In this section, we will cover the basics of entering and editing data in Excel. This is a fundamental skill that will serve as the foundation for all other Excel operations. By the end of this section, you will be able to efficiently input and modify data in your Excel worksheets.

1. Entering Data

   • Types of Data: Text, Numbers, Dates, and Formulas
   • Entering Data into Cells: Single cell, multiple cells, and ranges
   • Using the Fill Handle: Auto-filling data series

2. Editing Data

   • Modifying Cell Content: Direct editing, formula bar editing
   • Clearing Cell Content: Clearing all, clearing formats, clearing contents
   • Undo and Redo Actions

3. Navigating Cells

   • Using the Keyboard: Arrow keys, Enter, Tab
   • Using the Mouse: Clicking, double-clicking, drag-and-drop

4. Basic Data Entry Techniques

   • AutoComplete: Predictive text entry
   • AutoCorrect: Automatic correction of common typos
   • Data Entry Shortcuts: Quick ways to enter data

Excel can handle various types of data, including:

• Text: Any combination of letters, numbers, and symbols (e.g., "Hello", "123 Main St.")
• Numbers: Numeric values (e.g., 123, 45.67)
• Dates: Date values (e.g., 01/01/2023, March 15, 2023)
• Formulas: Mathematical expressions that calculate values (e.g., =SUM(A1:A10))

To enter data into a cell:

1. Select the cell where you want to enter data.
2. Type the data.
3. Press Enter to move to the cell below or Tab to move to the cell to the right.

The Fill Handle is a powerful tool for quickly filling data series:

1. Enter a value in a cell.
2. Select the cell and hover over the bottom-right corner until the cursor changes to a small black cross.
3. Click and drag the Fill Handle to fill adjacent cells with a series (e.g., days of the week, sequential numbers).

Drag the Fill Handle from A1 to A10 to fill the series 1, 2, 3, ..., 10.

To edit the content of a cell:

1. Select the cell you want to edit.
2. Double-click the cell or click in the Formula Bar.
3. Make your changes and press Enter.

To clear the content of a cell:

1. Select the cell or range of cells.
2. Go to the Home tab.
3. Click the Clear button in the Editing group and choose one of the options:
   • Clear All: Removes all content, formats, and comments.
   • Clear Formats: Removes only the formatting.
   • Clear Contents: Removes only the data.

• Undo: Press Ctrl + Z to undo the last action.
• Redo: Press Ctrl + Y to redo the last undone action.

• Arrow Keys: Move one cell in the direction of the arrow.
• Enter: Move one cell down.
• Tab: Move one cell to the right.

• Click: Select a cell.
• Double-click: Edit the cell content.
• Drag-and-drop: Move or copy cell content.

Excel can automatically complete text entries based on previous entries in the same column.

Excel automatically corrects common typos and misspellings as you type.

• Ctrl + Enter: Enter the same data in multiple selected cells.
• Ctrl + D: Fill down from the cell above.
• Ctrl + R: Fill right from the cell to the left.

1. Enter the following data into cells A1 to A5:

   A1: Apple
   A2: Banana
   A3: Cherry
   A4: Date
   A5: Elderberry
   

2. Edit the data in cell A3 to "Cranberry".

3. Clear the content of cell A4.

4. Use the Fill Handle to fill cells B1 to B5 with the numbers 1 to 5.

1. Enter the data as specified.
2. Double-click cell A3, change "Cherry" to "Cranberry", and press Enter.
3. Select cell A4, go to the Home tab, click Clear, and choose Clear Contents.
4. Enter "1" in cell B1, then drag the Fill Handle from B1 to B5.

In this section, you learned how to enter and edit data in Excel. You now know how to input different types of data, use the Fill Handle, modify cell content, clear cells, and navigate using both the keyboard and mouse. These skills are essential for efficient data management in Excel. In the next section, we will explore basic Excel functions and formulas to perform calculations on your data.