Formulas and Functions with Microsoft Excel 2003

March 1, 2005
Overview guides to Excel give short shrift to more advanced topics like VBA and VB.NET programming and working with XML data; these targeted titles fill the gap. A hands-on guide for intermediate developers, "Excel 2003 Programming" is heavy on sample code (available online) and light on background; it nicely highlights new advanced features and capabilities. In "Notebook" fashion, mock handwritten notes add information; step-by-step how-tos, plentiful screen shots, and succinct explanations of real-world activities help readers hit the ground running. Recommended for larger libraries. For intermediate Excel users, "Excel VBA Macro Programming" provides a fairly quick rundown of VBA functions, showing example code for each. While straightforward explanations are welcome, the final section on practical uses is very short, unfortunately; more detail and examples would have been useful. An optional purchase for larger libraries. For beginning to intermediate users, "Formulas and Functions" aims to simplify and explain the use of complex formulas and functions, allowing users to go beyond the basics and begin to unlock the software's potential. Tips, notes, cautions, "See references", and case studies add extra information and real-world examples; clear annotations make this a good choice for medium and larger libraries.

Copyright 2005 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.