ECDL Part 3

Is this course for you?

The European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) is becoming one of the most widely recognised 'generic' qualifications, and is intended to represent a broad level of PC competence.

The Reeltime ECDL courses have been developed specifically around the skills required by the ECDL syllabus and are an ideal way to prepare for the ECDL examination.

This course covers ECDL Module 4 - Using Spreadsheeets and Module 5 - Using Databases. It is based on the Microsoft Office 2000 software, using Excel and Access respectively.

The course includes the basics of spreadsheets and databases, so previous experience is not required. Some experience with Windows is highly desirable and we recommend that novices start with our ECD1 course.

The course includes the following elements:

Lesson 1: Spreadsheet basics Lesson 13: Document setup/Printing
Lesson 2: Help functions Lesson 14: Importing objects
Lesson 3: Adjust basic settings/document exchange Lesson 15: Charts and graphs
Lesson 4: Insert and select data Lesson 16: Access basics 1
Lesson 5: Copy, move and delete Lesson 17: Access basics 2
Lesson 6: Search and replace Lesson 18: Create a database 1
Lesson 7: Rows and columns Lesson 19: Create a database 2
Lesson 8: Use formulae Lesson 20: Forms
Lesson 9: Use functions Lesson 21: Retrieve information 1
Lesson 10: Cell references Lesson 22: Retrieve information 2
Lesson 11: Format cells Lesson 23: Reports 1
Lesson 12: Spelling Lesson 24: Reports 2
Pre-defined curricula What you will need to enrol

Lesson 1: Spreadsheet basics top list 
Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Open a spreadsheet application
  • Open an existing spreadsheet, make some modifications and save
  • Open several spreadsheets
  • Create a new spreadsheet and save
  • Save an existing spreadsheet onto the hard disk or a diskette
  • Close the spreadsheet
  • Close the spreadsheet application
In this lesson we look at spreadsheet basics. We look at how to start the Excel application, open and modify a spreadsheet and save the modifications. We go on to look at how to create a new spreadsheet and save that, then close the spreadsheets and exit the application.

Lesson 2: Help functions top list 
Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Use application help functions
  • Use ScreenTips
  • Show/hide ScreenTips
  • Use the What's This? feature
  • Open Microsoft Excel Help
  • Get help at a Dialog box
  • Show Tip of the Day at startup
In this lesson we look at different ways of getting help information. Excel is a complex application and you are not expected to remember everything. There are different ways of looking up information about topics as well as identify items on the work area. Once you are familiar with the different help functions, you wll find it easy to look up information about topics if you are not sure what to do.

Lesson 3: Adjust basic settings/document exchange top list 
Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Change spreadsheet view mode
  • Use the page view magnification tool
  • Modify toolbar display
  • Save an existing spreadsheet under another file format
  • Save a document in a format appropriate for posting to a web site
In this lesson we look at how to organise your work area by adjusting the basic settings. You can save spreadsheet data in different formats for exchanging with others.

Lesson 4: Insert and select data top list 
Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Enter numbers in a cell
  • Enter text in a cell
  • Enter symbols or special characters in a cell
  • Enter simple formulae in a cell
  • Use the undo command
  • Select a cell or range of adjacent or non-adjacent cells
  • Select a row or column, select a range of adjacent or non-adjacent rows or columns
In this lesson we look at how to enter different types of data into a workbook. When you want to work on more than one cell at a time you need to start by selecting them. There are different techniques you can use, depending on whether the cells are adjacent or non-adjacent.

Lesson 5: Copy, move and delete top list 
Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Use the copy and paste tools to duplicate cell contents in another part of a worksheet
  • Use the cut and paste tools to move cell contents within a worksheet
  • Move cell contents between active worksheets
  • Move cell contents between active spreadsheets
  • Delete cell contents in a selected cell range
In this lesson we look at how to use the standard cut, copy and paste tools to move and copy data in the active workbook. You can also use these techniques to copy and move date between open workbooks. Finally we look at how to delete the contents of cells in a selected cell range.

Lesson 6: Search and replace top list 
Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Use the Search command for specified cell content
  • Use the Replace command for specified cell content
In this lesson we look at how to use the Search command to look for specific cell content and use the Replace command to replace specific cell content with other content.

Lesson 7: Rows and columns top list 
Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Insert rows and columns
  • Modify column width and row height
  • Delete selected rows and columns
  • Sort selected data in ascending/descending alphabetic order
  • Sort selected data in ascending/descending numeric order
In this lesson we look at inserting, modifying and deleting rows and columns. We also look at how to sort different types of information in ascending and descending order.

Lesson 8: Use formulae top list 
Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Use basic arithmetic and logical formulae in a spreadsheet addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
  • Recognise standard error messages associated with formulae
  • Use the autofill tool/copy handle tool to copy or increment data entries
You can build up worksheets using simple arithmetic formulae using the symbols for add, subtract, multiply and divide. You can even build up very complex calculations based on those simple elements. Excel also has features for quickly copying a formula from one cell into a range, to help build up your worskheets quickly. Finally we look at some of the simple mistakes that can creep into worksheet calculations and how to avoid them.

Lesson 9: Use functions top list 
Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • The Average Function
  • The Sum function
  • Understand and use relative cell referencing in formulae or functions
  • Understand and use absolute cell referencing in formulae or functions
You you can do a lot with just simple arithmetical operations, but Excel has a wide range of functions for arithmetic and other more sophisticated tasks such as creating logical formulae.

Lesson 10: Cell references top list 
Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Understand and use relative cell referencing in formulae or functions
  • Understand and use absolute cell referencing in formulae or functions
Using cell references in a formula instead of the raw numbers has a range of benefits. In this lesson we look at how references can make your worksheets more flexible. We also look at how to overcome some potential problems by introducing fixed or absolute cell references.

Lesson 11: Format cells top list 
Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Format cells to display different number styles
  • Format cells to display different date styles
  • Format cells to display different currency symbols
  • Format cells to display numbers as percentages
  • Change text size and format text in bold and italic and change the font type
  • Change text font colour
  • Adjust text orientation (4.4.2.3)
  • Centre and align cell contents: left, right, top and bottom (4.4.3.1)
  • Add border effects to a selected cell range (4.4.3.2)
When you enter data into a workbook, numeric data is aligned to the right of a cell and text is aligned to the left of the cell. To make the data more readable you can apply different format effects. How the cell content looks will depend on whether a cell contains text or numeric data.

Lesson 12: Spelling top list 
Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Use a spell-check program and make changes where necessary
Before you print a spreadsheet (or pass it on electronically) it is useful to use the built-in spell-check program to check for spelling errors and make corrections where necessary.

Lesson 13: Document setup/Printing top list 
Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Modify document margin settings
  • Adjust document setup to fit one page
  • Add a header and footer
  • Change document orientation
  • Use basic print options
  • Preview a spreadsheet
  • Print a spreadsheet or worksheet
  • Print part of a worksheet or a pre-defined cell range
You can take control over how a workbook is set up. You can specify how much space is set aside for margins, paper size and orientation as well as repeat text on each page as headers and footers. You can preview the workbook before printing it and use the print options to control what appears on paper.

Lesson 14: Importing objects top list 
Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Import objects into a spreadsheet: images, graphics, text files, etc
  • Move and resize imported objects within a spreadsheet
Spreadsheets can be more than just text and numeric information. You can also import images, graphics and text files as well as control where they appear and how large they are.

Lesson 15: Charts and graphs top list 
Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Produce different types of charts and graphs from spreadsheet figures
  • Edit or modify a chart or graph (title, label, scale, colours
  • Change the chart type
  • Move and delete charts or graphs
With Excel it is easy to produce charts and graphs from information stored on a worksheet with Excel's ChartWizard. This simplifies what could otherwise be a complex process by interpreting your figures and producing an appropriate chart. You can use the ChartWizard to quickly produce a professional looking chart - and then you can then fine-tune to add custom effects for example.

Lesson 16: Access basics 1 top list 
Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Open a database application
  • Open an existing database with a default layout
  • Change viewing modes
  • Modify a record and save it
  • Save a database onto the hard disk
  • Close the database
In this lesson we look at how to open an existing database and view it using different modes. You can modify records, save them and save and close the database application. In this lesson we use Microsoft Access 2000 to demonstrate these activities.

Lesson 17: Access basics 2 top list 
Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Modify the toolbar display
  • Use application Help functions
You can modify the toolbar display to hide or display the toolbar buttons. Access is a complex application and you are not expected to remember everything. There are different ways of looking up information about topics as well as identify items on the work area. Once you are familiar with the different help functions, you wll find it easy to look up information about topics if you are not sure what to do.

Lesson 18: Create a database 1 top list 
Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Design and plan a database
  • Create a table with fields and attributes
  • Define a primary key
  • Set up an index
  • Navigate through a table
  • Enter data in a table
In this lesson we look at the basics of designing and planning a database and how to create a table. Once you have entered data (records) you can use different techniques for navigating through the table.

Lesson 19: Create a database 2 top list 
Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Modify table layout attributes
  • Modify field attributes
  • Modify data in a table
  • Delete data in a table
  • Add records to the database
  • Delete records in the database
Access allows you to specify different attributes for the table layout. You can also modify the attributes for a field, for example to control what type of data it should contain and how many characters can be entered. You can modify the data contained in a table, delete data and add new records to the database.

Lesson 20: Forms top list 
Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Create a simple form
  • Enter data into the database using a simple form
  • Format text
  • Change background colours in form layout
  • Import an image or graphics file into a form
  • Change arrangement of objects within form layout
When you enter records in Datasheet view you see all the records in the table. If you have a large number of fields in the database you may not be able to see them all at once. You can bring hidden fields into view by scrolling the datasheet display. Sometimes though, it is easier to concentrate on just one record at a time and to do that you design a form and use it to enter the data

Lesson 21: Retrieve information 1 top list 
Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Log on or load an existing database
  • Find a record based on given criteria
  • Create a simple query
  • Create a query with multiple criteria
  • Save a query
Once you have entered records into a database you will want to look up details for a particular record. Access has a Find feature which allows you to look for records based on the contents of a field. However, if you want to concentrate on information in just some of the fields, you can set up a query which you can reuse whenever you need to.

Lesson 22: Retrieve information 2 top list 
Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Add filters (Filter By Selection)
  • Remove filters
  • Add filters (Filter Excluding Selection)
  • Add Filters (Filter By Form)
  • Add fields to a query
  • Remove fields from a query
  • Select and sort data based on given criteria
  • Select and sort data based on common logical operators
Access allows you to filter the records in a database to display just the ones that match specified criteria. The simplest way of doing this is using the Access Filters. In this lesson we look at various different ways to use filters to find records which match one or more criteria. You can also use queries to display just some of the fields in the records you want to filter. Access also allows you to select and sort data using different techniques.

Lesson 23: Reports 1 top list 
Learn how to... Tutor's summary