iPad?

1. Select the cell below the row(s) and to the right of the column(s) you want to freeze.
2. Go to the View tab.
3. Tap "Freeze Panes" and choose "Freeze Panes."

How to sort data in Excel on iPad?

1. Select the data you want to sort (including headers).
2. Go to the Data tab.
3. Tap "Sort."
4. Choose the column to sort by, the sort order (ascending or descending), and tap "Apply."

How to filter data in Excel on iPad?

1. Select the data range (including headers).
2. Go to the Data tab.
3. Tap "Filter." Drop-down arrows will appear in the header row.
4. Tap the arrow in the column you want to filter, and choose your criteria.

How to insert a formula in Excel on iPad?

1. Select the cell where you want the result.
2. Type = followed by your formula (e.g., =SUM(A1:A5)).
3. Tap the green checkmark. Alternatively, use the Formulas tab to browse and insert functions.

How to create a chart in Excel on iPad?

1. Select the data you want to visualize.
2. Go to the Insert tab.
3. Tap "Chart" and choose a chart type. Customize as needed.

How to save an Excel file on iPad?

1. Tap the "File" icon.
2. Tap "Save" or "Save As."
3. Choose a location, enter a name, and tap "Save."

How to share an Excel file from iPad?

1. Tap the "Share" icon.
2. Choose a sharing method (invite people, send a copy, copy link) and follow the prompts.

How to add a new sheet in Excel on iPad?

Tap the "+" icon located next to the existing sheet tabs at the bottom of the screen.

How to format cells in Excel on iPad?

1. Select the cells you want to format.
2. Go to the Home tab and use the options in the Font, Alignment, and Number groups.

How to use AutoSum in Excel on iPad?

1. Select the cell below or to the right of the numbers you want to sum.
2. Go to the Home tab.
3. Tap "AutoSum" and choose the desired function (e.g., Sum, Average).

There you have it! A comprehensive guide to using Microsoft Excel on your iPad. Don't hesitate to experiment and explore the various features. Happy data wrangling!

8993240807084748244