Google Sheets is a program included in G Suite and is used to create spreadsheets. Spreadsheets created in Google Sheets are saved in the cloud on Google Drive and are linked to your Google account. This means that no matter what device you are on, you can access your documents as long as you have an internet connection. 

A spreadsheet is a powerful tool that can keep track of information and perform mathematical functions with data. In addition to number crunching, Google Sheets can create charts, summarize and manipulate data, import and export data, create professional looking graphics and diagrams, and complete complex tasks. 

Accessing Google at IU

All students, faculty, and staff at Indiana University have a Google account linked to their IU account. This can be accessd through the Google at IU page. 

If you are not affiliated with Indiana University, continue to the next section.

Accessing Google for non-IU users

If you are not affiliated with Indiana University, you will need to have a Google account before working through these materials. 

Opening a Google Sheets workbook

Today we will be working with an existing worksheet. We will enter data into the worksheet, add formulas and functions, format the worksheet to make it easier to understand, and create a pie chart. 

Now that you have logged in to Google, you can copy the practice file and begin working. As soon as you begin making changes to the worksheet, all of your edits will be automatically saved to Google Drive. 

Copying the practice workbook

If you are beginning this course at this point, you will need to copy the practice workbook to your Google Drive.

Now we're ready to start exploring Google Sheets.

Exploring the Sheets interface

When a file is saved in Google Sheets, it is saved as a workbook, which is a file consisting of one or more related spreadsheets known as worksheets. At the bottom of the workbook, there are tabs for each worksheet. You can see that this worksheet is named "Fundraiser Sales." New worksheets can be added as needed.

Exploring the worksheet

Some elements of the Google Sheets workspace are described below:

At the top of the worksheet, we see the workbook name, Google Sheets: The Basics. Under the file name we see the menu bar. Many of the commands we will use in Google Sheets are found in these menus. The toolbar is also at the top of the workbook. The toolbar contains various command buttons, such as undo, print, font size, and bold.

The worksheet is made up of rowsand columns. The rows are labeled with numbers and the columns are labeled with letters. Google Sheets can support several thousand columns and over a million rows. 

Columns and rows are made up of consecutive cells. The currently selected cell is the active cell. Any data entered or formatting applied will take place in the active cell. 

Each cell has a unique address, called a cell reference. This address is made up of the column letter followed by the row number.  In the following example, the selected cell is in column A and row 2. Therefore the cell reference is A2. 

Column letters are not case sensitive. The cell reference for A2 could be written as a2. 

Google Sheets refers to a cell or group of cells as a range. A range can contain a single cell or an entire workbook. The address of a range is determined by the address of its upper-left cell, followed by a colon (:), and the address of the lower-right cell. In this example, the selected range would be A2:B3.

Navigating the worksheet

Both the mouse and the keyboard can be used to move around within the worksheet. Let's practice navigating through the worksheet before we continue.

Now that we're familiar with the Google Sheets interface, we're ready to explore data types, formulas, and functions.