Image: Master the fundamentals of Excel and build a solid foundation for the future

Every function in Excel is accessible from the menu bar. This toolbar consists of a number of drop-down menus. One sometimes frustrating feature in newer versions of Excel, including Excel 2003, is the program's attempt to help you out. New Office programs try to provide you with only what they think you need.

In this case, after you first install Office, Excel's drop down menus don't automatically include every option you might need. Items that you haven't used, or rarely use don't show up on the menu unless you wait for a few seconds, or unless you click the down arrows at the bottom of the menu.