Datasheet

14
Part I: Creating Spreadsheets
5. Click the Minimize the Ribbon button (the one with the caret symbol to the
immediate left of the help button with the question mark icon).
Excel immediately minimizes the Ribbon to display only the seven tab names and
the Minimize the Ribbon button changes to the Expand the Ribbon button (indi-
cated by the caret symbol pointing downward). Excel continues to reduce the
Ribbon to its tab names any time after you select one its commands until you click
the Expand the Ribbon button or press Ctrl+F1.
Keep in mind that you can expand the Ribbon to display all the command buttons
on the currently selected tab any time that the Ribbon is minimized simply by
double-clicking the tab or pressing Ctrl+F1 (which acts like a toggle switch for
altering between a minimized and fully maximized Ribbon).
6. Click Data on the minimized Ribbon.
Excel expands the Ribbon to display all of the Data tab command buttons.
7. Click anywhere in the worksheet area to minimize the Ribbon once again.
The only problem with this minimized Ribbon arrangement is that the temporarily
expanded Ribbon covers the first three rows of the worksheet. This makes it very
difficult to work with data at the top of the worksheet. For that reason, as well as
to help you get comfortable with unfamiliar Ribbon commands, you will work with
the Ribbon expanded at all times in all remaining exercises in this workbook.
8. Press Ctrl+F1 to maximize the Ribbon and then click the Home tab to displays its
command buttons.
The Ribbon now remains fully displayed at all times as you select any of its tabs
and command buttons without ever obscuring any part of the worksheet display.
Adding a custom tab to the Excel Ribbon
Excel 2010 enables you to customize the Ribbon by creating a custom tab to which
you can then add your own groups of commands. When you create a custom tab, Excel
automatically assigns an available hot key to it.
Exercise 1-3: Adding a Custom Tab to the Excel Ribbon
In Exercise 1-3, you get practice adding a custom tab to the Ribbon. Make sure that
Excel 2010 is running and an empty Sheet1 worksheet is active on your computer
monitor (see Chapter 2 for information on launching Excel).
1. Select File➪Options (Alt+FT) to open the Excel Options dialog box and then click
the Customize Ribbon option.
Excel displays the Customize the Ribbon panel in the Excel Options dialog box.
This panel is divided into two list boxes: Popular Commands on the left side and
Main Tabs on the right side (see Figure 1-3).
2. Click the View tab check box in the Main Tabs list box to select it and then click
the New Tab button.
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