Google Sheets: Your first guide to the user interface

Welcome to this Google Sheets tutorial! In this guide, you have the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the basic elements and the user interface of Google Sheets. We will navigate through the different functions together and introduce you to the most important tools and their application. Whether you are a beginner or looking to refresh your knowledge, this guide is designed to help you work more efficiently with Google Sheets.

Main Insights

• The user interface of Google Sheets is similar to that of Microsoft Excel.
• You can easily name and save documents in Google Drive.
• Navigation between different sheets is intuitive and customizable.
• You can work with formulas and format cells in various ways.

Step-by-Step Guide

Creating a New Document

Once you open Google Sheets, you will see a blank spreadsheet that is still unnamed. To get an overview of your work, I recommend naming your new document right away. Click on the title, which usually says "Untitled Spreadsheet," and enter a new name, for example, "My First Google Sheet." You also have the option to mark the document as a favorite, which is useful if you want to save many files.

Autosave Feature

A major advantage of Google Sheets is the automatic saving feature. You don't have to worry about manually saving your document – everything happens in the background. However, you can also use the options to download or move the document manually by clicking on "File."

Adding and Duplicating Sheets

You are now in your first sheet, which you can continue to work on. If you need another sheet, simply click on the "+" symbol at the bottom. Do you want to duplicate an existing sheet? You can easily do so by right-clicking on the tab of the sheet and then clicking on "Duplicate." This way, you will have an identical copy that you can customize as needed.

Customizing Sheets

Each sheet can be customized individually. You can drag and drop it to the desired position or change the color of the tab by right-clicking on the tab and selecting a new color. This helps maintain clarity, especially when you have multiple sheets in one document.

Working with Cells

Cells are the basic building blocks of a sheet and consist of columns (letters) and rows (numbers). Each cell has its own address, such as A1 or B2. You can enter data into these cells by selecting a cell and simply typing. To copy something, select a cell, press "Ctrl + C" to copy, and "Ctrl + V" to paste it where you want.

Using Formulas

Google Sheets also allows you to work with formulas. This always starts with an equal sign (=). For example, you can do a simple addition by typing "=54 + 26" into a cell. The result will be displayed immediately. This opens up many possibilities for performing complex calculations.

Formatting Cells

After entering data, you can customize the appearance of these cells. In the top menu bar, you will find numerous formatting options. You can display text in bold or italic, change the font color, or even select the background. This way, you can visually enhance your data, which is especially important for presentations or reports.

Undoing and Redoing Actions

If you make a mistake or want to undo a change, Google Sheets has convenient functions for that. You can use the "Undo" option at the top left or simply press "Ctrl + Z." To redo a step, press "Ctrl + Y." These shortcuts greatly facilitate editing and adjusting your data.

Summary

In this tutorial, you have familiarized yourself with the essential functions of the user interface of Google Sheets. Starting from creating and customizing documents, adding and managing sheets, to the possibilities of data editing and formatting. With these basics, you are well equipped to work effectively and creatively with Google Sheets.