Chapter 1 Getting Started with Excel 15To select a cell from the worksheet:1 Click the Total Usage sheet tab to move back to the front of the
workbook.
2 Click F17 in the worksheet grid.
Cell F17 now has a small box around it, indicating that it is the active
cell (see Figure 1-11.) Moreover, when you selected cell F17, the Name box
displays F17 indicating that this is the active cell. Also, the formula bar
now displayed the formula =SUM(F5:F16). This formula calculates the sum
of the values in cells F5 through F16. You’ll learn more about formulas in
Chapter 2.
If you want to select a group of cells, known as a cell range or range, you
must select one corner of the range and then drag the mouse pointer over
cells. To see how this works in practice, try selecting the usage table located
in the cell range B4:F17 of the Total Usage worksheet.
To select a cell range:1 Click B4.
2 With the mouse button still pressed, drag the mouse pointer over to
cell F17.
3 Release the mouse button.
Now the range of cells from B4 down to F17 is selected. Observe that a
selected cell range is highlighted to differentiate it from unselected cells.
A cell range selected in this fashion is always rectangular in shape and
contiguous. If you want to select a range that is not rectangular or con-
tiguous, you must use the CTRL key on your keyboard and then select the
separate distinct groups that make up the range. For example, if you want
to select only the cells in the range B4:B17 and F4:F17, you must use this
technique.
To select a noncontiguous range:1 Select the range B4:B17.
2 Press the CTRL key on your keyboard.