MO-200 key terms

A grid of rows and columns inside a workbook where you enter and analyze data. Each workbook can hold many worksheets, and their tabs appear along the bottom of the window.

The Excel file itself, containing one or more worksheets plus stored settings such as defined names, themes, and document properties. Saving the workbook saves all its sheets together.

A view setting that locks chosen rows or columns in place so they stay visible while you scroll through the rest of the sheet. Useful for keeping headers on screen in long lists.

A window arrangement that divides one worksheet into independent scrollable sections, letting you compare distant rows or columns at the same time without opening a second window.

A defined range of cells that Excel prints while ignoring everything outside it. You set it on the Page Layout tab and can clear it later to restore normal printing.

Rows or columns designated to repeat at the top or left of every printed page. Configured in Page Setup, they keep column headers visible across multi-page printouts.

The collection of printing options covering orientation, paper size, margins, scaling, and centering. It controls how worksheet content is laid out on physical pages.

Metadata stored with a workbook, such as title, author, subject, and keywords. They are edited through the Info pane and can be searched or displayed in document panels.

A colored highlight applied to a worksheet tab to group or flag sheets visually. It has no effect on data and is set by right-clicking the tab.

A descriptive label that refers to a cell, range, formula, or constant. Names make formulas readable and can be used for navigation and in data validation lists.

A defined name that points to a specific block of cells, letting formulas and navigation refer to it by label instead of coordinates. The name can be scoped to a sheet or the workbook.

A dialog that lists every defined name in the workbook and allows creating, editing, filtering, and deleting them. It also shows each name's scope and current reference.

The address of a cell formed by its column letter and row number, such as C5. References can be relative, absolute, or mixed, which determines how they change when copied.

A cell address locked with dollar signs before both column and row, like $B$2. Copying the formula elsewhere keeps the reference pointing at the same cell.

A cell address without dollar signs, such as B2, that shifts automatically when a formula is copied or filled to another row or column, preserving the offset from the formula cell.

A cell address where only the column or only the row is locked, such as $A1 or A$1. One part stays fixed on copy while the other adjusts.

A rectangular block of two or more cells identified by its top-left and bottom-right corners, such as A1:D20. Ranges are the basic unit for formatting, sorting, and formula arguments.

The block of contiguous cells surrounding the active cell, bounded by blank rows and columns. Selecting it quickly grabs an entire data island for formatting or analysis.

An option set that pastes only chosen aspects of copied data, such as values, formulas, formats, or column widths, and can also transpose or perform arithmetic on the destination.

A paste operation that swaps rows and columns, turning a horizontal layout into a vertical one or the reverse. Available from Paste Special and from the TRANSPOSE function.

A feature that detects a pattern from examples you type in an adjacent column and fills the remaining rows automatically, useful for splitting or combining text without formulas.

A wizard that splits the contents of one column into several using a delimiter such as a comma or fixed character widths. It converts combined text into separate fields.

A rule restricting what can be entered in a cell, such as a whole-number range, a date limit, or a list of allowed values. It can also display input messages and error alerts.

Formatting that applies automatically when cell values meet rules you define, such as highlighting values above a threshold. Rules can use color scales, data bars, or custom formulas.

A structured object created from a range that adds filter buttons, banded rows, and automatic expansion when new data is typed below it. Tables use names instead of cell addresses in formulas.

A formula syntax that refers to table parts by name, such as Table1[Sales] or Table1[[#Totals],[Amount]], instead of cell addresses. References adjust automatically as the table grows.

An optional final row in a table that shows aggregate values such as sum, count, or average for each column. Each cell's function is chosen from a dropdown list.

A named combination of fill, border, and font settings applied to a table, with options for banded rows or columns, header emphasis, and first or last column highlighting.

A floating button panel that filters a table or PivotTable by clicking values in a field. Slicers show current selections clearly and can be connected to multiple PivotTables.

A filter control for date fields that lets users select a period such as a month, quarter, or year with a slider. It works with tables and PivotTables that contain date data.

A command that deletes rows sharing identical values in selected columns, keeping the first occurrence. It reports how many rows were removed and how many remain.

One layer in a multi-column sort, specifying the column, the sort basis such as values or cell color, and the order. Multiple levels break ties in sequence.

A dialog for sorting by several columns at once, or by a user-defined list such as High, Medium, Low, rather than plain alphabetical or numeric order.

A setting that temporarily hides rows not matching chosen criteria while leaving the data intact. Filtered rows can be copied, charted, or aggregated without deleting anything.

A built-in routine that takes arguments and returns a result, such as SUM or VLOOKUP. Functions begin with an equals sign and are the building blocks of worksheet calculations.

An input supplied to a function, such as a cell reference, number, text string, or another function. Arguments are separated by commas and may be required or optional.

A function used as an argument inside another function, as when IF wraps AND or when INDEX supplies a row number to MATCH. Nesting builds complex logic from simple pieces.

A logical function that tests a condition and returns one value when true and another when false. It is often nested or combined with AND, OR, and error-handling functions.

A function that returns a specified value when its first argument produces an error, and otherwise returns that result. It replaces visible error codes with friendly messages or blanks.

A lookup function that searches the first column of a range for a value and returns a result from a specified column in the same row. It can match exactly or approximately.

A lookup function that searches the top row of a range for a value and returns a result from a specified row below it. It is the horizontal counterpart of VLOOKUP.

A function that returns the value at a given row and column position within a range. Combined with MATCH, it performs flexible lookups in any direction.

A function that returns the position of a lookup value within a one-dimensional range. Its result is commonly fed into INDEX to build a left-capable lookup.

A function that adds values in a sum range only when every corresponding criteria range meets its condition. It supports multiple conditions and is the plural successor to SUMIF.

A function that counts rows where all specified criteria ranges satisfy their conditions. It handles multiple conditions and wildcards in text criteria.

A visual object that plots worksheet data so patterns and comparisons are easier to see. Charts stay linked to their source and update when the data changes.

The category of chart used, such as column, line, pie, bar, or scatter. The choice determines how values map to shapes and which comparisons the chart communicates best.

The set of related values plotted on a chart, usually drawn from one row or column of source data. Each series appears as a line, set of bars, or group of points.

The key on a chart that maps colors or patterns to series or categories. It can be positioned around the plot area or hidden when labels make it unnecessary.

Any component added to a chart, including titles, axis labels, gridlines, data labels, legend, and trendline. Elements are toggled from the Chart Elements menu or ribbon.

Text shown next to chart points displaying their values, category names, or percentages. They reduce reliance on axis reading and can be formatted individually or for a whole series.

A chart that combines two or more chart types, often columns with a line, and can send one series to a secondary axis. Useful when series have very different scales.

An additional vertical axis on the right side of a chart that scales a series independently of the primary axis. It lets dissimilar magnitudes appear together legibly.

A tiny chart drawn inside a single cell to show a trend across a row or column of values. It has no axes and is created from the Insert tab.

Controls on a chart that let viewers show or hide whole series or categories without changing the underlying data. They are accessed from the funnel icon beside the chart.