A cell reference in a formula that will
always reference the same cell, even if the formula is copied to a
different part of the worksheet. To make a cell reference absolute insert
dollar signs in its address for example, $A$5. Function key F4 can be
used to do this.
The location of a cell in a worksheet,
defined by the letter of its column followed by the number of its row.
For example, E5 is the address of the cell in column E and row 5.
Software designed to carry out a certain kind of
action or activity, such as word processing or calculation in a
spreadsheet. Also referred to as a program.
A variable required by any =function or
macro command. It supplies additional information used by the command.
For example, in the =function command =sum(A4:AlO), the block address
A4:A10 is the argument; it tells Excel what values to add together.
When you sort records in ascending order, text
values are arranged from AÞZ. Numeric values are sorted from the smallest to largest, and date values
from earliest to latest.
A field containing values calculated using one or
more other fields. The calculation is based on an expression that tells
Microsoft Access what to do with the values provided.
A chart is a graphic presentation of
worksheet data. Microsoft Excel offers numerous types of charts. When
you create a chart, Microsoft Excel plots the chart based on the shape of
the selected range of data and on the types of data in the row and
columns.
In tables, each field makes up one column. Columns
are composed of fields of the same type, and are usually given a name that
is descriptive of their content, such as First Name for a field
containing peoples first names, or Amount for a field containing
financial amounts.
A square that appears to identify the vertex of a
freeform shape or polygon. You can edit freeform shapes and polygons by
adding, deleting and moving their control handles.
A set of limiting conditions, such as LONDON (meaning
equal to LONDON) or >30000, used in creating a query or filter to show a
specific set of records.
Used in conjunction with drive or folder, as in
current folder, specifies the working disc drive and disc location for
Microsoft Access files. Used in conjunction with fields, images, records,
and tables, as in current field, specifies the cursor's position
on the Microsoft Access workspace.
The assurance that the values in a table image you
are viewing or co-editing actually exist together in the table at one time
and are consistent with other users' images of the table.
When you sort records in descending order,
alphanumeric values are arranged from ZÞA,
numeric values from high to low, and date values from latest to earliest.
The Desktop is what you see on your computer screen when you start
Microsoft Windows in its normal view. You will see the Start button
and the Taskbar at the bottom of the screen and a number of Shortcut icons
in the middle of the screen.
A code of up to three letters attached
to the end of a file name and separated from the rest of the name by a
period. A file's extension often identifies the type of file it is. For
example, Excel workbook files have the extension .XLS. Word files
have the extension .DOC.
The application under which a file was created will
determine its format. Files created in one format cannot be accessed by
another application unless they are converted to the proper format.
Folders are where you save your documents. You can
name folders in Office in the same way that you would name folders on your
desk or in the filing cabinet with names appropriate to what you keep
inside the folder.
A specific typeface, point size, and weight (for
example, Arial 12 point bold). You can choose or alter many font
attributes in Office, but the appearance of a font when printed depends on
the printer and the fonts in which the printer is capable of printing.
One of a set of special commands that
you can enter in a worksheet cell, either alone or in a formula. They
perform advanced calculations and provide the resulting value. Also
called =functions, because they all begin with an =. Examples include
SUM, AVERAGE, MAX, MIN and COUNT.
A set of keys, usually labelled Fl, F2 F3 and so on,
used by themselves or with other keys to provide quick access to certain
features in an application.
Coloured and underlined text or graphics that you can
click to go to a file, a location in a file, an HTML page on the World
Wide Web, or an HTML page on an intranet. Hyperlinks can also go to
Gopher, telnet, newsgroup, and FTP sites.
Text on the page or in cells or fields can be aligned
on the left, in the centre, on the right or on both the left/right at the
same time. We say the text has been justified. This text is
left justified in that the text is aligned on the left (it is straight)
but ragged on the right. Right justified text would be the opposite,
straight on the right and ragged on the left.
One or more fields in a Microsoft Access table used
to identify records. Having key fields in a table assures that the table
will not contain duplicate records.
The leading (line spacing) is a measure of the spacing between lines
of text. Increase the leading and you increase the spacing between the
lines. Four units of measurement are commonly use for the leading. These
are: inches (in); centimetres (cm); points (pt); and picas (pi).
A device that prevents other users on a network from
viewing, changing, or locking a table, record, or family. Microsoft
Access locks objects automatically to provide maximum concurrent access
while still maintaining data integrity and consistency.
A list of commands at the top of the screen. You
make your choice by clicking with the mouse, by using the arrow keys to highlight the desired command,
or by pressing their initial letter keys.
A type of dialogue box that appears when Office needs
to give information a warning or an error message to the user or to ask
for confirmation before continuing to carry out a command.
A hand-operated pointing device
attached to your computer. In Office you can use a mouse to select
words, paragraphs, cells,
blocks, and menu commands, and to adjust window boundaries.
Acomputer mouse may have one, two or three
buttons each of which controls certain functions which may be customised
to suit the individual needs of the user.
The mouse pointer indicates a position on screen as
the mouse is moved on the desk. It may appear in various forms: a single
arrow, double arrow, question-pointer, 4-directional pointer, hourglass,
I-beam, hand pushing a button, and so on.
Movement keys control insertion point movement within
a document. They include the arrow keys, Page Up, Page Down, Home, and
End. They may be used alone in combination with each other, or in
combination with other keys.
A system of connecting computers that can communicate
with each other. Files or applications can be stored on one computer but
can be available for use by other computers on the network.
A non-proportional font gives each character the
same space irrespective of how much space it requires.
This text, Courier New, is a
non-proportional font.
In a linked multi-table form, a one-to-many
relationship between records in the master and detail tables specifies
that each master record is linked to a group of detail records.
In a linked multi-table form, a one-to-one
relationship between records in the master and detail tables specifies
that each master record is linked to only one detail record.
The location of a certain file or folder in a
computer disc drive or on a network. A full pathname includes the drive
root directory/folder, and any folder names. Each name is separated by a
backslash. For example; C:\WINWORD\LETTER.DOC would refer to the LETTER
document in the WINWORD folder on the C: drive.
A form that appears on the workspace when you want
to ask questions about a table or tables. You get the information you
want by filling in the query form.
Random Access Memory is the working space or
temporary storage area for the program you are using and the document on
the screen. RAM is erased when the power is turned off.
A database designed in accordance with a set of
principles called the relational model. Information in a
relational database must be organised into tables.
Highlighted bars along the left and
bottom edges of the worksheet window. If you have a mouse, use these bars
to scroll the active area of the worksheet. Click on the scroll box, drag
until the window is where you want it, then release the button.
To identify a file, folder, graphics box, or area of
text that will be affected by subsequent choices; to identify a dialogue
box option to be applied to a file, folder, graphics box, or area of text.
The small solid squares that appear on the borders of
a graphics box that has been selected. These handles can be dragged to
change the size of the box and its content.
The overall organisation of a table that specifies
the number of fields it has, the order of the fields, and the field types,
including key fields, if any.
A display of information on the workspace in tabular
form, with records arranged horizontally and fields vertically. Contrast
with a form view, which generally displays records one at a time according
to your specifications.
The Taskbar is normally at the bottom of you screen and has the Start
button on the left of it. In addition to the Start button there may
be other buttons which when clicked will start their application.
When a menu item is turned on, or when some items in
list boxes are active, a tick þ
is placed next to the item. When the item is turned off or when it is not
active, the tick is removed.
In a word search, file search, or folder search,
wildcards are characters used to represent variables. A question mark (?)
represents a single character that could vary in the search; an asterisk
(*) represents zero or more characters in succession.
The part of the worksheet screen used to view and work with data.
Windows can all be displayed on the screen at once or can be layered, so
you can see one or a few at a time.
In Word when the text fills the current line Word
automatically goes onto the next line. In a form or report, an option that breaks an
alphanumeric value at a space or hyphen and continues it on the next line
if it will not fit on the current one.
A screen area where images of tables, queries, forms,
or design specifications are placed so they can be worked on. Different
parts of the workspace can be brought into view as required.