Just like the new version of
Word, Excel opens with a Start Screen, where you can start a new blank
workbook, create a new spreadsheet based on a template, and open an existing
Excel file. At first glance Excel 2013
looks the same as 2010, just with some slight cosmetic changes to the
Ribbon. What is hidden is that Excel is
now even easier to use with lots of intuitive tools – here’s just a few of them….
Charts
In previous versions of Excel you had to decide which
chart you wanted and switch between each before you found the right one. Excel 2013 has a great new feature for those
who are a bit confused by all the different styles of charts – Recommended
Charts. Just select the data for the
chart and click Insert > Recommended Chart to see the different options that would
suit your data. Click each chart to
preview what your data will look like in that style. Once you've chosen your preferred chart, small
icons will appear outside the top right corner when you select it, giving you
access to tools for working with the chart’s elements, styles, and colours.
One workbook – one window
In Excel 2013 each
workbook opens in its own window, which makes it much easier if you often work on
two or more workbooks at the same time.
Quick analysis
If you’re not sure what’s
the best way to display your data so that it shows what you want, Quick
Analysis should help you decide. Just
select the cells that contain the data you want to work with, then click the
Quick Analysis button that appears next to your selected data. Depending on the type of data, you’ll be
given a choice of different options for displaying that data. Would you like to display your data as a
chart or a table; would you like to change the format to show colours; the top
or bottom 10%? Just select the option
you want, or point to it and you’ll see a preview.
Pivot Tables
If you've ever struggled with Pivot Tables, Excel 2013 makes it so much
easier with Recommended Pivot Tables. Just select your headings and data, then Insert > Recommended
Pivot Tables. You’ll be shown a series of Pivot Tables with
explanations of what they show. You just need to select the table that shows
what you want to see, click OK, and your Pivot Table
is automatically drawn for you.
Did you miss the other reviews in this series? Just click these links to read:
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