Google Sheets is a free online spreadsheet app that allows you to easily create, edit, and collaborate on spreadsheets. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make a spreadsheet using Google Sheets.
Sign Up for Google Account
To use Google Sheets, you first need to have a Google account. If you don’t already have one, go to accounts.google.com and sign up for a free Google account. Use your email address and create a password.
Access Google Sheets
Once you have a Google account, you can access Google Sheets in two ways:
- Go to docs.google.com/spreadsheets directly in your web browser.
- Or open your Google Drive at drive.google.com and click on the “New” button, then select “Google Sheets”.
Create a New Spreadsheet
To create a new spreadsheet:
- Click on the multicolored “+” button in the bottom right.
- A blank spreadsheet will open up. You can start entering data right away.
Enter Data
The spreadsheet consists of cells organized into rows and columns.
- To enter text or numbers:
- Select a cell by clicking on it.
- Type the data.
- Press Enter or click outside the cell when done.
- To edit existing data:
- Double click on the cell to edit.
- You can enter formulas to calculate data across cells. Formulas start with an “=” sign.
Edit and Format Cells
You can change the formatting of cells to customize the look of your spreadsheet:
- Font style and size
- Text bold, italic or underlined
- Cell borders and background color
- Number formatting (currency, percent, date, etc.)
- Alignment of text within cells
- Merge cells
Click on a cell and use the formatting toolbar to access formatting options.
Add Charts
Charts allow you to visualize your spreadsheet data:
- Select the data you want to chart.
- Click on the Charts tab of the toolbar.
- Select the type of chart you want.
The chart will be created on the spreadsheet and will stay linked to the data. When data changes, the chart updates.
Organize with Multiple Sheets
For complex data, use multiple sheets within the spreadsheet file:
- Click on the “+” tab at the bottom to add another sheet.
- Or right click on an existing sheet tab and select Insert Sheet.
Name sheets descriptively to keep organized.
Share and Collaborate
A key benefit of Google Sheets is real-time collaboration. Multiple people can edit the spreadsheet simultaneously.
To share:
- Click the Share button in the top right.
- Enter email addresses to share with.
- Set permission levels:
- Can view
- Can edit
Collaborators can chat within the spreadsheet and comment on cells. All activity is tracked in version history.
Download, Email or Print Spreadsheet
When done, you can:
- Download the spreadsheet as Excel, CSV, PDF, etc.
- Email it directly as a file attachment or shareable link.
- Print all or selected sheets.
And that’s the basics of how to create, edit, share and manage spreadsheets with Google Sheets! The powerful features make it easy to get started for personal use or business collaboration.
