Getting started with Excel 2007 you will notice that there are many similar features to previous versions.  You will also notice that there are many new features that you’ll be able to utilize.  There are three features that you should remember as you work within Excel 2007:  the Microsoft Office Button, the Quick Access Toolbar, and the Ribbon.  The function of these features will be more fully explored below.

Spreadsheets
A spreadsheet is an electronic document that stores various types of data.  There are vertical columns and horizontal rows.  A cell is where the column and row intersect.  A cell can contain data and can be used in calculations of data within the spreadsheet.  An Excel spreadsheet can contain workbooks and worksheets.  The workbook is the holder for related worksheets.

Microsoft Office Button
The Microsoft Office Button performs many of the functions that were located in the File menu of older versions of Excel.  This button allows you to create a new workbook, Open an existing workbook, save and save as, print, send, or close.

Ribbon
The ribbon is the panel at the top portion of the document   It has seven tabs:  Home, Insert, Page Layouts, Formulas, Data, Review, and View.  Each tab is divided into groups.  The groups are logical collections of features designed to perform function that you will utilize in developing or editing your Excel spreadsheets. 

Commonly utilized features are displayed on the Ribbon.  To view additional features within each group, click the arrow at the bottom right corner of each group.

Home:  Clipboard, Fonts, Alignment, Number, Styles, Cells, Editing
Insert: Tables, Illustrations, Charts, Links, Text
Page Layouts: Themes, Page Setup, Scale to Fit, Sheet Options, Arrange
Formulas: Function Library, Defined Names, Formula Auditing, Calculation
Data:  Get External Data, Connections, Sort & Filter, Data Tools, Outline
Review:  Proofing, Comments, Changes
View: Workbook Views, Show/Hide, Zoom, Window, Macros