Terry L. McAlister

The goal of this packet is to give a brief introduction on how to use Excel 2000. It is important that you understand that Excel 2000 is a powerful program and the information contained herein is a small percentage of what the program is capable.

Figure 1: The Excel 2000 screen. Familiarize yourself with the locations of the menus and shortcut icons.

Figure 2: Entering Data

To enter data in the worksheet, first select the cell in which you wish the data to appear. Then, either begin typing and the data will appear both in the cell and the formula bar, or left click in the formula bar and then begin to type. The data will appear both places.

Figure 3: Formatting Cells for Significant Figures

To account for significant figures, Excel 2000 must be formatted to hold the number of significant figures necessary. Once you decide on the proper number of significant figures, highlight the entire column by left clicking on the letter of the column, left click on the Format pull-down menu and then left click on Cells as indicated in Figure 3.

Figure 4: Format Cells Sreen

To set the number of significant figures Excel will hold, left click on Number, then set the required number of decimal places that will satisfy all of the entered numbers to be held to the proper number of significant figures. Also, note the other possibilities for formatting data. They may come in handy later on in the course. Click OK.

Figure 5: Adjusting Cell Width

To adjust the width of the column, place the cursor on the line between the columns. The cursor will then look like: Left click and drag to the right or left to adjust column to desired width.

Figure 6: Preparing to Graph Data

To graph your data, be sure that you have entered data for the x-axis in the left hand column and the values for the y-axis in the right hand columns. Highlight the data to be graphed by selected the upper left-hand corner cell to be graphed, left click and drag to the right and down until all cells to be graphed are highlighted. Release the left mouse button.

Figure 7: Inserting Chart

To graph your data, after the proper cells have been highlighted, left click on the Insert drop-down menu and then left click on Chart.

Figure 8: Plot Type

For CHEM 107 and 108, you should choose the Chart type: XY Scatter and and then click on the necessary chart sub-type. Then click Next. For titrations, you will want to use the smooth line with points sub-type and for calibration curves, you will want to use the scatter plot.

Figure 9: Chart Source Data

Click Next if information is correct. If the above steps have followed correctly, information will be correct. Please Note: Be sure the data for the x-axis is in column A. If you have many columns of data and need to only use certain columns, press and hold the Ctrl key and left clik on the columns of data you need.

Figure 10: Chart Options

When at this screen, enter the chart title and the values for the x-axis and y-axis. Be sure to use a descriptive title and include units as shown in Figure 10. If there is only one column of y-data, then no legend is needed and can be turned off by left clicking on the legend tab and deselecting show legend. There are also other options which can be explored by left clicking on the individual taps represented in Figure 10. Then click Next.

Figure 11: Chart Location

For this course, you will want a full page graph, therefore select As new sheet for the chart location. Then click Finish.

Figure 12: Full Page Graph and New Chart pull-down menu

A screen similar to Figure 12 should appear on your screen. Also, it is important to note that a new pull-down menu has also appeared in the main toolbar (where file and edit, etc. are located). This new menu is the Chart menu. Also, there should be a chart toolbar “floating” over your graph.

Figure 13: Adding a Trendline to Calibration Curves

To add a trendline to the graph, click on the Chart pull-down menu and then left click on Add Trendline. Please note that it may be necessary to expand the pull-down menu by left clicking on the double down arrows at the bottom of the menu. This was the case in the about figure.

Figure 14: Choosing a Trendline

Once on the Add Trendline window, choose the type of trend or regression desired. For this course, you will mainly, if not always use Linear. After selecting the desired trend/regression type, left click on the Options tab. See now Figure 15.

Figure 15: Options Tab Menu of Add Trendline Window

It is required for this course that you display the equation on the chart. Once in the Options sub-window, select Display equation on chart by left clicking in the appropriate box as inidcated in Figure 15.

Figure 16: Final Chart

Figure 16 is a representation of what your graph should look like with a trendline and equation displayed. It is customary to replace the x and y in the equation with what they stand for from their respective axis. To accomplish this, select the equation (the equation will have the same appearance as the one in figure 16), then left click to the right of the letter you wish to change, backspace, and type the first letter of the axis label (use uppercase letters).