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| Feature/Action | What to do | Why it’s important |
| Opening & “Save As” | Go to File > Save As and rename the file (e.g., “MyEtsyBusiness_2024”). | Keeps your original “Master Template” clean so you can start over if you ever need to. |
| Workbook vs. Sheets | The Workbook is the whole file. The Sheets (or Tabs) are at the bottom of your screen. | Helps you navigate between your Materials List, Product List, and Pricing Templates. |
| The Active Cell | Click once on a box (cell). It will have a dark border. | You must click a cell to tell Excel exactly where you want to enter information. |
| Typing & Entering | Click the cell, type your info, and press Enter. | Pressing Enter “locks in” the data and moves you down to the next row. |
| Switching Tabs | Click the name of the tab at the bottom (e.g., “Master Materials”). | Allows you to move between different parts of the system without closing the file. |
| Drop-Down Menus | Click a cell and look for a small arrow on the right side. | These cells pull data from your Materials List. You must select from the list to make the formulas work. |
| Copying a Tab | Right-click a tab > Move or Copy > Check “Create a copy.” | Allows you to create a brand new pricing sheet for a new product without rebuilding it. |
| Renaming a Tab | Right-click the tab and select Rename. | Helps you stay organized by naming tabs after specific products (e.g., “Large Cutting Board”). |
| The Formula Bar | The long white bar above the spreadsheet. | If you see a formula here, do not type in the cell. The workbook is doing the math for you automatically. |
| The “Esc” Key | Press Esc on your keyboard. | If you accidentally click into a formula and it starts looking messy, hit Esc to cancel and go back to normal. |
| The Undo Button | Click the curved arrow at the very top or press Ctrl + Z. | If you accidentally delete something or make a mistake, this instantly puts it back. |
| Closing & Saving | Click the X and select Save when prompted. | Ensures all the material costs and product prices you entered are stored for next time. |