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DO YOU EXCEL IN ELECTRONICS?

Part 1: Learning the Basics of Excel
by Aubrey Kagan

Start ý Data Acquisition and Analysis ý Autofill ý Copying Formulas ý Relative and Absolute ý Naming Cells ý Determining the Cost ý Sorting ý Using Look Up ý Figuring the Total ý Sources and PDF

AUTOFILL

Letýs assume that you are going to take 11 measurements by changing from 0 to 1 V at the input. Enter 0 in cell A5 and 0.1 in cell A6. Now, left click the mouse in cell A5 and drag it to cell A6 so that it appears as in Photo 1. Move the cursor so that it hovers over the little square in the bottom right-hand corner of the frame. The cursor changes from a white plus sign to a black plus sign. Left click with the cursor in this condition and drag down. As the block includes each new cell, there will be a little yellow window to the right incrementing by 0.1 for each cell as seen in Photo 2.

Drag the block until the yellow window reads one and release the button. The column autofills from 0 to 1 in 0.1 increments (see Photo 3). (Autofill is pretty intelligent and can recognize months and other sequences. You can even add your own sequences if you want.)

With the column still highlighted as shown in Photo 3, right click on it, select Format Cells/Number, and choose Number format with two digits. This assumes you will measure the input voltage to hundredths of a volt (see Photo 4).