The Excel Interface Ribbons, tabs, Quick Access Toolbar, and the worksheet grid
Ribbon
The Ribbon is the big toolbar at the top of Excel. It’s divided into tabs and contains groups of commands. Think of it as your control panel for doing everything in Excel—formatting, inserting charts, using formulas, etc.
Key Ribbon Tabs (explained below):
- Home
- Insert
- Page Layout
- Formulas
- Data
- Review
- View
Tabs on the Ribbon
These are the clickable options across the top of the Ribbon. Each tab shows a different set of tools.
Home Tab:
- Basic tools like: copy/paste, font settings, alignment, number formatting, cell styles, and sorting/filtering.
- This is the most commonly used tab.
Insert Tab:
- Tools to insert things like: charts, tables, pictures, shapes, PivotTables, and more.
Page Layout Tab:
- Controls how your sheet looks when printed.
- Adjust margins, orientation, paper size, and themes.
Formulas Tab:
- Access to functions like SUM, AVERAGE, IF, VLOOKUP, etc.
- Also includes the Function Library and formula auditing tools.
Data Tab:
- Tools to import, sort, filter, clean, or analyze data.
- Includes data validation, flash fill, and connections.
Review Tab:
- Tools for spelling, comments, protecting the sheet/workbook, and tracking changes.
View Tab:
- Customize the view: freeze panes, zoom, hide/show gridlines, and switch between workbook windows.
Quick Access Toolbar
- Located above the Ribbon (top-left corner).
- You can customize it to keep your favorite tools (like Save, Undo, Redo) always visible.
- Helps you work faster without switching tabs.