Best Way To Learn Excel 2010 (Self Study)
Apr 16, 2012, 5:53 pm
#1
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Best Way To Learn Excel 2010 (Self Study)
Does anyone have any suggestions for the best way to learn Excel without having to attend a classroom course? (Looking for something like online, DVD, etc.)
Oh, and please don't say the Microsoft "Getting Started" link in the Excel Help section.
Oh, and please don't say the Microsoft "Getting Started" link in the Excel Help section.
Apr 16, 2012, 7:07 pm
#2
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What level of user do you need to be when you are done studying? Basic, intermediate, advanced?
What will you use Excel for? As a consumer of spreadsheets or as a creator of spreadsheets with pivot tables and multi-linked tabs?
What will you use Excel for? As a consumer of spreadsheets or as a creator of spreadsheets with pivot tables and multi-linked tabs?
Apr 16, 2012, 7:36 pm
#3
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Consumer, but certainly would like to create some basic stuff, e.g. expense ledgers, etc. Honestly, I don't even know what the terms you used mean.
Apr 16, 2012, 8:00 pm
#4
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That sounds elementary to me, if you're just going to work with tables of numbers on the screen. The main thing then is to learn about formatting, basic formulas, and know the difference between absolute and relative references, which aren't too hard.
Go to the bookstore and flip through the pages of some books to see which have a style and level of difficulty that is appropriate for you.
Go to the bookstore and flip through the pages of some books to see which have a style and level of difficulty that is appropriate for you.
Apr 16, 2012, 8:14 pm
#5
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I worked with a couple of people who swore by the courses over at lynda.com
It's not free, but it's pretty cheap and you can take as many courses as you want. It's $25 a month, and over 1,200 different courses.
It's not free, but it's pretty cheap and you can take as many courses as you want. It's $25 a month, and over 1,200 different courses.
Apr 16, 2012, 8:48 pm
#6
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Excel 2010 Essential Training
Last edited by Landing Gear; Apr 16, 2012 at 8:57 pm
Apr 16, 2012, 9:14 pm
#7
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Excel is extremely simple. It is just a bunch of cells. In each cell you enter one of the following:
Nothing - Just leave it blank
A number
Text
A formula
Nothing - Just leave it blank
A number
Text
A formula
Apr 16, 2012, 9:25 pm
#8
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Something like that or some of the others if you needed more advanced stuff.
They used them mostly for the adobe training, but said it was excellent.
Microsoft also offers some basic and very specific training off this page
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ex...010369467.aspx
you can for example get basics and create a worksheet, or very specific courses dedicated to just certain functions. You can also download them as powerpoint documents to do offline work.
Note that if you are using a powerpoint version prior to 2010 you will also need to download the 60 meg viewer for 2010, and to view it online you will need to have silverlight installed
They used them mostly for the adobe training, but said it was excellent.
Microsoft also offers some basic and very specific training off this page
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ex...010369467.aspx
you can for example get basics and create a worksheet, or very specific courses dedicated to just certain functions. You can also download them as powerpoint documents to do offline work.
Note that if you are using a powerpoint version prior to 2010 you will also need to download the 60 meg viewer for 2010, and to view it online you will need to have silverlight installed
Apr 16, 2012, 10:08 pm
#9
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I'm guessing you've never used any error checking functions, created pivot tables, or done any VBA programming.
Apr 16, 2012, 10:53 pm
#10
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ascending,
descending,
cruising,
and sometimes you need to put the wheels down.
I think this analogy could be extended to many other activities that are actually quite simple.
Apr 17, 2012, 1:53 am
#11
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cleaning
opening
cutting
closing
and sometimes you have to do it again.
Easy-peasey
Apr 17, 2012, 6:59 am
#12
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I would go get a copy of Excel for Dummies at your local bookstore. It seems like the level of expertise you need is about what the books in that series are good for. At least, start there, and see how you feel.
For me, I've found that I learn more from doing. I seem to remember that the exercises in the "for Dummies" series were useful.
For me, I've found that I learn more from doing. I seem to remember that the exercises in the "for Dummies" series were useful.
Apr 17, 2012, 7:01 am
#13
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My public library has a lot of courses (classroom) as well as a ton of books, DVDs, and CD-ROMs for excel, powerpoint, word, etc. Haven't tried any of them, personally, but they do have at least 30 different resources at all different levels (beginner through advanced).
Apr 17, 2012, 7:17 am
#14
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My point is the approach to take to learning the program. Do not make it any harder than it is. Once again it is just a bunch of cells. One of four things go in each cell. Once that is mastered one may move on to more complex tasks. I rather doubt someone that is just learning it cares about pivot tables or macro creation. For example, when I learned to fly as this is a flying related forum, we do not practice spin recovery during the first lesson.
Apr 17, 2012, 7:49 am
#15
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My point is the approach to take to learning the program. Do not make it any harder than it is. Once again it is just a bunch of cells. One of four things go in each cell. Once that is mastered one may move on to more complex tasks. I rather doubt someone that is just learning it cares about pivot tables or macro creation. For example, when I learned to fly as this is a flying related forum, we do not practice spin recovery during the first lesson.