Google Sheets is a strong spreadsheet app that you simply use via your internet browser. It shops your spreadsheets within the cloud with Google Drive. Anyone with a Google account can use Sheets and Drive at no cost. Both are additionally a part of Google Workspace (previously G Suite), Google’s subscription workplace suite for enterprise and enterprise clients.This information will train you how one can begin a brand new spreadsheet in Sheets or add one you have already got saved in your PC, together with a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. It additionally goes over the fundamental interface and distinctive options of Sheets, resembling how one can share your spreadsheets and collaborate on them with others.Google additionally affords a Sheets cell app for Android and iOS. This information will notice any main variations within the cell app’s interface and options.Create or open a spreadsheetTo begin a brand new spreadsheet or load one you’ve already saved in Google Drive, you’ll must log in to your Google or Workspace account. Then:From Google Sheets: At the highest of the Sheets house web page, you’ll see a “Start a new spreadsheet” header, with a row of thumbnails beneath. To begin a brand new, clean spreadsheet, click on the Blank thumbnail or choose a template from the thumbnails to the correct. To see extra templates, click on Template gallery towards the upper-right nook; click on any thumbnail to start out a brand new spreadsheet in that template. IDG
The Google Sheets house web page. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
Below the thumbnails you’ll see a listing of spreadsheets saved in your personal Google Drive or shared with you. To open a spreadsheet, click on it. This checklist seems in reverse chronological order beginning with the spreadsheet you most just lately opened. Clicking the “AZ” icon on the higher proper of this checklist adjustments the kind order to Last modified by me, Last modified, or in alphabetical order by spreadsheet title. You may also browse to a particular folder by clicking the folder icon subsequent to the “AZ” icon.Finally, you should use the search field on the high to search out spreadsheets in Google Drive. Enter phrases or numbers that could be within the spreadsheet you are searching for. From Google Drive: Spreadsheets saved in your Google Drive are listed in the principle window of the Drive house web page. To see a list of spreadsheets that others are sharing with you, click on Shared with me from the left column. From both checklist, double-click a spreadsheet to open it in Google Sheets. You may also use the search field on the high of the web page.To begin a brand new clean spreadsheet, click on the New button on the upper-left of the display after which click on Google Sheets.If you wish to use a template to start out a brand new spreadsheet: Click the New button, then choose Google Sheets > From a template. The template gallery for Google Sheets will open; click on a thumbnail to start out a brand new spreadsheet in that template. IDG
Creating a brand new spreadsheet from Google Drive. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
Upload a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet for modifying in Google SheetsIf you wish to edit a spreadsheet that’s not already saved in your Google Drive, you should first add it to Drive. You can do that from both Sheets or Drive. From Google Sheets: Click the folder (“Open file picker”) icon that is on the upper-right of the spreadsheets checklist. On the panel that opens, click on the Upload tab. Drag-and-drop your Excel file (.xls or .xlsx) onto this panel, or browse your PC’s drive to pick out it and click on Open. IDG
To add an Excel spreadsheet, drag the file onto this panel or browse to it in your exhausting drive. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
From Google Drive: Click the New button, then File add, and choose the Excel file out of your PC’s drive and click on Open. IDG
Uploading a spreadsheet in Google Drive. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
Traditionally, whenever you uploaded Excel recordsdata to Google Drive, they have been mechanically transformed to Sheets format. That’s nonetheless the case whenever you add Excel recordsdata by way of the Google Sheets house web page.However, Google additionally helps the power to edit Microsoft Office recordsdata of their native format. By default, any .xlsx recordsdata that you simply add by way of Google Drive will stay formatted as Excel paperwork. You can edit and collaborate on an Excel file proper in Sheets, with all adjustments made by you or your collaborators saved on to the Excel file. On the Google Sheets and Drive homepages, native Excel recordsdata will probably be denoted with a inexperienced “X” icon, and whenever you open a local Excel file in Sheets, you’ll see an “.XLSX” flag to the correct of the doc title. IDG
Microsoft Excel-formatted recordsdata present the Excel icon (high) as a substitute of the Google Sheets icon (backside).
If you’d reasonably have Google convert Excel recordsdata to Sheets format mechanically whenever you add them by way of Google Drive, click on the gear icon within the upper-right nook of the Drive house display and choose Settings from the drop-down menu. In the Settings field subsequent to “Convert uploads,” test the checkbox marked Convert uploaded recordsdata to Google Docs editor format.To convert Excel macros to Google Sheets: If an Excel file you’re changing to Sheets format comprises VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) code, which is used for macros, and also you’re subscribed to a Google Workplace Enterprise Plus plan, set up the Macro Converter add-on for Google Sheets. This will do as its title implies: convert your Excel file’s VBA code to the App Script format that Google Sheets makes use of, so to execute these macros in your spreadsheet when it’s loaded into Google Sheets.Work in a spreadsheetWhen you open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets, right here’s what you see:Your spreadsheet’s title seems alongside the highest of the display. To change it, click on anyplace contained in the title and begin typing. IDG
The Google Sheets modifying interface. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
The menu bar is slightly below the spreadsheet’s title and consists of the next drop-down menus:
File has instructions for taking motion on the entire spreadsheet, together with Print, Rename, and Share.
Edit comprises fast instruments for deleting columns or rows.
View controls the way you see the spreadsheet, resembling exhibiting/hiding formulation, freezing rows or columns, and grouping collectively columns or rows.
Insert helps you to insert cells, columns, or rows; graphical components resembling charts and pictures; and different gadgets resembling features, feedback, and checkboxes.
Format has the identical instruments because the toolbar that’s immediately beneath the menu bar (described beneath), plus instructions for conditional formatting and alternating colours.
Data has instruments for sorting a variety of columns in alphabetical order, making a filter, defending sheets and ranges, and validating and information.
Tools results in miscellaneous gadgets resembling making a type and operating spell-check.
Extensions helps you to work with add-ons, macros, scripts, and apps.
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The information menu consists of instruments for sorting, filtering, validating, and cleansing up information. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
The toolbar is immediately above your spreadsheet and has buttons for formatting the numbers and textual content in a cell. These embody altering its quantity format (e.g., forex, date, p.c) and font (sort, dimension, type, coloration). Other buttons on this toolbar allow you to change the background coloration of a cell, merge cells, and modify the horizontal or vertical alignment of numbers or textual content in a cell.To insert a chart, click on the Insert chart button towards the correct finish of the toolbar. This opens a sidebar from which you’ll choose a preset chart or click on the Customize tab to create your personal chart. IDG
Inserting a chart in Google Sheets. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
To insert a method, click on the Functions button on the very finish of the toolbar. This opens a drop-down menu of formulation (a.ok.a. features) that Google Sheets helps. Click via the classes to search out the method you need. Once you discover it, click on the method to insert it contained in the cell the place you’ve set the cursor. For an entire checklist of formulation/features that work in Google Sheets, see the official Google Sheets features checklist. IDG
Inserting a method in Google Sheets. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
Manage a number of sheets in a spreadsheetEach web page of your spreadsheet is represented as a tab alongside the underside of the display. Clicking one in every of these tabs exhibits you its corresponding sheet on the display.To add a brand new, clean sheet to your spreadsheet: Click the “+” on the lower-left nook.To delete or rename a sheet: Click the down arrow on the sheet’s tab. From the menu that opens, choose Delete or Rename.To change the web page order of your sheets: Click-and-hold a sheet’s tab, drag it left or proper to a different spot within the row of tabs, and launch it. IDG
Use the tab menu to delete, duplicate, copy, rename, or transfer a sheet. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
Select a coloration theme on your spreadsheetOn the menu bar alongside the highest of the display, click on Format and choose Theme. A sidebar will open alongside the correct, exhibiting you many massive thumbnails of themes. Scroll via the checklist and click on the thumbnail for the one that you simply wish to use on your spreadsheet. You can apply a theme to a brand new clean spreadsheet or to at least one that already has a design. IDG
Applying a theme to a spreadsheet. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
Get help as you enter dataAs you’re getting into formulation into cells, Google Sheets might make corrections to your method (if it thinks you’ve made a mistake), or fill in cells with recommended changes to your method. For instance, if you happen to’re getting into the identical method cell-by-cell down a column, but altering the method to correspond with the row quantity, Sheets might mechanically insert your method into the cells additional down the column and apply what it predicts could be your succeeding changes to this method.This clever help is on by default, however if you happen to discover that it will get in your manner, you may flip it off: On the menu bar alongside the highest of the display, click on Tools > Autocomplete and deselect Enable method solutions and Enable method corrections. IDG
If Sheets’ method solutions aren’t working for you, you may disable them. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
Clean up your informationGoogle Sheets might help you test and edit the information consistency of your spreadsheet. On the menu bar on the high of the display, click on Data > Data cleanup > Cleanup solutions. A sidebar will open to the correct of the display. This device analyzes your spreadsheet and affords solutions to enhance its look and efficiency, resembling including formatting to numbers, deleting duplicate rows, fixing inconsistent information, and extra. Try this out when you have an previous, complicated spreadsheet that would use a evaluation and freshening up. IDG
Sheets can provide solutions for cleansing up your spreadsheet.
Navigate your spreadsheet sooner with named rangesIf your spreadsheet has a number of sheet pages, or a single sheet that may’t be seen suddenly in the principle window, use the “Named ranges” device to design it for simpler navigating. To open this device, click on Data > Named ranges on the menu bar on the high of the display. Or, towards the upper-left nook of your spreadsheet, click on the down arrow and choose Manage named ranges. This opens a “Named ranges” sidebar alongside the correct of the display.With this sidebar open, click on a cell or choose a variety of cells in your spreadsheet. Then, within the sidebar, click on Add a variety. Give this cell or vary of cells a novel title. You can construct a listing of different named cells and cell ranges this fashion.From then on, everytime you open this sidebar or click on the down arrow on the higher left of your spreadsheet, you’ll be capable of leap your view of the spreadsheet proper to a cell or cell vary that you simply named. IDG
Naming cells or ranges might help you discover them quick later. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
Get solutions for a spreadsheet with the Explore deviceOn the lower-right nook, click on the Explore icon to open the panel for this device. Explore analyzes your spreadsheet and helps you calculate solutions to questions that you simply sort in utilizing pure language.For instance, say you’ve gotten a spreadsheet that lists gross sales figures (denoted as “price” in your spreadsheet) made by a particular individual (“Mary”). When you sort “What’s the sum of price by Mary?” Explore ought to present you the overall in gross sales that Mary made.By default, Explore supplies evaluation and solutions for the entire spreadsheet. You can modify this by clicking Edit within the higher proper of the Explore sidebar. Alternatively, you may choose a variety of cells that you really want analyzed after which click on the Explore button. IDG
The Explore function helps reply questions on your information and suggests related charts, formulation, or pivot tables. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
Explore might present you charts that illustrate the information in these cells, however it doesn’t at all times achieve this. This can rely on how the information inside a variety of cells you have chosen relate to row and column headings (e.g., the names of salespeople and the gadgets they have been promoting). Explore might also counsel formulation and pivot tables on your spreadsheet.You can drag a recommended chart or method from the Explore panel onto your spreadsheet, or insert a pivot desk into your spreadsheet by hovering the pointer over it and clicking the Insert pivot desk button.