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The layout of the Excel 2010 program screen

The following image shows a typical program window.

The sections of an Excel 2010 progra screen

At the top left of the screen is the Quick Access Toolbar which contains a few buttons of commonly used items.

Below it are various Tabs such as Home, Insert, and Page Layout. Clicking on a tab displays the options located in this section of the ribbon. The selection of available tabs can change, depending on the tasks you are undertaking.

Beneath the tabs is the Ribbon which is the strip of buttons and icons. The Ribbon is organised into groups of Options. For example, the Home tab ribbon may include the Clipboard (copy and paste options) and Font (font and colouring options).

The Ribbon replaces the menus and toolbars found in earlier versions of Excel.

Clicking on an option on the ribbon may lead to further options contained in a Contextual Menu that relate specifically to the option chosen.

Beneath the main work area are Worksheet name tabs.

Many of the settings relating to ribbon button options and worksheets can be modified by users and new default settings can be created.

If you want help making the transition from old 2003 menus to new 2010 ribbons, click here.

Macros and Excel 2010

Excel tries to protect users against the potential dangers of malicious macros which can damage your valuable data. This protection causes problems for users who wish to run legitimate macros.

The Developer tab and code ribbon buttons

In order to run or edit macros and VBA code, the Developer tab must be activated. Select [File] Options | Customize Ribbon |. In the Main Tabs box, make sure that the Developer check box is selected.

The Macro Security button (on the [Developer] Code ribbon) opens the Excel Trust Centre. The Macro Settings tab displays the four options and levels of protection. By default Excel will 'Disable all macros with notification'. This means that the first time a macro is called during each session, the user will be prompted to say whether or not to allow macros. If the settings are changed to 'Enable all macros' they will always run unhindered and without prompts.

To save a workbook containing macros select the File Type of 'Excel Macro-Enabled Workbooks (.xlsm)'. The default '.xlsx' files cannot store VBA modules.


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