Dave Schranck said
Excel 2010: the missing manual is part of a growing series of reference manuals for popular software products. Mr MacDonald has also written Access 2007 among other books. A CD with training exercises is not available but a website is available to download the necessary essentials.
Before starting the tutelage, the author describes all the new stuff Microsoft built into this latest version. Throughout the book, there are also many illustrations to help the reader follow the narrative. There are also samples of dialogs that you'll meet in using the program, giving tips on how best to use the dialogs. Interesting sidebars also adds to your learning experience.
The manual targets the absolute novice who hasn't used a spreadsheet before and people who have been using Excel for a while but at a basic level and will transport them to an intermediate level of expertise if so desired. The author starts at the beginning, showing how to open a spreadsheet and then taking a tour of the many features the program has. He slowly and deliberately progresses to adding and moving data, formatting, managing multiple sheets as well as printing your work. Moving on, building formulas and using the many built-in formulas including using the family of "if" statements, math, financial, time, text etc is given high priority. Moving into more interesting fields, List Management, Grouping Data, building templates and creating charts and adding pictures is presented. The program also has clip art and a decent drawing editor that the author shows you how to use.
Moving deeper into Databases, creating Scenarios, Pivot tables, web queries and connecting to a SQL server is next, followed by using Excel with other programs.
The last two chapters cover using VBA in automating tasks. Its pretty rudimentary but its sufficient to show how to record macros. It also shows and describes the macro window, the editors and explains the critical property and methods concerns in programming in Excel. It also shows the value in using variables, looping functions among other essential stuff to get you started in writing macros. Its sufficient to get you started but if you really like using VBA and want to progress beyond this book, you'll need to buy a dedicated book like "Excel 2010 Power Programming with VBA" by John Walkenbach.
This review just scratches the surface of what is presented in this 854 page tome and the author does a nice job in explaining the many features. This is a very credible manual and for anyone wanting to improve their spreadsheet skills should consider it.
Ahmad H. Bu Hazzaa said
If you want to really understand what excel is all about read this book. It's easy and clear to the point. It explains all scientific termonologies so a novice user like me understand it. Buy it you won;t regrit it.
Daniel McKinnon said
'Excel 2010: The Missing Manual' might be one of the most impressive books in a line of titles that never fail to amaze me. Packing an enormous 850+ pages of power, this book will show you all the ins and out of Microsoft Excel, and the key word is ALL.
Let's take a look at what this gem has to offer.
Chapter List
1-7: Basics of using Excel and the goodness it provides
8: Building Basic Forumlas
9: Math & Statistical Functions
10: Financial Functions
11: Dates, Time, Text
12-13: Advanced Function and Formula Writing
14: Tables
15: Grouping Data
16: Templates
17-18: Using Charts
19: Graphics
20-21: Visualizing Data & Goal Setting
22: Pivot Tables
23: Databases, XML, Web Pages
24: Protecting Workbooks
25: Collaboration
26: Excel on the Web
27: Talking to other Apps
28-29: Macros and Programming with VBA
The author of the book is Matthew MacDonald, and if you don't know him, you should. He's one of the best computer/technical book writers on the market today, the quality and ease of reading is apparent everywhere you look.
Whether you are an Excel newbie, amateur, or expert, nearly anyone can get something from this book. There is a reason why these books are called 'Missing Manuals' because it's like having a class by your side, all the time.
***** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
K. Scott Proctor said
Excel 2010: The Missing Manual offers a great guide to Excel 2010. Matthew MacDonald does three things quite well in this book: (1) covers the important features of Excel, (2) explains the features in a user-friendly way, and (3) makes the topic of using Excel interesting.
Excel 2010 has hundreds of features -- this book focuses on the features that address common real-world situations, such as generating monthly financial reports and updating files with new data. MacDonald explains how to use Excel's many features and functions in an easy-to-follow and non-technical manner. In addition, the author manages to keep this subject matter, which could prove dry and dense, interesting and engaging.
I am a long-time and regular user of Excel as well as the author of a book on building financial models with Microsoft Excel (Building Financial Models with Microsoft Excel: A Guide for Business Professionals (Wiley Finance)). This book (Excel 2010: The Missing Manual) is among the very best guides to the general use of Microsoft Excel that I have come across.
Recommended reading for users of Microsoft Excel 2010 -- new Excel users and users migrating to Excel 2010 alike.
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