Hi All, it has been on my mind for some time now to just go through the basics of excel with you all. Please let me know if you feel this is useful as I am not sure how many of you would even use excel but even if you don't it is good to know what excel is and what it does. of a spread sheet:A spreadsheet is a sheet of paper that shows accounting or other data in rows and columns; a spreadsheet is also a computer application program that simulates a physical spreadsheet by capturing, displaying, and manipulating data arranged in rows and columns. The spreadsheet is one of the most popular uses of the personal computer. Okay now that we have some idea of what the spread sheet is, we can simply call excel a "spread sheet program". Most people will have the program "Excel" on their computers, if you have then go into the "start menu, programs" and arrow down till you find it. If you don't find it directly in the programs menu then you may find that arrowing down through the programs menu till you come to a "Microsoft Office" sub menu then right arrowing into it and down arrowing will locate it for you. When you come to it, just press the "enter key". When excel opens up you will be presented with lots and lots of rectangular shapes called cells. These cells are both numbered and alphabetized. Numbers run down the left hand side of the excel page, while letters run across the top of the page. For example you have the first cell on a spread sheet designated "cell A1" the cell to the right of this cell is called "Cell B2" and the cell directly beneath cell A1 is "Cell A2" Now you can try out this for yourselves and just get a feel for the page you are working in. As we go along, I will try and explain useful shortcut keys which you can use within the Excel program both jaws specific keys and excel specific keys. They will all combine to help you use it more effectively. I will wherever necessary try and also include those using magnification if I feel it is necessary. Regards for now, Paul. I've stopped 143 spam and fraud messages. You can too! Free trial of spam and fraud protection at http://www.cloudmark.com/sig/?