Excel "manual"

Question

I understand that 1. there is no such thing as an official Excel manual; 2. on-line Micrsoft help is sketchy; and, 3. there are books and web sites that offer help. I'm consderably past the basics of Excel 2011 for Mac.  The most detailed account I have read is "Learn Excel 2011 for Macintosh" by Guy Hart-Davis. However, I would like a source of COMPREHENSIVE information. It doesn't have to be free (although nothing wrong with that!). Specific book/on-line suggestions?  

P.S. Subscription to Office is available with free technical support. Is that support as good as a comprehensive manaul? Thanks.

Answer 1

I think the most detailed book that focuses on features within Office 2011 and Excel 2011 is the reference book I wrote with Geetesh Bajaj. It's available at your local library here:

Office 2011 for Mac all-in-one for dummies

Once you have the basics down you will find it necessary to search on very specific topics. You might want to know about formulas specific to scientific investigation. Or maybe formulas for some other specific purpose. You can search the library site I linked to above using more specific search parameters.

The best training I know of is professor Mike Girvin's ExcelIsFun YouTube site. He has thousands of videos grouped by topics and they are searchable.

As Bob said, you can find great detail by using a web search for a specific topic.

Answer 2

Thanks, once again Jim.  My local library hasn't updated since your Office 2008 dummies book. I can request it from elsewhere. However, I think I am beyond the dummies level, if only by a little. Sounds like from all the replies that googling is the only way.

Answer 3

Perhaps, if someone has any SPECIFIC suggestions for an intermediate+ level book? I would prefer not to have to google every issue I have or keep asking the community. Not very efficient use of time.

Answer 4

Other than the zillions of books on the market on Excel, I'm not aware of any comprehensive reference. And, your definition of comprehensive is probably a lot different than mine or some one else's. Your best bet is to google the function or question you have, and tag it with Mac Excel to get a wealth of information.