Spreadsheets have become quite popular in the past few years as they enable you to finish up a lot of different things that incorporate the organization of ideas, marketing deliverables, functions, accounting color-coded calendars, profit tracks, and small business agendas. The versatility of this program is unmatched. The best thing about Google Sheets is that they are connected to Gmail accounts, and all of the data is stored in Google Drive, which makes sure that it will not be lost and that you can access it at any point. As we understand the importance of this program, we have prepared a couple of interesting tips on how to use Google Sheets for business purposes and how to keep your data organized.
The Main Difference Between Excel and Google Sheets
A lot of people wonder if Google Sheets are the same as Excel. One thing is for sure: if you have had a chance to study Excel, you will have no problem learning about Google Sheets. Namely, both of these programs are spreadsheet apps that have a lot of features that overlap, but there are a couple of important differences. First things first, Google Sheets are created with an aim for people who collaborate and make it easy to share as the worksheet, are easy to edit, and are used in real-time, which means you can look at the changes and have immediate access to them. When compared to Excel, Google Sheets have more limited data functions, while Excel has more powerful formulas and data analysis. However, Google Sheets has formulas that work just fine and cover the majority of the data’s analytical scope.
Must-Known Terms
When working with this program, you will be faced with some terms that can be of great importance to you and can help you understand the basics of the app much better. Once you get a grasp of them, you will basically be skilled enough to use Google Sheets like a pro. Some of the most common and important terms are:
- Cell: it is a single data point within the sheet;
- Column: it is the vertical set of cells;
- Row: it is the horizontal set of cells;
- Function: it is the build-in operation that is responsible for data manipulation and is used for calculating the data consisting of column, row, cell, and range values;
- Range: the selection of the cells which can be extended from the columns, rows, and even both;
- Merge: this is the option where you can put together a couple of cells without losing data. There are a couple of ways for merging cells that change the structure of your table but not the contents. One of the ways is to select the cells and click on Format where you will notice “merge cells” options.
- Worksheet: the named set of columns and rows and all of them together form one spreadsheet;
- Spreadsheet: the document which contains all of your worksheets.
How to Create Your Spreadsheet?
There are four ways to create one spreadsheet in Google Sheets. The first option is to click the multi-colored “+” button on your dashboard. Option two is to open the menu from within the spreadsheet and click the buttons “File”>”New”>”Spreadsheet.” The third option refers to clicking the multi-colored “New” button on your Google Drive Dashboard and selecting the options “Google Sheets” > “Blank Spreadsheet.” Finally, option four is the easiest one, and it is just to type “sheets. new” in your browser. This option will create a new spreadsheet on the spot.
Adding Data to Your Spreadsheet
Once the document is opened, you will see a white and gray screen that occupies the majority of your screen. At the same time, the first thing you will notice is the blue outline around the selected cell or cells. When you open your spreadsheet and intend to start adding data to it, all you will need to do is double-click on the desired cell and start inserting the data. You can add your data to any cell, as the same principle applies to all of them. For your own organization and the type of data you want to input, you can use different colors and fonts to make them easily distinguishable. The functions you can apply are located in the light blue top bar, where you can find options for different colors of cells, letters, fonts, and font sizes, as well as many other options.
Copying and Pasting Your Data
Using your spreadsheets for business purposes will demand a lot of copying and pasting, as these options can speed up the process. There are a couple of ways to copy-paste things into spreadsheets. The most basic one is to select the cell and click the right mouse button and choose the option Copy. After that, you should find the new place where you want to transfer the data and right-click on your mouse and choose the option “Paste.” Another way follows the same principle with selection. But instead of right-clicking, you will use the keyboard options Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V. For many, it is a much easier and faster way.
The use of Google Sheets is versatile and can be applied to a number of different businesses. Some of the most common uses of Google Sheets are for organizational purposes and for data calculations. On the other hand, these are also used for creating calendars where you can put in tasks and obligations for a very long period of time.
