Computer Info – March 14, 2001

This Week’s Program

        We will take a look at entering information into Excel – using some of the function commands – and creating our address book in Excel and bringing the information into Word in order to print labels. We should also have time for a question and answer session.
Entering Information Into Excel
        You must tell Excel if what you are entering is to be calculated and the answer to the calculation shown or if the information (even though it may look like a mathematical problem) is to be displayed the way that you type it.
        If you want the information you enter to be calculated and the answer shown, you must start entering your information with an equal sign – a plus sign – or a minus sign. Any other information will be displayed just the way that you type it.
        Try these examples -----
                            50+50+50             what is displayed is 50+50+50
                            =50+50+50           what is displayed is 150
                            +50+50+50           what is displayed is 150
        Notice that the one that you entered without starting it with an equal sign or plus or minus sign is justified to the left and the others are justified to the right.

Using Functions in Excel

COMBIN ----- Returns the number of combinations for a given number of items. Use COMBIN to determine the total possible number of groups for a given number of items (like the odds of winning the lotto)
        The syntax for this function is COMBIN(number,number_chosen) where Number is the number of items available (in the case of the Florida lotto this would be 53) and Number_chosen is the number of items in each combination (in the case of the Florida lotto this would be 6).

AVERAGE ----- Returns the average (arithmetic mean) of the group of numbers or cells. If the cells contains text or empty cells, those values are ignored; however, cells with the value zero are included. Empty cells are not counted, but zero values are.

CEILING ----- Returns number rounded up, away from zero, to the nearest multiple of significance

COUNT & COUNTA ----- COUNT counts the number of cells that contain numbers and COUNTA counts the number of cells that are not empty.

ROMAN ----- Returns the Roman Numeral for the number – if it is less than 3999.

Web Query in Excel for Stock Quotes

        You can run a web query in Excel to obtain information on various stocks. Excel has the ability to pull this information from the Web through its Web Queries. Excel includes a few samples from PC Quote..
        To use it, first make sure you are connected to the Web and open a new workbook in Excel. Then click DATA, GET EXTERNAL DATA, RUN WEB QUERY. This will list four queries that you can run.. You will be ask where in your spreadsheet that you would like the data to be placed. Finally, enter the stock symbol or symbols for the company or companies that you want before clicking OK.

Make your mailing labels in Word using Excel Spreadsheet

        One way to be able to use the mail merge feature in Word to create a form letter or labels is to create your address list in Excel (a spreadsheet program). If you make the first row – the header row (where you type the name of the fields or columns – for example, First Name – Last Name – Street Address – City – State), when you merge this information into Word, it will use this row as the field names. The best part is the fact that you do not have to do anything to convert the information – Word can read the Excel file.

Netscape Quality Feedback Agent

        If you find Netscape’s Quality Feedback Agent a nuisance, like we do – you can turn it off. Here’s how.
        From the START button – go to PROGRAMS – then NETSCAPE – then UTILITIES – and finally NETSCAPE QUALITY FEEDBACK AGENT. From that program, choose SETTINGS - then click on TURN AGENT OFF. That should take care of it.

Web Sites

State and Local Governments
        A listing of State and Local Governments with web pages on the internet.
                               http://www.piperinfo.com/state/index.cfm
Newspapers Online
        A good listing of newspapers with web pages.
                               http://www.naa.org/hotlinks/index.asp
 
 

Beginner’s Section

Moving Icons on the Desktop
        If your icons all seems to line up and stay to the left side of your desktop – when you try to move one of the icons, it immediately snaps back to its original location -- then you are using AUTO-ARRANGE for your icons. This is great for some people – but when you wish to put a picture on your desktop – the icons seem to cover up the picture. If that is true, then maybe you would like to move the icons to a location that you like so that your picture can be seen.
        To do this, right-click on the desktop (be sure that you are not clicking on top of an icon). This will give you a menu of choices – left click on ARRANGE ICONS. If you have a checkmark in front of AUTO-ARRANGE – then, by clicking on it – this will remove the checkmark. Now you should be able to move your icon to any location.