Troubleshooting Microsoft Excel Spreadsheets - Softcover

Ulrich, Laurie Ann

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0735611610 ISBN 13: 9780735611610

Publisher: Microsoft Press, 2001

Synopsis

This guide to spreadsheet production uses diagnostic flowcharts to identify problems and find solutions. It offers step-by-step instructions to solving problems involving charts, columns, track changes, conditional formatting, shapes, data entry, exporting, importing, filtering, formatting, hyperlinks, outlines, templates, and other elements of spreadsheet production and maintenance. Ulrich is a computer consultant and trainer. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

About this title

Review

The author of Troubleshooting Microsoft Excel Spreadsheets has organized her work around the negative behaviors that pop up all too often while you're working with Excel 97 and 2000. Rather than explain how the software is supposed to work by documenting its features and capabilities one by one, this book begins at the apparent dead ends of the world's most widely used computer spreadsheet package. The book states problems ("When I type in the active cell, nothing happens," and "I'm not sure how to get data from my worksheet to appear on a map," are two examples) and presents solutions to them. In other words, it uses statements of users' problems as a means of getting readers to the procedure or set of facts they need. The procedures are a mixture of feature documentation (PivotTables are explained for the uninitiated) and, to a lesser extent, problem workarounds (how to use formatting tricks to solve the perennially vexing "disappearing zero" problem). Problem statements are arranged into flow diagrams that help lead readers to the information they need.

Once you find the spread you're looking for, the book does a fine job of explaining what the problem is and how you can accomplish the job at hand. Fact-rich text lays the groundwork for step-by-step procedures, which usually appear in a couple of versions to address situational differences. --David Wall

Topics covered:

• Microsoft Excel 97 and 2000 for everyday users
• Calculations
• Formatting
• Data collection and distribution
• All the Excel extras, such as Microsoft Map and PivotTable analysis

About the Author

Since the late 1990s, Laurie Ulrich has authored and co-authored more than 20 books on computers, software, and their creative and effective use. Recent publications include ""Restoring and Retouching with Photoshop Elements 2,"" and ""The Photoshop Complete Reference,"" establishing her expertise in photo restoration and creating original graphics for print and the Web,"""" In addition to writing computer books, Laurie teaches at local universities, corporate training centers, and for her own clients--she has trained more than 10,000 people to use computers and software since the early 1980s, and will be training many more, as her training expands to online and CD-based courses in early 2004. Laurie also runs her own firm, Limehat & Company, Inc., providing general computer consulting with a focus on marketing and making effective use of the Web.
Despite the obvious focus on computers, Laurie also finds time for her husband, Robert Fuller (who wrote Chapter 18 in this book), and for her family, which includes three cats and several humans. You can read more about Laurie at www.planetlaurie.com, where you can find links to her other Web sites and information on causes near and dear to her heart.

Edition details

• Publisher: Microsoft Press
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0735611610
• ISBN 13: 9780735611610
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 352