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Software’s New Face

BEIJING, CHINA - MAY 24: Chief executive off...

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It seems there have always been standards when it comes to software. For two decades, Windows held the coveted spot of the number one operating system. Further, Microsoft managed to create an excellent productivity package that became the standard across offices everywhere. Anyone without knowledge of Powerpoint, Word, Excel, and other software essentials was faced with falling to the wayside, since these programs were so pervasive. But in recent years, that iron hold on much of the software industry by the behemoth from Seattle has loosened. Competition has arrived, and it seems likely to continue to shake that formerly iron grip.

It’s easy to credit Microsoft’s longtime rival, Apple, with being behind the move away from a one-brand industry software dominance. And certainly the various incarnations of Mac OS’s over the years have provided users with steady, reliable, and, some would argue, bug free performance over the years. But it’s not just Apple that is behind these software shifts. Google too, has jumped into the fray. And Linux was almost always there, offering serious tech users a viable interface with their machines.

Along with the advent of competitive threats from these established companies, has come the advent of the cloud. This venue too has threatened the former software mainstream by bringing to the table a new threat: obsolescence. If cloud providers are to be believed, the future is a place where software won’t be purchased as it has been for decades. Instead, software as we know it may become obsolete, and only available online.

Filed Under: General, Internet Tagged With: Google, Mac OS, Microsoft

Choosing the Best Excel Chart for your Next Project

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With multiple Excel chart choices currently being offered by Microsoft, you may think the choosing of the best chart for you next project, well, next to impossible.

It’s not.

Here are some hints to keep you from standing still:

Learn the tips & tricks. Find out how to make a chart from the free tutorial before you start.
Still nervous? Keep it simple. Bar charts are used frequently because they are easy to read as well as understand.
Consider the strengths and weaknesses of each graph choice. What will work best with the information you have? While bubble charts tend to be more visual and wisely explore the relationships between data, an area chart has many weaknesses you may not want to tackle: such as the difficulty in seeing the individual data point values.
Get some advice from the Excel Chart Advisor—a free plug-in for Windows 2007. Get the suggestions you need on layout based on the data you enter.
Make more than one chart using the data. See what chart shows off the information clearer and with more interest.
When your chart is finished, get some honest feedback from a co-worker or other friend. Just make sure you choose someone who can give it.

Like anything else, learning what chart goes with what data is often surrounded by a little trial and error. You may find that a particular chart doesn’t look as well on paper with the data you entered than you first figured. Don’t be afraid to work on multiple graph ideas to discover the best solution for your project.

Filed Under: Excel, Microsoft Tagged With: Bar chart, Microsoft, Microsoft Excel

Save Money and Use Free Excel Tutorials

Money is tight and you can save money by using free online tutorials for Excel. There are numerous software program tutorials that you can by in addition to hundreds of books. You do not have to spend any money to learn Excel. There is enough free information online to get you started in Excel. Many of the tutorials cover basic Excel to advanced Excel. You do not have to register or provide any personal information at most of these sites.

Many people do not realize that Microsoft has numerous free tutorials for most of their products. This is a fantastic free resource. To use the free tutorials that Microsoft offers just visit office.microsoft.com. Put your mouse cursor over the support tab and a drop down menu will appear. Excel is at the top of the list. You will find beginning Excel courses such as creating a chart to more advanced skill level courses.

Another great free resource is free-training-tutorial.com. The site does not require registration and the courses are free. The courses are divided into three categories:

Excel Basics
Calculations
Special Features

Once you choose a category, you will see a list of video tutorials for that category. The tutorials are short and to the point. Most are under five minutes in length. Of course, some of the other more advanced videos may be a bit longer. The information presented in the videos cover everything you will need to master Excel.

Learning Excel will be easy if you use these free online resources. The video format provides an excellent way to learn. Learning Excel requires practice and these tutorials will provide the opportunity. You do not have to invest in books or tutorial software programs. Save your money and take advantage of the numerous free online tutorials to become proficient in Excel.

Filed Under: Microsoft Tagged With: Microsoft

Three Methods to Learn Microsoft Excel

Excel is one of Microsoft’s top software products. A few years ago, spreadsheets were only used in certain areas of business. As Excel became popular and Microsoft developed the software with more functionality, it seems everyone uses Excel. Many businesses use Excel to create company documents and forms. It seems everyone likes to see information displayed on a spreadsheet. For those that are just beginning to learn Excel, the learning process is quite challenging.

You first have to decide how much of Excel you want to learn. You can choose to learn simple Excel basics such as creating a spreadsheet and calculations. Once you determine how far into Excel you want to go, you can choose one of three methods to learn Excel.

If you want to learn Excel on your own, you will find hundreds of books on the subject. Excel is a software program that requires a great deal of practice to become proficient. You will want to choose a book that includes numerous practice exercises. You also want to choose a book that has a quick-guide reference section. These sections are nice to have in case you forget how to use a particular function.

Another more popular method for self-learning is Excel software tutorials. This is a great way to learn Excel on your own. Again, you want to make sure the tutorial offers plenty of practice exercises. You also want to make sure the program contains beginner, intermediate and expert levels.

The best method to learn Excel is to take continuing education classes at your local college. The classes are affordable and you have the benefit of having an instructor. If you have questions, you are able to get immediate answers from the instructor. You are given plenty of practice assignments to become proficient with Excel. You can start with the beginner’s course and work your way up.

With the right learning tools and practice, you will become proficient.

Filed Under: Excel, Microsoft Tagged With: Business, Computer program, Learning, Microsoft, Microsoft Office, Spreadsheet

Any Task, Any Time: Excel

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It’s an easy dismissal, a casual shrug — computers aren’t essential to your daily demands, the familial duties; you don’t devote yourself to studying a screen, learning the endless lines of codes and calculations. All efforts online are instead minimal. You are not reliant on a system. You are not dependent on spreadsheets and software accomplishments. All attempts are rooted firmly in the ordinary…. and you prefer it that way.

Excel therefore is not a program that should appeal. You can think of no reasons to use it. It’s a too complex application, demanding far more time than you’re willing to give. It can offer no rewards, you’re certain. There will only be frustration, the technological woes.

This is incorrect.

While Excel is — undeniably — used as a way to understand statistics and business trends, it can also become a benefit for far simpler tasks. There is no requirement for complicated mathematics. Each document can instead be an organization of the data that dominates your life. Domesticity can be explained in numbers.

Maintain all of your addresses, emails and other contact information (creating spreadsheets to contain them all). Chart out your family’s schedule, highlighting each day of the week. Detail all of your utility bills, tracking the yearly costs and noting each month’s intake of electricity and water. Create shopping lists and reminders. And even examine your budget through careful graphs, learning all of the new ways to save money.

The possibilities Excel offers are far greater than simple percentages. They instead can be applied to all elements of life; and the software doesn’t require extensive knowledge of computers or statistics. It can instead be used by anyone — including you.

Allow Excel to redefine your opinion of spreadsheets and charts. Use its many functions to plan your hours more efficiently: saving time, energy and concern. No task is too small and no need is too common.

Excel enables them all to instead be relevant.

Filed Under: Excel, Software, Tips Tagged With: Excel, Microsoft, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, Spreadsheet, Visual Basic for Applications

Compatibility Found: Excel

It has been a sacrifice of quality, a barter of software — systems have never complemented each other, have never offered relief. All programs have instead been disparate, demanding that you choose one and avoid all others. Companies have forever battled, trying to siphon away all profits, all interests. And you’ve been without convenience for decades. There was no compatibility. There was no ease. You were forced instead to choose a platform that never fully satisfied you, unable to offer all of the applications you craved (they were limited by their manufacturers, unable to be properly supported). A computer wasn’t complete. It was merely… ordinary.

Now, however, you’re seeking something more — and Excel allows you to have it.

Established first for the Macintosh system in 1985, Excel was a spreadsheet software that offered unique calculations and then impressive memory capabilities (those have, naturally, been increased throughout the years). It was heralded as an innovation, with many wishing to indulge in its programs. But there was a concern for this: it was intended only for Mac platforms. Certain users would therefore be denied the opportunity to explore its prowess, it was believed.

Such a belief was incorrect.

A mere two years later the Excel 2.0 was launched — for Windows. Suddenly the two most popular systems of the world were able to be connected, sharing a program that enabled numbers to be fully understood. Individuals no longer had to refuse the spreadsheet ease. They could instead conquer it, no matter what system they favored. Success was achieved.

And it has continued.

As of 2010, Excel can still be applied to both Macintosh and Windows: marking it uncommon among programs. Few ideas have offered such malleability, with companies trying still to flood the market with separate software and codes. This application, however, can be offered to the major platforms — and that ensures support for all.

Compatibility has finally been found and it will always remain.

Filed Under: Excel, General, Internet, Software Tagged With: Excel, Microsoft, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Windows, Spreadsheet

The Ease of Assistance

The world is defined to technology: each day offers a new discovery of machines and software, the virtual ease. Progress is a common thing, proven with every instant. And it bounds in to every home, found in computers and their programming. It’s familiar. It’s accepted. It’s… utterly baffling to you.

You’ve never understood the subtleties of screens, the keyboard commands. All attempts to master systems have instead been met with failure. Windows confuses. Macintosh disappoints. And Linux is a notion you can’t even consider (with far too many calls for codes and source manipulation). You simply can’t comprehend the necessary programs — even Excel.

It’s become a necessity for your career, the use of calculations and clever cells. But you fumble with data; and you hesitate with sparklines. There’s no recognition of the patterns or trends. Instead you merely glare at a monitor, wondering when paper and ink became so obsolete (and if you could bring them back to the public consciousness).

Such actions aren’t required, however. You merely instead must seek help.

Excel is among the most widely used programs in the world. Its ability to connect users of any systems brands it ideal for transferring information and enabling quick edits. All individuals can take advantage of it. And those same individuals can also provide you with assistance.

There are endless tutorials, forums and FAQ pages available for Excel. The infinite possibilities it offers has caused a sudden demand for support — with Microsoft, Macintosh and casual users all providing relevant content. The Internet is flooded to questions and answers, explanations and walk-throughs. And these will allow you to discover all of the information you need to master the program. Comprehensive guides are available, detailing each step and enabling you to learn at your own pace. You merely need to search for them.

Excel is not the horror you have imagined. It merely requires support — and this is all too easy to find.

Filed Under: Excel, Microsoft, Software, Tips Tagged With: Excel, Microsoft, Microsoft Excel, Spreadsheet

Beginners Fortune: Excel

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There once was a time when numbers were mastered by hand — when all statistics were drawn on paper and all budgets were tamed with ink. There was a reliance of pencils and eraser smudges, the careful ruler lines. And all reports were shoved into cabinets, left to claim space and eventual dust.

Such times are gone now, however. They’ve been replaced to practicality. With the introduction of Excel, users can radically change the way they compile information: keeping it relevant and organized through the use of cells and spreadsheets. The possibilities become endless and easy… even for those who have never before attempted them.

Too often is it assumed that Excel (and other mathematical programs) are too complex. Beginners fear they will never master them, are unwilling to even try. They become overwhelmed by the potential and refuse to indulge in it. Numbers, they believe, can’t be conquered through computers.

But they can — and Excel makes it simple.

Widely regarded as one of the most accessible software available, Excel allows even the most inexperienced users to learn its practices. The applications are straightforward, lacking the complicated commands many would expect. All tools are clearly defined. All functions are necessary. The design is tailored to the expectations of the individual, with an emphasis on convenience. You are meant to take advantage of this program, not to simply let it remain idle on your screen.

And — to offer a further guarantee — Excel features a comprehensive FAQ section. There beginners will find all of the terms, definitions and explanations they need to succeed. Instinctive engines even allow the software to guess which facts will most help you (enabling you to avoid those long searches and misunderstandings). You will never be without aid.

The world is changing: technology is no longer a pastime; it’s instead a necessity. By using Excel, however, you can also brand it a comfort.

Transform from novice to expert with ease.

Filed Under: Excel, Tips Tagged With: Excel, Microsoft, Microsoft Excel, Spreadsheet, Visual Basic for Applications

Conversion, Convenience: Excel

A document is complete. It was a tedious process, demanding hours and patience, the summons of energy you didn’t know you had. But you finally have succeeded, can offer numbers to your employer with certainty — he will be pleased and you will be rewarded. All of your financial wizardry will impress, you believe. And there is nothing else to do now but to send it through the wireless connections, let it seek out his home computer (he left the office long ago, offered you only an order to stay). You then close all files, gather your things and shuffle toward the door. Tomorrow will be perfect, you’re sure.

It isn’t.

Because the document was never opened. Your employer’s computer couldn’t convert the text, turned numbers into an unknown language. And the revisions he had wanted to add were forced instead to be delayed. He is now furious and you are now shamed.

This could have been avoided if you’d only used Excel.

Transferring files is rarely easy. There are too many complications, too many differences between computers. Systems are not compatible and reject all words they cannot read. With Excel, however, this is no longer a worry. Compressing documents into an email will not shift them into terrors. They can instead be utilized easily.

Macintosh and Microsoft — the most prevalent platforms throughout the world — can both access Excel. This allows all data to be exchanged between entirely different networks without concern. The documents will remain in tact and can be opened and revised as necessary. Any form of this program (even those suffering from a lack of modern updates) still provide the ability to connect computers. Information can be accepted.

And this becomes invaluable to those who must rely on spreadsheets. They will no longer be forced to send copies again and again, trying to find the right extensions. Excel allows them to simply offer the numbers and ignore the worries of conversion.

Filed Under: Excel, Microsoft, Software Tagged With: Excel, Microsoft, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, Spreadsheet, Visual Basic for Applications

The Recovery Relief: Excel

This wasn’t supposed to happen — a file was to be saved, stored carefully within your computer; all numbers were to be preserved, reflections of the many efforts you had offered throughout the day. Everything was to be protected. Everything was to be secured.

It wasn’t.

And you stare, horrified, as the monitor goes blank. You exited too quickly from a program, forgot to press the precious save button. The document closed and claimed all of your hard work, sent it spiraling into the oblivion that’s tucked inside your hard-drive. Your spreadsheet is now… gone, and you want to cry.

No tears are needed, however.

Because Excel offers an automatic recovery option — and you can find what you thought to be lost.

Accidents happen. This is a sad truth, recognized by all who must rely on the fickle technology. Computers can fail you, stealing all patience with their miscalculations, the flickers of a screen. Data can be misplaced with astonishing ease; and this is why a recovery option is so vital.

With Excel, any information that is not manually saved is stored in the program automatically (typically for four days). Users can restart the software, search through the Backstage Viewer and retrieve their documents. These will be completely restored and able then to be protected as needed.

And this is essential for those who have the terrible tendency to forget to save. Excel ensures that this is no longer a worry, allowing all to maintain their data and avoid having to constantly revise ideas. It’s an invaluable function.

It is also one that must be activated, however. Do not assume that Excel will instantly recover information. The option must be chosen first. Be certain you engage it immediately, allowing yourself to be fully secure.

Once that is complete, though, there will be no fears of missing data or vanishing numbers. They will instead be kept within your computer and will wait for your return

Filed Under: Excel, General Tagged With: Excel, Microsoft, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, Spreadsheet