Getting Acquainted with Excel/Creating a Crossword Puzzle in Excel

Words 2007 Instructions:

Through the lens of Homo Faber, you are going to create a crossword puzzle on the Unnamed Storm of 1928. Before Starting Microsoft Excel. Create a crossword answer grid with the words going both across and down on a piece of paper. Make sure you also have your questions written down so you know what your original questions were.

Example:

                        a      
                        p      
      l                 p      
  w   a                 l      
c o m p u t e r         i      
  r   t     x       a c c e s s
  d   o     c           a      
      p o w e r p o i n t      
        u   l   a       i      
        t       i       o      
        l       n       n      
        o       t       s      
        o                      
        k                      
                               

Microsoft Excel consists of worksheets. Each worksheet contains columns and rows. The columns are lettered A to IV; the rows are numbered 1 to 65536. The combination of column and row coordinates make up a cell address.

Blank Workbook

Save As Options

Entering Data:

Data is entered into single cells. The cell that has been selected to enter data is called the active cell and is identified by a heavy border. Only one cell can be active at a time. To change the active cell, move the mouse pointer into a cell and just click. To enter data, simply click in the cell and then type in the information you want to appear in the cell. In this case, you would enter a letter in each cell.

Editing Data

Once you have entered data into a cell, that data can be edited by first clicking on the cell to make the cell active and then clicking on the formula bar above the worksheet.

Formula Bar

This allows you to insert or delete characters in that cell. An alternate method of editing the contents of a cell is to click on the cell to make it the active cell and then press the [F2] function key at the top of the keyboard. You can delete the contents of a cell by clicking on the cell and pressing [Delete] on the keyboard.

Enter Crossword Data:

You will now enter your words into the Excel worksheet. Make sure to leave room at the top of your worksheet to enter the title. Type your questions at the bottom of the crossword for the up and down clues. Your Across and Down Clues should only appear in the A column.

Formatting Worksheet:

The first thing you want to do is to decrease the size of your columns, add shading to boxes that do not contain letters, and add a border around your crossword. Click on the hyperlink below to see what you will be doing to make your crossword appear more visually appealing then follow the instructions below to format the worksheet to appear as a crossword puzzle.

Crossword Example

Decrease Column Width:

Select all the cells that contain your words. While still on the Home tab select Format Column Width:

Format Column Width

At the Column Width dialog box type in 3.75 Column Width.

Click OK to set the column width.

Align Cells with Center Alignment:

Select the cells that contain the letters to your puzzle.

Click the center alignment button on the Formatting Toolbar.

The letters should now be centered in each cell.

Delete Unnecessary Rows or Columns:

Highlight the row or column you wish to delete. Make sure you select the head of your row or column. Leave at least two rows at the top of the page to enter your title.

With the Home tab selected click Delete Columns Delete Columns when columns are selected or click Delete Rows Delete Rows when rows are selected.

Inserting Columns, Rows and Cells

To insert a column, click on the column header (A, B, C, etc.) you wish the new column to appear ahead of or to the left of and with the Home tab selected click Insert and select Insert Sheet Column.

Insert Column

Selecting an existing row by clicking on the number that represents the row (1, 2, 3, etc.) to insert a new row ahead of or above is done the same way. With the row selected click Insert Sheet Row.

Insert Rows

You can experiment inserting new columns, rows and cells. You will notice that when requesting a new cell, Excel asks if you wish to move the existing cells to the right or down.

Enter a Title and Merge Cells:

Place your cursor in cell A1. Type the title of your puzzle in this cell. Do not resize the cell!!!

Click again in cell A1.

While holding the left mouse button down, drag across the cells to you reach the last column that contains your data.

Click the merge and center cells button located in the alignment section on the Home tab.

Merge and Center

Your title should now appear centered at the top of your worksheet.

Placing a Border around the Puzzle:

Select the cells that contain the words to your puzzle by holding down the left mouse key and then dragging over the words.

Click the arrow beside the borders button on the formatting section on the Home Tab, and select the all borders option to put a line around every cell.

Insert Borders

Shading Vacant Cells:

Highlight the cells that do not contain letters by holding the left mouse down as you drag. Release the mouse button when you have the cells selected. You may have to do this in groups.

Click the fill button on the font section on the Home tab. Then select the fill button and select black shown below:

Fill with Color

Continue until you have the crossword shaded in.

Resave the worksheet as Answered Unnamed Storm of 1928 Crossword.

Finished Product:

You now want to make a workable crossword that you can have your friends try. Delete all the letters in the puzzle, left align your numbers in the cells and resave your work Unanswered Unnamed Storm of 1928 so you will not erase your original worksheet. Have your friends try to fill in your crossword for fun.

Horizontal Rule

Words 2003 Instructions:

Through the lens of Homo Faber, you are going to create a crossword puzzle on the Unnamed Storm of 1928. Before Starting Microsoft Excel. Create a crossword answer grid with the words going both across and down on a piece of paper. Make sure you also have your questions written down so you know what your original questions were.

Example:

                        a      
                        p      
      l                 p      
  w   a                 l      
c o m p u t e r         i      
  r   t     x       a c c e s s
  d   o     c           a      
      p o w e r p o i n t      
        u   l   a       i      
        t       i       o      
        l       n       n      
        o       t       s      
        o                      
        k                      
                               
Open Excel by following the directions listed below:

Save Excel Worksheet:

Moving Around in the Worksheet:

There are several methods that can be used to move through the worksheet:

The Down Arrow Key:

You can use the down arrow key to move downward on the screen one cell at a time. Press the down arrow key several times. Note that the cursor moves downward one cell at a time.

The Up Arrow Key:

You can use the Up Arrow key to move upward on the screen one cell at a time. Press the up arrow key several times. Note that the cursor moves upward one cell at a time.

The Right and Left Arrow Keys:

You can use the right and left arrow keys to move right or left one cell at a time. Press the right arrow key several times. Note that the cursor moves to the right. Press the left arrow key several times. Note that the cursor moves to the left.

Page Up and Page Down:

The Page Up and Page Down keys move the cursor up and down one page at a time. Press the Page Down key. Note that the cursor moves down one page. Press the Page Up key. Note that the cursor moves up one page. The

End Key:

The End key, used in conjunction with the arrow keys, causes the cursor to move to the far end of the spreadsheet in the direction of the arrow. Press the End key. Note that "END" appears on the Status bar in the lower right corner of the screen. Press the right arrow key. Note that the cursor moves to the farthest right area of the screen. Press the END key again. Press the down arrow key. Note that the cursor moves to the bottom of the screen. Press the End key again. Press the left arrow key. Note that the cursor moves to the farthest left area of the screen. Press the End key again. Press the up arrow key. Note that the cursor moves to the top of the screen. Note: If you have entered data into the worksheet, the End key moves you to the end of the data area.

The Home Key:

The Home key, used in conjunction with the End key, moves you to cell A1 -- or to the beginning of the data area if you have entered data. Move the cursor to column J. Stay in column J and move the cursor to row 20. Press the End key. Press Home. You should now be in cell A1.

Entering Data:

Data is entered into single cells. The cell that has been selected to enter data is called the active cell and is identified by a heavy border. Only one cell can be active at a time. To change the active cell, move the mouse pointer into a cell and just click. To enter data, simply click in the cell and then type in the information you want to appear in the cell. In this case, you would enter a letter in each cell.

Editing Data

Once you have entered data into a cell, that data can be edited by first clicking on the cell to make the cell active and then clicking on the formula bar above the worksheet.

This allows you to insert or delete characters in that cell. An alternate method of editing the contents of a cell is to click on the cell to make it the active cell and then press the [F2] function key at the top of the keyboard. You can delete the contents of a cell by clicking on the cell and pressing [Delete] on the keyboard.

Inserting Columns, Rows and Cells

To insert a column, click on the column you wish the new column to appear ahead of or to the left of and click Insert on the menu bar at the top of the screen. Selecting an existing row to insert a new row ahead of or above is done the same way. Once you have selected Insert on the menu bar at the top of the screen, you can click Columns to insert a new column or Rows to insert a new row. You can experiment inserting new columns, rows and cells. You will notice that when requesting a new cell, Excel asks if you wish to move the existing cells to the right or down.

Enter Crossword Data:

You will now enter your words into the Excel worksheet. Make sure to leave room at the top of your worksheet to enter the title. Type your questions at the bottom of the crossword for the up and down clues.

Formatting Worksheet:

The first thing you want to do is to decrease the size of your columns, add shading to boxes that do not contain letters, and add a border around your crossword. Click on the hyperlink below to see what you will be doing to make your crossword appear more visually appealing.

Crossword Example

Decrease Column Width:

Align Cells with Center Alignment:

Delete Unnecessary Rows or Columns:

Insert Rows and Columns:

Enter a Title and Merge Cells:

Placing a Border around the Puzzle:

Shading Vacant Cells:

Finished Product: