What is an Excel document and how to work with it?

Each work page of an Excel document is saved in a separate file. In this regard, it is necessary to learn how to work with files correctly. This article presents several methods for working with them. In order to master the basic skills, it is better to try all the methods and choose the one you like. Or apply various methods in convenient cases.

Any names in this article are from Microsoft Office 2013. If you use a different version, the name of the commands and the appearance of the windows may vary slightly, but the essence will remain unchanged.

How to make an Excel document

To open an Excel document, you need to double-click the MS Excel icon on the desktop or in the Start menu. After entering the program, the first menu with options for work and templates will appear. To start working, you need to click on one of them or on a template with the name "empty book".

In the event that you have already opened MS Excel, to create a document you need to do one of the following:

1. To open a new workbook, you must simultaneously press the buttons - Ctrl + N.
2. Click on the "File" button, and then in the window that opens - the "Create" button. In this case, a tab will appear where you must choose various options for creating the file - either from a template or a blank book.

Opening a document in Excel

There are several methods to open an Excel file. The first is used if the program itself is not already running. In order to open the Excel file, you need to find it using the Windows search engine and double-click on the found file with the left mouse button. Microsoft Excel will open and automatically launch the file you found.

The second method is when you have already opened Microsoft Excel. You can use several ways to open a document.

1. At the same time, pressing Ctrl + O on the keyboard. As a result, a window will open in which the latest files will be visible.
2. You can also run the file from storage located on the cloud server.
3. Another way is to click on the file button and select "Open" in the window that opens. In the left part you can find the place where the document is located. Right - select the required document.

In the case when in the "Open" window you select the location of the file "Your computer" and then select the "Browse" button, a search engine window opens in which you can specify the filter for the desired document, including the option to open it:

1. “Open” launches the required Excel file to work with it.
2. “Open for reading” - a document without the possibility of editing.
3. “Open as Copy” - a copy of the document for editing.
4. “Open in browser” - launches a document in a browser.
5. “Open in protected viewing mode” - open a file using the protected viewing option.
6. Open and restore the launch of incorrectly closed documents or documents closed without saving.

Saving a Microsoft Excel File

In MS Excel, there is the option of autosaving Excel files and documents. There is also a function to restore them. At the same time, the developers advise periodically, in the process of work, to save the document to prevent accidental situations when your work will be lost for reasons beyond your control. There are several methods to save your work.

1. By pressing two buttons on the keyboard simultaneously - Ctrl + S.
2. By simultaneously pressing Shift + F12 or F12.
3. The "Save" button in the upper left part of the working window.
4. The "File" button in the window that opens, and then click the "Save" button.
   

If you select "Save As", then you will have the opportunity to give the file a different name.

When saving the document, the above methods will open a window in which you will need to indicate where the program should perform this action, as well as the type of file and its name. To do this, you need to click the "Browse" button. When you perform the action again, the program will save the document under the same name.

Microsoft Excel file closure

After finishing work with the Excel document, you must close the program. This operation can be performed by several methods.

1. Right- click the cross (x) in the upper right corner.
2. By clicking the “File” button in the window that opens, select “Close”.
3. Double-click on the system menu icon in the upper left corner of the “Icon” window of the “Excel” system menu.
4. Press the Ctrl + W or Alt + F4 buttons on the keyboard at the same time.

If the document has not been saved, a window will appear in which the program will offer you the necessary actions with the file:

1. Save.
2. Do not save.
3. Cancel - cancels the action of closing the program.