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Excel 2002
Office XP
PC

What's New in Excel 2002 (Office XP)


Introduction

Excel 2002 is the version of Excel packaged with the Office XP suite. This document outlines many of the new features of Excel 2002 and how it differs from Excel 97. It is written for people who are familiar with Microsoft Excel 97 and who are starting to or wish to use version 2002. Office XP will be distributed to faculty and staff offices based on upgrade requests.

Excel 2002 is, once you get used to it, very similar to Excel 97. It includes both brand new features as well as old features that have simply changed location, name, or appearance. Both Excel 2002 and 97 use the same file formatting, which means that Excel 2002 can open, read, and edit Excel 97 (and 2000) files. Files created in Excel 2002 on a PC should also be fully cross-platform compatible with Macintoshes running either Excel 98 or 2001, provided that the filename is relatively short and does not contain any punctuation characters.

Specific differences between Excel 97 and 2002 are detailed below.


Getting Started

To launch Excel 2002, Click on the Start menu and select Microsoft Excel from the list. If Microsoft Excel is not available in the initial Start menu list, please look under Start > Programs for Microsoft Excel.


Table of Contents

Navigating the New Display

Printing

Comments

 

Formatting

Hiding Information

Protection Options

Data Recovery, Repair and Error Reporting

Other New or Modified Features

Additional Resources


Navigating the New Layout

The toolbars and menus appear in the same locations at the top of the screen as they did in Excel 97/98.

The Task Pane

The Task Pane (as pictured on the right) is a rectangular window that appears on the right side of the screen when Excel opens. It acts as an open menu, giving you a list of functions and commands to perform depending on what you are doing at the moment.

Opening/Closing Task Panetask pane

Other Task Panes/Functions

The other Panes can be opened by clicking on the down-arrow that appears on the right in the title bar circled in red.

  1. The Clipboard contains a list of items you have recently cut, pasted, or copied.
  2. The Search option can help you search the hard drive for files with content matching the search keyword. The options also allow search by location or file type.
  3. The Insert Clip Art function allows you to search the Clip Art Gallery using keywords and displays the Clip Art in thumbnails for you to choose.
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Smart Tags and Other Markers

A "smart tag" is a button that appears after certain actions have taken place, such as a copy-and-paste. When you click on the button, a menu of options pop down that help you control the result of the action.

List of Smart Tags and Functionstrace error

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Menus and Toolbars

The toolbars in Excel 2002 are reduced in size and have slightly different button styles from Excel 97 or 2000. Excel 2002 toolbars are configured to only display the most commonly used commands, yet they can easily be expanded. If you click on the small, black arrow ( circled in red below ) at the right end of the toolbar, a menu extends to show additional commands that are usually found in that toolbar. If you use one or more of the buttons in the menu repeatedly, Excel will automatically add that button to the visible part of the toolbar. Another option is to show all buttons on two rows instead of one by choosing the Show buttons on Two Rows option.

toolbar

Personalize The Toolbar

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Review Toolbar

The Reviewing toolbar is used to edit, navigate through, display/hide, and delete comments.

To Display the Reviewing Toolbar:

  1. From the View menu, select Toolbars > Reviewing.
  2. The Reviewing toolbar appears.
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Pointer Shapes

The shape of the pointer changes as you are working with the program. Each pointer shape is communicating something about how Excel is working. The shape of the pointer when you click and drag a cell will greatly influence the results of the click and drag. The following is a table that describes each of the pointer shapes that you may encounter in your Excel work.

Shape
Meaning
Action
The default pointer shape. Move cell pointer or select a range of cells.
When the pointer is on a border (column, row, or window), the pointer changes to a two-headed black pointer. When adjusting row height, the arrow goes up and down. When adjusting column width, the arrows point right to left. Adjust the column width, row height, or window size.
When you are editing the contents of a cell, the pointer will change to an I-beam. Move the insertion point within the cell.
The pointer turns to a four-headed arrow when you have a graphic that may be moved. With the pointer over the graphic, click and drag to the new location.
Appears when you are pointing to the border of a cell. Click and drag cell to a new location.
Appears when you are at the "fill corner" of a cell or range of cells. Click and drag the fill corner to Autofill other cells with similar information.
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File Open and Save

The Open, Save, and Save As windows (pictured below shown below) have improved functions. The windows can be opened by going to File > Open, File > Save, and File > Save As. It gives you the option of quickly navigating folders to find your document or to save it in a specific folder. Located on the left side of the the dialog box, there are five buttons(History, My Documents, Desktop, Favorites, and My Network Places) which will quickly bring you to those chosen locations.

save window

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Printing

Printing Formulas

Troubleshooting your worksheets is easier if you print the formulas. This is especially true if you have a large worksheet or if you are managing a worksheet that someone else created.

In order to print the formulas, they must first be displayed. After you are done printing, you can readjust the view to show the results of the formulas.

Displaying the Formulas:

  1. From the Tools menu, select Options.
  2. The Options dialog box appears.
  3. Select the View tab.
  4. Under Window options, select Formulas. (A check means the option is turned on; an empty box means the option is turned off.
  5. Click OK.
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Printing with Color

Printing with color can enhance your finished Excel document.

*NOTE: To print using color, you must have access to a color printer. If you have applied color to your Excel document on screen, but you print to a black and white printer, the document will print in shades of gray. Use Print Preview to be sure that the document will print appropriately.

    1. From the File menu, select Page Setup.
    2. The Page Setup dialog box will appear.
    3. From the Page Setup dialog box, select the Sheet tab.
    4. Under Print, make sure that Black and White is not selected. (An empty check box means the option is turned off.)
    5. Click OK.
    6. From the File menu, select Print Preview.
    7. Make sure the document appears in color.
    8. Click Close.
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Comments

Adding Comments

Adding a comment to a cell allows you place additional information within that cell. The comment, along with the username of the person who inserted the comment, appears when you point to the cell.

Adding Comments: Menu Option

  1. Select the cell to which the comment will be added.
  2. From the Insert menu, select Comment.
  3. The Comment box appears with your username.
  4. Type your comment.
  5. Click another cell.
  6. A red triangle will appear in the cell indicating that a comment is attached to the cell.
  7. When you place your mouse over the cell, the comment will appear.
Cell with comment
Text of comment revealed

Adding Comments: Quick Menu

  1. Right click the cell to which you want to add a comment.
  2. Select Insert Comment.
  3. The Comment dialog box appears.
  4. Type your comment.
  5. Click another cell.
  6. A red triangle appears in the cell indicating that a comment is attached to the cell.
  7. When you place your mouse over the cell, the comment will appear.

Adding Comments: Toolbar Option

  1. Select the cell you want to add a comment to.
  2. On the Reviewing toolbar, click New Comment .
  3. The Comment dialog box appears.
  4. Type your comment.
  5. Click another cell.
  6. A red triangle appears in the cell indicating that a comment is attached to the cell.
  7. When you place your mouse over the cell, the comment will appear.
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Editing Comments

Editing a comment allows you to add to or change the information you have placed within a cell as a comment.

Editing Comments: Menu Option

  1. Select the cell that the contains the comment to be edited.
  2. From the Insert menu, select Edit Comment.
  3. The Comment box will appear.
  4. Make the appropriate changes to the comment.
  5. Click another cell.

Editing Comments: Quick Menu

  1. Right click the cell which contains the comment.
  2. Select Edit Comment.
  3. The Comment box appears.
  4. Make the appropriate changes to the comment.
  5. Click another cell.

Editing Comments: Toolbar Option

  1. From the Reviewing toolbar, click Edit Comment .
  2. Make the appropriate changes.
  3. Click another cell.
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Deleting Comments

Deleting comments will allow you to either remove the comment you have placed within an individual cell or to remove all of the comments you have placed within a document.

Removing Comments from a Single Cell: Menu Option

  1. Select the cell with the comment to be deleted.
  2. From the Edit menu, select Clear Comments.

Removing Comments from a Single Cell: Quick Menu

  1. Right click the cell which contains the comment.
  2. Select Delete Comment.

Removing Comments from a Single Cell: Toolbar Option

  1. Select the cell with the comment to be deleted.
  2. On the Reviewing toolbar, click Delete Comment .

Removing Comments from All Cells: Menu Option

  1. Open the sheet with the comments to be deleted.
  2. From the Edit menu, select Go To.
  3. The Go To dialog box appears.
  4. Click Special.
  5. The Go To Special dialog box appears.
  6. Select Comments.
  7. Click OK.
  8. All comments on the active sheet will be selected.
  9. From the Edit menu, select Clear Comments.
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Displaying/Hiding Comments

To have comments remain on the screen or disappear from the screen when your pointer is not "over" the cell, use one of the following sets of directions.

Displaying/Hiding Comments: Single Cell

  1. Right click the cell which contains the comment.
  2. To display the hidden comment, select Show Comment.
    OR To hide the displayed comment, select Hide Comment.

Displaying/Hiding Comments: All Cells

  1. To display/hide all of the comments within the document, from the View menu, select Comments.
  2. Selecting Comments acts as a toggle turning comments on/off.
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Printing Comments

Comments must be displayed before printing. See Displaying Comments for more information.

    1. Open the worksheet that contains the comments you want to print.
    2. From the File menu, select Page Setup.
    3. Select the Sheet tab.
    4. To print all comments in a group, in the Print section, from the Comments pull-down list, select At end of sheet.
      OR To print comments as they appear, in the Print section, from the Comments pull-down list, select As displayed on sheet.
      * NOTE: Only displayed comments will print for the second option.
    5. Click Print.
    6. Click OK.
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Formatting

Texttext window

Font names now are displayed in their font on the font menu in the toolbar, so you can preview a font style before applying it to a worksheet. This new feature eliminates the "trial and error" approach of choosing an appropriate font.

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Wrapping Text

If you have text that appears in a single cell but you want to increase the height of that cell to accommodate all of the words, you can use the Wrap text option.

    1. Select the cells that you want to apply Wrap text to.
    2. From the Format menu, select Cells.
    3. The Format Cells dialog box appears.
    4. Select the Alignment tab.
    5. Under Text Control, select Wrap text.
    6. Click OK.

      * NOTE: To display all of the text, it may be necessary to adjust row height.

To unwrap text:

  1. Select the cell which has wrapped text
  2. From the Format menu, select Cells.
  3. The Format Cells dialog box appears.
  4. Under Text Control, deselect Wrap text.
  5. Click OK.
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Rotating Picturesworld art

The new Excel 2002 (XP) makes it easier to rotate inserted pictures, autoshapes, and World Art.

To Rotate image

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Diagrams

Excel now includes a new gallery of common conceptual diagrams. You can customize these pre-drawn diagrams with text, animation effects, and a variety of formatting styles. Choose from diagrams such as Pyramid for showing the building blocks of a relationship, Radial for showing items in relation to a core element, and more.

Diagram Gallery   Diagram toolbar

Ways to Create a Diagram

  1. Go to Insert and select Diagram.
  2. Click the Diagram button Diagram button in the Drawing toolbar. (To learn how to add the Drawing toolbar to your window, click here.)
  3. In the Diagram Gallery that appears (as shown above to the left), select the chart type and click OK.

To Edit a Diagram

To Delete a Diagram

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Color-Code Worksheet Tabs

Excel 2002 lets you apply color to worksheet tabs in multibook spreadsheets to better categorize and manage data. color code tab

Ways to Add Tab Color

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Watch Window

The Watch Window allows user to keep track of results from multiple cells while working on different sheets or workbooks.

watchwindow

Opening/Closing the Watch Window

Adding/Deleting A Cell in Watch Window

Adding a cell:

Deleting a cell:

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Formula Evaluator

formula evaluator toolbarThe Formula Auditing toolbar can be used to graphically display or trace the relationships between cells and formulas with blue arrows, monitor, and correct formulas. You can trace the precedents (the cells that provide data to a specific cell) or you can trace the dependents (the cells that depend on the value in a specific cell). A blue tracer arrow indicates which cells are the precedents and which cells are the dependents.

Opening/Closing Formula Auditing Window

Functions of the icons on the Formula Auditing Window

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Custom Page Breaks

If your pages are dividing at awkward points when printing, you can start a new page by manually inserting a page break.

    1. Click the cell that is below and to the right of where you want to insert the page break.
    2. From the Insert menu, select Page Break.
    3. The page break is inserted.

* NOTES:

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Formatting with the Painter

The typical Copy & Paste will copy the information (text or formula) and the formatting of the cell(s). If you want to copy only the formatting, you can use the Painter option. This will format the destination cell the same as the source cell without changing the content.

Formatting with the Painter: Single Cell

  1. Select the cell that contains the formatting you want to copy.
  2. On the Standard toolbar, click Format Painter .
  3. The pointer changes shape to include a paint brush next to it.
  4. Click the cell to which you want the copied format applied.

Formatting with the Painter: Multiple Cells

  1. Select the cell that contains the formatting you want to copy.
  2. On the Standard toolbar, double-click Format Painter .
  3. The pointer changes shape to include a paint brush next to it.
  4. Select the range of cells that you want the copied format applied to by clicking and dragging.
  5. Repeat step 3 for additional cells in which you want the format applied.
  6. When done, to turn off the Painter, click Format Painter again.
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Drawing Borders

The Borders toolbar allows users to easily add borders or delete cell borders in their spreadsheet. It also allows users to change the line color, line style, and even allows users to add grids to the spreadsheet. border window

Opening/Closing Borders Window

Using the Borders Window

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Header/Footer

The improved Header and Footer window makes it easier to format and edit the header and footers. Now pictures and drawings can be inserted directly as headers or footers.

header and footer

Ways to Open Header or Footer Window

  1. Go to the View menu and select Header and Footer. Click Customize Header... or Customize Footer....
  2. Go to the File menu and select Page Setup. Then click the Header/Footer tab on the Page Setup window and select Customize Header... or Customize Footer....

Insert Options in Header or Footer Window

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Sort Text as Numbers and Multiple Columns

The new Excel 2002 (XP) has improved sorting options that allows the user to sort a mixed list composed of numbers and text as well as preventing single-column sorting. The sort option now will return a list of ordered numbers followed by a list of ordered text after sorting a mixed list. The sort option also will prevent users from accidentally breaking a list by sorting a single column.

The Sort Text as Numbers Option

The Sort Multiple Columns Option

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Merging and Centering Text

    1. Type the text in the first cell of the group.
    2. Select the text and a cell from each column that you want to center across (e.g., to center across columns A through D in row 2 of the worksheet, you will select cells A2, B2, C2, and D2).
    3. From the Format menu, select Cells.
    4. The Format Cells dialog box appears.
    5. Select the Alignment tab.
    6. From the horizontal pull-down list, select Center Across Selection.
    7. Under Text Control, select Merge Cells.
    8. Click OK.
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Cell Merging Shortcut

Merging Cell

Un-merging Cell

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Extended AutoSum

Using the Basic AutoSum Option

New Extended AutoSum Functions/Propertiesautosum window

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Find and Replace

Find and Replace includes new features allowing you to search across worksheets within a workbook, or for a specific cell formatting. Excel can return all the results in a single window and let you pick the format of an existing cell to quickly set the parameters of your search.

find and replace

Ways to Open Find and Replace Window

  1. Go to the Edit menu and select Find. For more options click Replace tab.
  2. Go to the Edit menu and choose Replace.
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Function Wizard

Excel 2002/XP has made it easier to search for functions by allowing the user to type in the function name.

insert function window

Ways to Open the Insert Function Window

  1. Click the Function button function icon on the Toolbar.
  2. Go to Insert menu and select Function....

To Find the Function

  1. Type in the function name or a description of the function in the Search for a Function: field.
  2. Choose a category from the Or select a category: field and select the function in the Select a function: field. Then click OK.
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Hiding Columns, Rows, and Cells

At times, there may be information in your worksheet which you no longer need to see. At other times, you might be printing your worksheet and want to print only columns A-F and columns H-J, skipping column G. Rather than rearrange your worksheet for either of these examples, you can simply hide the information. You can also hide information in specific cells.

Hiding Columns

If there is information on your worksheet you do not need to see or if you want to print only certain columns, you can hide those columns you do not want to see or print.

  1. Select a cell within the column(s) to be hidden.
  2. From the Format menu, select Column > Hide.
  3. The column is hidden.

Hiding Columns: Quick Menu Option

  1. Right click the column ID (e.g., B).
  2. Select Hide.
  3. The column is hidden.

Redisplaying Columns

  1. Select at least one cell from both of the columns around the hidden column(s) to be redisplayed, e.g., if column B is hidden, select a cell from both columns A and C
    HINT: If you cannot select the appropriate cells, you can use the Go To command.
  2. From the Format menu, select Column > Unhide.
  3. The column reappears.

Redisplaying Columns: Quick Menu Option

*This option works well for redisplaying column A, since there are not columns on both sides of column A.

  1. Hold your cursor over ID for column B toward the left side.
  2. The cursor will change to an open, double sided arrow as shown here.
  3. Right click.
  4. Select Unhide.
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Hiding Rows

If there is information on your worksheet you do not need to see or if you want to print only certain rows, you can hide those rows you do not want to see or print.

  1. Select a cell within the row(s) to be hidden.
  2. From the Format menu, select Row > Hide.
  3. The row is hidden.

Hiding Rows: Quick Menu Option

  1. Right click the row ID (e.g., 5).
  2. Select Hide.
  3. The row is hidden.

Redisplaying Rows

  1. Select at least one cell from both of the rows around the hidden row(s) to be redisplayed, e.g., if row 5 is hidden, select a cell from rows 4 and 6.
    HINT: If you cannot select the appropriate cells, you can use the Go To command.
  2. From the Format menu, select Row > Unhide.
  3. The row reappears.

Redisplaying Rows: Quick Menu Option

*This option works well for redisplaying row 1, since there are not rows on both sides of row

  1. Hold your cursor over the ID for row 2 toward the top.
  2. The cursor will change to an open, double sided arrow as shown here.
  3. Right click.
  4. Select Unhide.
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Hiding Cell Contents

You have the ability to hide the contents of individual cells if you do not need to view their contents or you simply do not want to print certain cells.

  1. Select the cell(s) to be hidden.
  2. From the Format menu, select Cells.
  3. The Format Cells dialog box appears.
  4. From the Format Cells dialog box, select the Number tab.
  5. Under Category, select Custom.
  6. In the Type text box, type three semicolons ( ;;; ).
  7. Click OK.
  8. The cell(s) is now hidden.

To redisplay cell information:

  1. Select the cell(s) to be redisplayed.
  2. From the Format menu, select Cells.
  3. The Format Cells dialog box appears.
  4. From the Format Cells dialog box, select the Number tab.
  5. Under Category, select the appropriate date, time, or number format.
  6. Click OK.
  7. The cell(s) reappears.
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Worksheet Groups

Grouping Worksheets

    1. Click the tab of the first sheet you would like to include in your group.
    2. To select non-contiguous sheets, hold down the Ctrl key and click the sheets to be included in the group.
      OR To select contiguous sheets, hold down the Shift key and click the last sheet to be included in the group.
      * NOTES:
      - The tabs of the selected sheets will appear white.
      - Unselected sheets tabs will remain unchanged (colors may differ based on your windows color scheme).
      - Additionally, the notation [Group] appears next to the file name.
    3. When all the sheets of the group have been selected, release the Ctrl or Shift key.
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Ungrouping Worksheets

When done working with your sheet groups, you will need to ungroup them.

To ungroup all sheets in the group:

  1. Right click the sheet label.
  2. Select Ungroup Sheets.

To remove individual sheets from the group:

  1. Press the Ctrl key and click the sheet label of the sheet you want to remove.
  2. The worksheet is removed from the group.
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Formatting Worksheet Groups

If you have multiple sheets within your workbook that require the same formatting, you can format "groups." This option works when the worksheets have similar information in the same relative location. There are many types of formatting that can be done with sheet groups:

  • Column Width
  • Shading
  • Formulas and Funtions
  • Borders
  • Typing of Content

To format groups of sheets:

    1. Group the sheets.
    2. On the current worksheet, select the cell(s) that you want to format.
    3. Apply the appropriate formatting.
    4. Repeat as necessary.
    5. Ungroup the worksheets.
      *NOTE: See Ungrouping Worksheets for more information.
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Printing Worksheet Groups

If you have multiple sheets in your workbook and you want to print select worksheets, you can do this with the Grouping function. This method will print the active area of each sheet (A1 to the last column with information to the last row with information) or the assigned print area. It may result in different ranges being printed for each sheet.

    1. Group the sheets.
    2. From the File menu, select Print.
    3. Under the Print what section, verify that Active sheets is selected.
    4. Adjust print settings as appropriate.
    5. Click OK.
    6. Ungroup the worksheets.
      *NOTE: See Ungrouping Worksheets for more information.

     

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Protection Options

When you are protecting your workbook you have two primary options:

Locking and Unlocking Cells

By default, Excel "protects" cells, graphics, charts, and other worksheet objects. This protection will only take effect by turning on the Worksheet Protection option in the Protect Sheet dialog box. Therefore, if you enable protection, no changes can be made to a cell until you unlock that cell.

Locking Cells:

You can easily lock any cell in a worksheet. After you Unprotect the Worksheet, complete the following instructions:

  1. Select the cell(s) to be locked.
  2. From the Format menu, select Cells.
  3. The Format Cells dialog box appears.
  4. Select the Protection tab.
  5. Select Locked. (There will be a check before it.)
  6. Click OK.
  7. The cells are locked.

Unlocking Cells:

In order to unlock cells, sheet protection must first be turned off. See Worksheet Level Protection or Workbook Level Protection for more information.

  1. Select the cells you want to unlock.
  2. From the Format menu, select Cells.
  3. The Format Cells dialog box appears.
  4. Select the Protection tab.
  5. Deselect Locked. (There will no longer be a check before it.)

  6. Click OK.
  7. The cells are unlocked.
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Workbook Level Protection

You can prevent a workbook from having its structure and windows modified or resized by another user.

Protecting the Workbook:

  1. From the Tools menu, select Protection > Protect Workbook.
  2. The Protect Workbook dialog box appears.

  3. In the Protect Workbook dialog box, select the appropriate option(s):
    • Structure: prevents the user from changing the order of the sheets within a workbook. This includes adding or deleting worksheets.
    • Windows: prevents the user from being able to resize or move the window.
    • Password: allows only those who know the password to turn the workbook protection off.
  4. Click OK.
  5. The workbook is protected.

Unprotecting the Workbook:

  1. From the Tools menu, select Protection > Unprotect Workbook.
  2. The workbook is unprotected. Users can now modify the structure and windows of the workbook.
    *NOTE: If you included a password when you turned the protection on, you must enter the password to turn the protection off.
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Worksheet Level Protection

You can protect a single worksheet from being modified by another user.

    Protecting the Worksheet:

      1. From the Tools menu, select Protection > Protect Sheet.
      2. The Protect Sheet dialog box appears.
      3. In the Protect Sheet dialog box, select the appropriate option(s):
        • Protect worksheet and contents of locked cells: prevents changes to locked cells.
        • Password to unprotect sheet: allows only those who know the password to unprotect the worksheet.
        • Allow all users of this worksheet to: Checked boxes are aspects that any user can access.
      4. Click OK.
      5. The worksheet is protected.

     

    Unprotecting the Worksheet:

      1. From the Tools menu, select Protection > Unprotect Sheet.
      2. The worksheet is unprotected. Users can now modify the worksheet.
        *NOTE: If you included a password when you turned the protection on, you must type the password in the Password text box to turn the protection off.
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File Level Protection

You have two options when saving your workbook file with a password. You can save the file so only those who know the password can open the file or so only those who know the password can modify the file.

Protecting the File:

  1. From the File menu, select Save As.
  2. The Save As dialog box appears.
  3. In the Save As dialog box, from the Tools menu, select General Options.
  4. The Save Options dialog box appears.

    • To prevent unauthorized access to the file, in the Password to open text box, type a password.
    • To prevent unauthorized changes to the file, in the Password to modify text box, type a password.
  5. Click OK.
  6. The Confirm Password dialog box appears.
  7. In the Confirm Password dialog box, type the password(s) again.
  8. Click OK.
  9. To continue saving the document, click Save.

Removing the Password:

If you no longer need to password-protect the file, you can remove the password.

  1. From the File menu, select Save As.
  2. The Save As dialog box appears.
  3. In the Save As dialog box, from the Tools menu, select General Options.
    • In the Password to open text box, press Delete.
    • In the Password to modify text box, press Delete.
  4. Click OK.
  5. The file is no longer password protected.
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Data Recovery, Repair, and Error Reporting

Excel 2002/XP has more new features that will prevent files from being lost during an improper shutdown. It comes with recovery programs that can repair and extract corrupted Excel files. Excel 2002/XP also allows the user to report the error to Microsoft so Microsoft can better diagnose and correct the errors.

Document Recovery

Shutting Down Frozen Excel Programs in a Functioning Window

Document Recovery after Restarting a Frozen Computerdocument recovery pane

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Error Reporting

The Error Reporting Window will sent information to Microsoft so they can better diagnose the problem. You can choose not to send the information by selecting Don't Send.

When Will the Error Reporting Window Appear?

  1. If the program is frozen and you have managed to force quit the program the Error Reporting Window below will appear.
  2. If a serious error occurs in any Microsoft Office XP programs or Windows XP and Windows 2000, the Error Reporting Window will appear.
    error reporting
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Repair and Extract

To Open the Repair and Extract Window

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Auto Recover

Allows the user to set the time interval for Auto Recover to save their files in case of a crash.

Automatic Recovery Save Function

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Other New or Modified Features

Help and Office Assistant

Microsoft Excel Help still consists of the Office Assistant (which is automatically hidden) and the browser-based Microsoft Help catalog, but both features have been slightly changed in Excel 2002.

Ways to Access Excel Help

The New Look of Excel Help

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Additional Resources

More detailed instructions and information about Excel 2002 for XP can be found at:

Further information on Office XP can be found at:

Some support for Excel 2002 and Office XP on campus is provided through the HelpDesk at x3333. For more detailed instruction on how to use the full features of Office XP, look into purchasing one of the several books that have been published on these topics. Some useful titles are:

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Command Changes in Excel 2002

Below is a list of commands that have been changed from Excel 97 or added as new in Excel 2002.

This command in Excel 97....

Changed to the following command in Excel 2002:

File Menu

 

Save as HTML

Replaced by Save as WebPage

Tool Menu

 

Auditing

Replaced by Formula Auditing

AutoCorrect

Replaced by AutoCorrect Options

Data Menu  

Get External Data

Replaced by Import External Data

Help Menu

 

Microsoft on the Web

Replaced by Office on the Web

 

This NEW command in Excel 2002

 

...Allows you to do the following:

File Menu

 

Web Page Preview

View workbook as a WebPage in your browser before publishing it.

Edit Menu

 

Office Clipboard

Displays the office clipboard in the Task Pane.

View Menu  

Task Pane

Displays the task pane, an area where you can create new files, search for information, view contents of clipboard, and perform other tasks.
Insert Menu  

Insert Diagram

Creates an organization chart or a cycle, radial, pyramid, Venn, or target Diagram in your document.
Tools Menu  
Error Checking
Traces, checks, and corrects errors in data and formulas.

Online Collaboration

Set up a meeting with other people over the Internet to discuss, review, and change a presentation.

Tools on the Web

Connects you to Microsoft Office Tools on the web for information about integrated e-services that are available.
Help Menu  

Show Office Assistant

Activates and displays the Office Assistant.

Activate Product

Launches the Activation Wizard, used to activate or update information about your copy of Microsoft Office.
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Computing at Wellesley Macintosh Documentation PC Documentation

Marge Rowell mrowell@wellesley.edu
Information Services
Date Created: November 30, 2001
Last Modified: March 6, 2003
Expires: July 1, 2002