In many professional settings, Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel spreadsheets are essential tools for organizing client and business information. Whether you’re in an administrative or clerical role, having a well-rounded knowledge of spreadsheet usage is invaluable. Luckily, Google Sheets offers numerous features that allow us to work efficiently and effectively. Let’s explore how to organize your online spreadsheets like a pro.
For the purpose of this guide, we will be using Google Sheets. If you don’t already have a Gmail account, you may need to create one to access this powerful tool. Now, let’s get started with organizing your spreadsheet!
To begin, click on “View” at the top of the screen. From the dropdown menu, scroll down and hover over “Freeze.” In this example, we will select “2 rows” to freeze. Once you return to the spreadsheet, you’ll notice that up to 2 rows remain fixed and unmoving. If you prefer, you can adjust this to only freeze 1 row, allowing you to always see the top heading you’re working with.
Now, let’s address columns. If you scroll to the right, you may find that the column containing the clients’ information is not visible. Organize the rows and columns based on your specific needs. To freeze a column, repeat the previous step, but this time select “1 column.” When you scroll, you’ll see that the column you selected remains fixed. It’s that simple!
Next, let’s add more information to your rows. For example, you can add data in the “Notes” column. Feel free to add colors to make your spreadsheet visually appealing. As you continue to add data, you may notice that the text spills over and extends beyond the designated box.
No worries! To address this issue, select the row you want to work on and hover over the “Text wrapping” icon located in the banner above. Clicking on this icon will loop the text into the designated box, allowing you to fit more data without compromising the overall row width. Let’s add another helpful tool feature in the “Status” column. (Please disregard any mistakes or typos; it was likely a 3 AM endeavor. Carry on!)
Now, navigate to the top banner and click on “Insert,” then scroll down to “Checkbox.” How cute is that? This simple feature allows you to retain information and check off tasks for each specific row.
Finally, let’s say you want to remove any formatting or color that you’ve added to your chart. One of the quickest ways to achieve this is by selecting “Format” at the top and scrolling down to “Clear formatting.”
There you have it! Feel free to explore and experiment with the various icons and features available in Google Sheets. Hover over those lovely icons to discover what they do and how they can help you streamline your tasks. And the best part? You don’t even have to worry about saving your work because Google Sheets is an online platform that automatically saves your changes. So go ahead, dive in, and make your spreadsheets shine!