Google has a free calculator: Google Spreadsheets. Get to know the basics of this program.
Google Sheets
Google’s free calculator is called Google Spreadsheets. People with a Google account can use the program online or as an app on the iPad/iPhone and Android devices. When someone creates something with Google Sheets, Google saves the file in Google Drive. The file will then be in Google Sheets and in Google Drive.
Google Sheets:
Using Google Sheets
In this article, we focus on the online version of Google Sheets.
- Go to docs.google.com/spreadsheets
- Sign in with your Google account if you are not already signed in.
The Google Sheets folder is in view. Files may already exist. Those are files you created through Google Drive.
Create new document
Create a new file as follows:
- Under ‘Start a new spreadsheet’, click Empty.
An empty spreadsheet opens.
No need to save
Google Sheets automatically saves the file. So you don’t have to worry about losing information. Google saves any changes or additions in the file. As a result, you can close the browser at any time.
Renaming
Because a file is saved automatically, Google Sheets doesn’t ask if you want to name it. Therefore, give a new file a name immediately.
- Click on the top left Unnamed Spreadsheet.
- Type a name.
- Press the Enter key.
Enter data
Google Sheets works on the basis of cells that are in a large worksheet. Each cell has a name, which consists of a letter and a number. The rows all have a different number and the columns all have a different letter. Cell A1 is the first cell at the top left, next to it is B1 and so on. You can enter data in these cells. Both words and numbers. Calculations can then be made with numbers using formulas. To enter data, click a cell and start typing.
Data format
You can keep track of all kinds of data in Google Sheets. Think of percentages, dates and amounts. Indicate in the program what kind of content a cell has. This gives the information in the cell a certain appearance. For example, a monetary amount is given a euro sign and two decimal places.
- Click on a cell to select it.
- Click in the menu bar on layout.
- click on Number.
- Click on the desired format, for example Date.
Using Formulas
To let Google Sheets make calculations with numbers entered, you use formulas. The user can create a new formula himself, but there are also many standard formulas. As an example, we are going to add the digits of two cells using the sum formula.
- Click in cell A2 and type 122.
- Click in cell A3 and type 97.
- Click in cell A4.
- Click in the menu bar on Insert.
- click on Function > sum.
Cell A4 now shows the total of cells A2 and A3.
Open existing file
To open a previously created file, follow the steps below.
- Go to docs.google.com/spreadsheets
- Sign in with your Google account if you are not already signed in.
- The home screen shows files you recently worked on. Click on a file you want to edit.