I need to learn more about Excel.
Is there a book I can get (or anything else for that matter) that will walk me through the formulas included in Excel?
I’m assuming this is provided with the program but i’ve been “gifted” all my copies of Office.
I’m currently working with “Video Professor” and have been quite enlightened. I kind of feel stupid. I never realized how much that program can do.
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Replies
Hey Mark, hows that project going up in Onoway?
I was kinda asking the same question back when I was doing the calcs for the school project. I quickly found out that everyones use of excel differs and theres no one answer that I was hoping for. I ended up creating my own, spreadsheets and learned a ton about creating and using them. It was a lot of trial and error stuff, but I somehow prevailed.
I won't profess to be a guru of any sort and I'm sure my sheets are rudimentary at best, but they did the job for me. In the end, I had a couple hundred line items and it was amazing to see the numbers change as I made small adjustments in the sheet to test different values.
It didn't help me with the school project, but that wasn't the fault of the spreadsheet. I'm sure you know what I mean because you're still in that quagmire that is called Michigan's economy.
I hope all things are well with that reno project.
If I were you, I'd just start writing one and see where it goes. I think it would be fairly easy to create one that fits a single house renovation. Do the trial and error and use the help in the program and post more questions here. I'm no expert but I can help with the basics and that is probably all you'll need. I learned enough that I won't do
a simple lumber takeoff any more without opening one up.
What is video professor?
jim
fka (formerly known as) blue
Jim glad to see you're back. Onaway is going well. We plan to start construction by spring. We had a delay because the bank didnt like the numbers when they considered the taxes along with the principal & interest so, we petetioned the city and got a tax freeze for 5 years.
I called the state tax commision this week and they had just reviewed my app. The lady I spoke to said it looks like it shouldnt be a problem. This will allow us (hopefully) to get this thing going.
I've also done a bunch of sheets that fit what I need, but I have been offered an opportunity recently that requires knowledge of the formulas. The "learning Professor" (tutorial disks for windows based software) videos are informative but pretty specific. I'd like to basically find an index of the available formulas.
Bummer about the school project. Do you still control the building or are you free of it?
"I'd like to basically find an index of the available formulas. "Have you tried Google??I don't use Excell (I use Quattro Pro), but if I did, I would think this to be useful:http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/HP052001271033.aspx
Rich Beckman
the formula going to be aftermarket, so unless there are math forumlas then maybe download.com.BOB is always right, ALL HAIL BOB
Thanks. I looked on the Microsoft site, I just didnt look deeply enough.
Once again thank to all for the help. I should be able to get what I need now.
The "... for Dummy" books are supposed to be pretty good.
There is also a button on the tool bar "fx". it is Paste Function. It kind of walks you through the variables of different math and data functions.
I assume you know the basics of * for multiplication and / for division etc.
The "F4" is handy for locking a cell reference in a formula when you will copy a formula. As you toggle through it will lock to the specific cell reference ($D$4) or the Column ($d4) or the row (d$4), Again, you only need that when you will copy a formula across or down a sheet.
Do you have an understanding of the use of parentheses?
You know you start a formula with an = or +, yes?
Jump in and start messing around with it.
Good grief....I wish I had knew those shortcuts Toolbear!
I think that Dummy book would be the ticket for me.
jimfka (formerly known as) blue
Thanks toofreakblue. I was thinking about a "for dummies" book. I've been through the "fx" button. I'd like to learn a little more about how the formulas are assembled.
I need a good working knowledge of how the formulas are put together so I can have a clear understanding of them.
If I understand, go to the help menu, Index, and type in "function," then look for "Overview."SamTSamT
I had the same problem, the video professor is the best, the dummy books are out there but waste of money. I get more help from the excel help on the software itself and of course here too. ask question
the VP was the most help
.
BOB is always right, ALL HAIL BOB
This guy, John Walkenbach, is probably one of the nine or ten "Mr. Excels" of the world.
Link: http://j-walk.com/ss/
Written many books on Excel. If he doesn't know about it, it probably wasn't coded in. There's a specific book on formulas for the 2003 version of excel, perhaps updated to the latest by now, I don't know. I enjoy his website and blog. Take care, Ed
Edited 10/14/2007 11:43 am by EdHarrison
ED, that is a great website. I think Mark has his answers.
jimfka (formerly known as) blue
All I got on that site was an add for a book.
BTW, anybody know if there is now a direct excell function for hyperbolic trig of complex numbers? (e.g sinh(34-j12, etc) Last time doing those i had to use six columns with simpler formula. Five years ago I specifically asked the guy that wrote all the code for the formula of excell and the scientific calculator. He wrote the code for the formula in the late 80's, but retired in '94 and thought maybe somebody added that function since then.
BTW2 - His name is in the 'about' section of calculator on Win 3.1 and Win 95, they took his name off when he retired.
I used to teach high school students excel and chose the Step-By-Step books by Microsoft Press. I've found the best way to choose a book is to drive to Borders or Barnes and Noble and start reading through them. You eliminate a bunch in a hurry once you see actually them.
For the details behind formulas, I usually use the F1 help key while in the fx window and go through the built-in help.
Microsoft has some pretty good online training courses. These are particularly good if you know what you want to learn:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/FX100565001033.aspx
I went many years not knowing about named ranges (http://www.cpearson.com/excel/named.htm). I've found these invaluable in trying to reviewing formulas I've created.
Two most important things I've learned in Excel:
1) When in doubt, right-click
2) If you don't know what to do, search help (F1 or the little search box in the upper right hand corner present on some versions).
-Nate
Along with help from the guys here, I took an online class through one of our community colleges...opened up a whole new vista for me and repetitive number tasks... Someone's got it in for me, they're planting stories in the press
Whoever it is I wish they'd cut it out but when they will I can only guess.
They say I shot a man named Gray and took his wife to Italy,
She inherited a million bucks and when she died it came to me.
I can't help it if I'm lucky.
Get "Estimating with Microsoft Excel 2nd edition" by Jay Christofferson... you can buy it on http://www.builderbooks.com . This guy wrote the Estimator Pro software, and the book tells you how to make the software. The only thing is that software cost $700, the book, like $30....If you have some time, its pretty simple to follow, it will just take you time to build each "detail" sheet, but the formula advice is great.... you can actually download a trial version of the software from free for a few days. It will give you an idea of what to expect. I am on the verge of buying the software, but the book is great!
Lee