Description:

This is a second attempt to use Excel. It gives you practice doing some of the things we discussed in class 2/3/05.

1. Open Excel and create a new spreadsheet. Name it "Psyc 220 homework 5" and save it on your p drive in your Psych 220 homework folder.

2. Create a table of numbers. Make a list of numbers 2 columns wide and 5 rows long, with names for each of the columns. Make up these numbers.

3. Create a bar graph with these, and move it so that it is next to the table on the same page. Be sure you can see both the table and the graph. (Move it by clicking on it so that is selected, then dragging it.) Drag the corner handles on the bar graph to make it smaller so that both the table and the graph will print on a single page. (Use Print Preview to test this.)

----NOTE ON TERMINOLOGY: we called this a bar graph here. Exel uses the general term "CHART." We will use the general term "FIGURE" when we use charts or graphs in our written reports, since Figure is the term used in APA format reports.

4. Get averages for both columns and all 5 rows. To get the average of one column, highlight the set of numbers in the column, then click on the "insert function" box at the top of the page, then select "AVERAGE," and proceed from there.

5. Copy the formula for averaging that column across to the second column by dragging it across. Be sure to know how to copy a formula by dragging it to another cell.

6. The procedure used for copying things across a row or up or down a column is called "fill," and it is done by clicking on a tiny square at the bottom of the cell you selected, which is called the "fill handle."

7. Here is something new: we should all learn how to use the HELP file in Excel, which is often quite good. Click on Help and select Microsoft Excel Help (or press the F1 key, which almosts always gets you help in whatever program you are using). Type "fill" in either the index or the Answer Wizard box and click Search. You will see information of how to fill in a series of cells by dragging the fill handle. To show me that you did this, type "I used HELP" in a cell near the bottom of your spreadsheet. In the cell below that, copy and paste a set of about 7-10 words from the help file that begin with "You can quickly..."

8. You now have a table of 10 numbers with averages of every row and every column. Label the rows and columns that have averages so that you know these numbers are averages.

9. Format all of your averages so that they show two and only two decimal places. First select all your numbers. Then click on format > cells > number tab > number to do this.

10. Center all the numbers in their cells by selecting all the cells and clicking the "center" icon.

11. Make the table pretty by inserting some background colors, changing fonts, etc. Highlight the cells you want, then click on format > cells and use the font, border, and patterns tabs.

12. Make the figure pretty by right-clicking on the background and choosing "format chart area." Make some other changes by right-clicking and choosing "chart options."

13. Before finishing, try this to see how it works. Change one of your numbers in your table and press "enter." You should see that (1) the row average changes; (2) the column average changes; (3) the figure changes.

14. Get all of your results on a single page, type your heading in four appropriate cells up top, and print the page. (HINT: if you need new rows up top for your heading, highlight the top row by clicking in the left margin, then click Insert > row a couple of times.) (REMINDER: use Print Preview before printing.)

You have learned:
- using the HELP file;
- using a formula (called a "function");
- dragging to copy cells using the "fill" procedure;
- formatting cells in various ways;

And you have practiced again:
- creating a graph;
- moving a graph;
- re-sizing a graph;
- formatting a graph to change it's look.

Congratulations!

2/6/05