Terms
columns: go up and down, and are marked by a letter name, with each cell going down having a number. For example, a1, a2, a3, and so on.
rows: go left to right and are marked by a number name. For example, in row 3 you will have a3, b3, c3, and so on.
cell: one cell contains one of the following: a number, text, a formula, or a function.
Tapping enter moves you down one cell. If you tap enter on cell a1 you will be taken to cell b1. Cell b1 is now the active cell.
Tapping the tab key moves you to the right one cell. If you tap enter on cell a1, you will be moved to cell b1. Cell b1 is now the active cell.
label: text that is written--this aligns on the left. Can include letters and numbers in a single cell.
data: a number--this aligns on the right. Can include numbers, decimal point, dollar sign, comma, and other non-letter items.
formula: always starts with the = (equal) sign, and is followed by a cell name, then a math operation, then another cell name. For example: in cell a3 you can type =a1+b1 and you have a simple addition formula. Note, you can make extended formulas. For example, in cell e5 you can write =a1+b1+c1+d1.
function: if you have a large group of cells that need the same math operation, you can use a function instead of writing out a long formula. In the example =a1+b1+c1+d1 you did a lot of typing. The SUM function allows you to shorten this by typing =SUM(a1:d1).
reading a formula or function: go to the cell containing the formula or function you want to read, and tap the F2 key. JAWS should state the formula or function. You can use your left or right arrow to go to a place in the formula that you might want to change, or to simple read back the formula or function character by character.
home: press control home from anywhere on the worksheet and you will be immediately placed in cell a1 of that sheet.
find: control f starts the find command. Type in the text or number that you want to find. Tap enter one time. Tap escape one time, and you will be on that text or number.
go to: control g is the go to command. Press control g, type a cell coordinate, such as h19, then tap enter. You will be placed in cell h19.
edit: When you move to a cell where you want to replace text or a number, you simply write, and the text or number is replaced with your new information. If you do not want to replace the information in the cell, but add to it, tap the F2 key and you will be in edit mode. Use your left or right arrow to get to the place where you want to add information, then tap enter or tab to leave the cell.
control page up and control page down, moves you through the worksheets in your Excel file.
control shift s (if you are using JAWS) lists the worksheets in your Excel file. Use your up or down arrow to go to the sheet you want, and you will be placed in that sheet, at the cell you were last in when you wrote in that sheet.
zone: any group of cells with text or numbers, separated by blank rows and columns.
control and any arrow key will move you from top to bottom, bottom to top, or zone to zone.
read line: JAWS users, press and hold the insert key and tap the up arrow key. This will read the line of cells you are on.