Excel 2010 Bible

i'm amending my review, since the author pointed out something that cause a bit of misunderstanding on my part -- something as simple of entering a start value where part of that value was needed to calculate a date.As indicated in my original review (and since it's been a while since I browsed the book), the difference in how I used the formula ended in a different result (I hold on to practice workbooks over time to refresh my memory of some of this self-learning). The author mentioned placing a year value in cell A1. Since I didn't work with calendars generally during that time (as I do now, since I use formulas that include full dates in yyyymmdd format to calculate dates for project management schedules), my practice started out as using the full date, rather than year only. Hence, the difference in the results that I encountered. So, with the use of full dates, I adjusted the date so that the formula can properly refer to the year in the value. So, when I followed the examples, I missed the part for entering a simply year. That was the difference that resulted in the #NUM! errors that I had encountered using each formula as shown for each holiday (see the examples that were featured in my my original comment, and the formulas after I adjusted them). Instead of simply entering the value "2011" (the year when I bought the book), I had tested the formulas first by entering the base date as "1/1/2011," and then as "=DATE(2011,1,1). This was the difference in the miscommunication and that was my experience. I had not bothered to open and review the CD, since I had already returned the book. Perhaps this issue should be clarified in future editions in case others also miss this matter when dealing with dates -- especially when one enters a base date as I did.Other than that, the book does serve as primer for beginners and intermediate Excel 2010 users who want to do more using the program for adding and subtracting values (I tend to bend a little of an intermediate user to advanced user who is trying to learn how to create dashboards).***ORIGINAL REVIEW:For the most part, the book includes helpful information for beginners and intermediate users of Excel. However, the print version included errors in the formulas for calculating dates of the U.S. holidays -- especially for those holidays that do not fall on the same day each year. These errors appear on pages 269 through 272 of the print version of the book, and using these formulas as printed in the book generate errors.For example, the date formula for Independence Day (a holiday that falls on the same date each year) was shown in the book as =DATE(A1,7,4) instead of =DATE(YEAR(A1),7,4).The same error was also repeated for holidays that fall on different days each year. For example, the formula for Presidents Day (third Monday in January of each year):* INCORRECT (as printed in the book)=DATE(A1,2,1)+IF(2<WEEKDAY(DATE(A1,2,1)),7-WEEKDAY(DATE(A1,2,1))+2,2-WEEKDAY(DATE(A1,2,1)))+((3-1)*7)* CORRECT FORMULA (adding the correct reference to the year in the start date)=DATE(YEAR(A1),2,1)+IF(2<WEEKDAY(DATE(YEAR(A1),2,1)),7-WEEKDAY(DATE(YEAR(A1),2,1))+2,2-WEEKDAY(DATE(YEAR(A1),2,1)))+((3-1)*7)I haven't checked the publisher's website myself, but I recommend checking publisher's site to find out whether an errata sheet has been posted for this book.

At 1,006 pages, 90 of which are Appendices and Index, the Excel Bible is the most comprehensive Excel 2010 resource you will find. Though the author claims in the Introduction that the book is for beginning, intermediate and advanced users, there are other, more visually oriented full-color guides that would ease the adoption of Excel by beginners.I have been using Excel for more than 15 years and consider myself a competent intermediate level user (though many in the office think I'm an "advanced user"); however I felt that my knowledge of Excel had become stagnant and I knew that I wasn't really taking advantage of many of the newer analytical functions of Excel. I searched through other books offered on Amazon, and found that they were just too basic to allow me to move to the next level.The book is well organized into the following Parts, each with many chapters included:Part I: Getting Started with ExcelPart II: Working with Formulas and FunctionsPart III: Creating Charts and GraphicsPart IV: Using Advanced Excel FeaturesPart V: Analyzing Data with ExcelPart VI: Programming Excel with VBAFor now, I am concentrating my efforts in Part IV and Part V - not sure I'll work long enough (or have need for) Part VI !I use the book in 2 ways:1) browse through a section to discover features and functions that I didn't know existed, and2) go to the index to find sections on a specific topicI always find what I'm looking for in this "Bible". For instance, I just learned that Excel has a very useful "track changes" feature (which has been available in Word forever...) The book works well for my style of learning, since I am almost entirely self-taught in Microsoft applications. For me, it's easier to learn about applications in smaller bites that I can digest and work into my workflow than to dedicate the time to take a course that might last several days - 50% of which would be forgotten before I got back to the office.The page layout is very readable, with crisp text, bold subheadings, plenty of included graphics and figures, and helpful notes and tips throughout. Many casual users of Excel will never need a tome of this depth, but it has become indispensable to me, and just having it on my desk makes me look smart !

After starting my new job, it was very apparent that I needed to brush up on my Excel Skills. This book serves this purpose absolutely incredibly - and then some!The book can be used as a text book (working from the beginning, through to the end) or as reference material for those times when you want to do something, but are not quite sure how to accomplish it.The book covers everything from the rudimentary elements of Excel, such as entering data into a cell, all the way through to applying complex VBA programming to your workbooks.The book also comes complete with a very helpful disc that is full of exercises that are referenced within the text. These prove invaluable as they offer an opportunity to apply your newly acquired knowledge, practically.Another neat feature of the accompanying CD is that it comes loaded with a fully DRM free, PDF copy of the book. I cannot stress enough how helpful this has been. Having a PDF copy of the book has meant that I have been able to store it on my laptop, and take it everywhere as I work. Better still, having a PDF version of the book makes it very easy to search the text for key words.All in all, I highly recommend this book if you are serious about getting good With Microsoft Excel.

I've not read a huge amount of this, just dipping in and out for specific topics or queries, but each time I've looked I've found the answer I wanted.One good thing is that it comes with the whole book on high quality pdf on a disc, along with many working Excel examples to match what's discussed in most chapters. I use the pdf in the office as it's indexed, has hyperlinks and is less obtrusive. I'm now able to do more on excel without looking like I'm searching for an answer.The style of writing is pretty informal and not so technical that you don't understand what's being discussed. It's the sort of book where you're constantly learning new and better ways of doing what you do as part of the day job, so it's money very well spent.I'd definitely recommend this to even intermediate users, as they're just so much useful information that you're bound to learn things to enhance your use of Excel and get more out of a normally hugely under-utilised product.

Almost gave this 5stars but I had a couple of recent Excel problems in mind when I was reading this (yes, I read it from cover to cover) and was disappointed at how they were dealt with. An example is the INDIRECT function which got me out of a real bind recently (before I got this book) but which I would have missed if I had been using this book as my only reference material. I also bought Winston's Data Analysis and Business Modelling which gives great examples of the use of INDIRECT as well as many other practical problem solutions.I've concluded that Walkenbach's book is best suited to beginner and medium users, whereas Winston's book is suited to medium and advanced users. Good to have both books on hand I think.

I had his 2003 version and became an advanced level through home study - love his sense of humour which makes it sooooo much fun to learn. I'd highly recommend it for anyone (even beginners) and I'm trying to get the Company I work for to buy one for all of the other office staff to use.

Having previously taught Excel to adults I can say that this is an extremely exhaustive book on Excel (although to get the most out of Excel you might need a separate book on VBA - one chapter won't be enough). There is a lot of detail here for people who want to know the application's features inside out.My only real gripe is that the supplementary Excel files are not included with the Kindle version, and don't seem to be available on the publisher's website either. This is quite disappointing.Other than that, it's an excellent, detailed resource. If you're looking to quickly get your hands dirty then there may be shorter, less detailed books out there.