Excel Workbook For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Introduction

Microsoft Excel is one of the most powerful and sophisticated software programs available today. That power and that sophistication mean Excel can do some extraordinary, just-this-side-of-miraculous things, but they also mean that Excel comes with a learning curve. Sure, you can get productive with Excel amazingly quickly, but if you want to do more than just scratch Excel's surface, then you need to get comfy with many of the program's deeper — and more useful — features.

Sounds like a plan, right? But what's the best way to get to know this wider Excel landscape? Well, consider what you might do when you arrive in a city you've never visited. One way to get the feel for the place would be to wander the streets willy-nilly. Nothing wrong with that, but it will probably mean your knowledge of the city is scattershot and skin-deep. If you want to really get to know the place, then you need a guidebook that tells you what's worth seeing, how to get there, and what to do when you arrive.

Excel is no different. To really get to know the vast “city” of Excel, clicking commands and cells at random won't get the job done. Instead, it's much better to take a few guided tours that tell you what features are worth learning, how to find those features, and how to use them. This gives you the practical, hands-on experience you need to really learn what Excel can do.

About This Book

As its name suggests, Microsoft Excel Workbook For Dummies is designed to give you the kind of hands-on ...