Entering text, numbers, and dates The data that we enter into the worksheet cells can be text, numbers, or dates. Excel's action after we type the data.
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Entering text, numbers, and dates
The data that we enter into the worksheet cells can be text, numbers, or dates. Excel's action after we type the data depends on the key that we use to complete our entry. If we type the enter key or click on the green check mark, Excel will make the cell below our entry the active cell. If we type the tab key, Excel will make the cell to the right of our entry the active cell. In addition, we can type arrow keys or click the mouse on another worksheet cell.
If Excel interprets our entry as text, the entry will be left justified in the cell. If Excel interprets our entry as a number, it will be right justified in the cell. We can force a number to be treated as text by preceding it with an apostrophe. Excel will warn us that we may have made a mistake by displaying an error indictor in the cell.
Excel attempts to be flexible in accepting date entries to accommodate the various formats for dates. Sometimes its flexibility is problematic as it may accept a partial date entry as legitimate by filling in the omitted parts with parts from the current date.
When all of the text for the data item is entered, press the Enter key to complete the entry and make the cell below the entry (A2) the next cell.
When all of the text for the data item is entered, press the Enter key to complete the entry and make the cell below the entry (A2) the next cell.
If you wanted the cell to the right of the entry (B1) to become the active cell, press the Tab key instead of the Enter key.
If you wanted the cell to the right of the entry (B1) to become the active cell, press the Tab key instead of the Enter key.
In addition to pressing keys to complete a cell entry, you can click the mouse on another cell, e.g. E8. The text entry will be completed and the cell clicked on (E8) will become the active cell.
In addition to pressing keys to complete a cell entry, you can click the mouse on another cell, e.g. E8. The text entry will be completed and the cell clicked on (E8) will become the active cell.
Clicking on the green check button on the formula bar is another way to complete a cell entry. If you click on the green check, the entry is completed but the active cell does not change.
Clicking on the green check button on the formula bar is another way to complete a cell entry. If you click on the green check, the entry is completed but the active cell does not change.
Typing in numbers is the same as typing in text: select an active cell, type the characters for the entry, and press a key to complete the entry and navigate to a new active cell.
Typing in numbers is the same as typing in text: select an active cell, type the characters for the entry, and press a key to complete the entry and navigate to a new active cell.
Type John's age of 19 in cell B2.
Type John's age of 19 in cell B2.
When Excel determines that the contents entered in the cell is a number, it right justifies the number in the cell to contrast it with the left justification for text entries.
When Excel determines that the contents entered in the cell is a number, it right justifies the number in the cell to contrast it with the left justification for text entries.
Excel tries to be as flexible as possible in accepting dates. If it can interpret an entry as a date, it will, even if it has to fill in missing parts.
Excel tries to be as flexible as possible in accepting dates. If it can interpret an entry as a date, it will, even if it has to fill in missing parts.
Type 3/13/1985 as John's birthday in cell C2. This is a legitimate date entry and will be accepted.
Type 3/13/1985 as John's birthday in cell C2. This is a legitimate date entry and will be accepted.