1.

To begin, start Excel and open the file named Practice 1 in your Excel 2003 Practice folder. File->Open

This is a worksheet containing monthly, quarterly, and yearly sales data. It is numerical data that uses formulas and functions to calculate column totals. This kind of worksheet is well suited for Automatic outlining.

2.

Choose Data-> Group and Outline-> Auto Outline from the menu bar. This will cause Excel to implement an auto outline based on the way formulas that total the data.

You can now collapse and expand outline groupings with the (+) and (-) buttons, or you can view outline levels with the numbered outline buttons at the upper left. This full level of detail shown in the image corresponds to the button numbered 3.

This outline does not meet our complete requirements however. We want to display an outline level that contains all of the columns except the ones labelled Wages and Rent.

3.

Select columns D and E with your mouse by dragging the mouse pointer along the column letters for those two columns.

Once the columns are selected, choose Data->Group and Outline->Group from the menu bar.

You should now see an additional numbered button (4) under the column of number buttons in the upper left.

Now, if you click the button numbered 3, in the column of buttons in the upper left, you will see all the columns except for the Wages and Rent columns.

This is exactly what we wanted. Notice the expansion (+) button above the column letter F. Clicking this button will show the wages and rent columns if we wish to view them.

4.

Click the button numbered 3 in the column of buttons in the upper left, and then click the button numbered 1 in the row of buttons at the upper left.

Now you can view only the yearly totals for the columns labelled Sales, Supplies, Total Expenses, and Profit. You can expand or collapse a particular grouping by clicking the associated (+) or (-) button. You can also view varying levels of detail in rows or columns by using the numbered outline buttons in the upper left corner.

5.

Remember, when you print your worksheet, only the level of outline that is visible on screen will be printed. This is a great way to print only the information that you think is important.

6.

Save your work and exit Excel.