The first blank spreadsheet from scratch

A new workbook is not a new world

Sometimes you need clean paper. A class survey, homework, a second try. Not a copy of the course — a new workbook from scratch.

The steps are short: open a blank workbook, name it, first cell, first sheet. Done. Drive watches the saving.

💡

The shortcut sheets.new in the browser makes a blank workbook at once. On a school computer it sometimes does not work — then sheets.google.com → Blank spreadsheet.

From empty to a spreadsheet in five minutes

Open sheets.new. A grid, at the bottom Sheet1, at the top Untitled spreadsheet.
Top left name the workbook: Class survey 1. Enter. (Special letters in a file name are fine, in a sheet name better without.)
At the bottom double-click Sheet1 → Answers. Enter.
Click A1. Type Snack. Tab. In B1 type Count. Enter.
In A2 type the first answer, for example roll. In B2 the number 1. Enter.

You have a spreadsheet. Two columns, one data row. It still does not count anything. But it is no longer an empty grid.

The first row = a sign

The same rule as with grades. Row 1 says what the columns mean. Data from row 2.

⚠️

Do not write the question into A1 and the first answer into A1 too. Put the question above the table (you can merge cells later) or into the workbook name. A1 and B1 are column names.

When a new workbook, when a new sheet

Situation	What to do
A new project (survey)	A new workbook
Another month of grades in the same workbook	A new sheet in `Tables with Martin`
A try you can delete	A copy of the workbook or a sheet `Try`

One workbook = one “book”. A sheet = a chapter. The survey into its own book, so it does not mix with grades.

Go back to Tables with Martin. Plus at the bottom → a new sheet Survey_school.
In A1 Answer, B1 Count. A2 empty — data will come later.
Switch to Grades. Survey_school stayed empty except the headings. The sheets do not mix.

🏫 Grade average

One sheet, two columns: subject and grade. At the bottom a sum and an average.

💰 Pocket money

Rows = days, columns = income / spend / left.

📊 Class survey

One question, answers in one column, later a chart.

🏆 Mini dashboard

Three numbers at the top and one chart. Numbers as a link, not copied by hand.

Now you 💪

Make a small new workbook (or a sheet Survey in the main workbook — pick one):

It has a name, not “Untitled”.
A1 and B1 are headings. A2 is the first data row.
At the top it lights up saved to Drive.
You know if you are in a new workbook, or in a new sheet of the old one.
Click A1 — in the formula bar you see the heading text.

✅

Check: You can start from empty and make a spreadsheet with a heading and a first data row. You know when a new workbook and when a new sheet.

What to take from this lesson

sheets.new = a blank workbook. 姓名 it at once at the top and at the bottom by the sheet.
Row 1 = column headings. Data from row 2.
A new project can be a new workbook. The course lives in Tables with Martin.
An empty grid is the start. The first cell A1 is the first sign.
Drive saves itself. You do not need Ctrl+S in Sheets.