Online courses or tutorials for excel???

[crash-proof]

Hi' yalll...

Question for you software dudes out there...is there any website dedicated to Microsoft Excel? With message boards, tutorials and such?
I have basic knowledge, but want to learn about macros and creating useful spreadsheets, without having to take a class.

Any ideas?

 

[Dan CFI/CFII]

The help manual that comes wiht it can tell you just about everything you need to know.

But if not, I'm sure they exist. Just do a search for Microsoft Excel and I'm sure things will pop up.

Dan

 

[dgs]

The online help with Excel is garbage. It will tell you about things, but it will not tell you HOW to do what you want to do. If you really want to learn Excel, you need to get one of the 2" thick books at a bookstore and read it. Most courses and instructors have a limited information and knowledge that will only give you the basics. My guess is that you've already mastered the basics.

I've built many elaborate Lotus 1-2-3 and Excel spreadsheets in my time. I built an Excel logbook that is customized for my use. Here's a program I wrote for the FAA that you might want to check out.
http://av-info.faa.gov/terps/TERPS Tools/TURNS_V1.xls
You will have to download and unhide all the pages to see the inner workings. I think you can do that without a password.

I've built many spreadsheet analysis models, but most of them never needed macros because they were not designed for anybody to use but me. The FAA project was different. It was designed for use by people with no Excel experience. I learned a lot from one of the reference books. I'm not sure which book I purchased. Send me a PM and I'll take a look when I get home.

The other thing that really helps to learn Excel is to have a project. The more complex the better. Start slowly and add functionality as you learn more. Use the books to learn how to add charts, macros, and/or use the analysis tools.

The absolutely best way to learn is to have an "expert" who can tutor and coach you with your project. I had a computer geek friend who really helped me learn Lotus 1-2-3 version 1A in 1986!

Good luck.

 

[crash-proof]

Thanks for the advice, and that's some nice work you got there!

 

[Iceman21]

I saw a chart that a student at school made on Excel. It was a weight and balance sheet for his airplane. Enter the weights and bham the program plotted the C.G. Location for him along with the moment evelope.

I can make the spread sheet no problem, but I am having a problem making the chart. I am not sure how I can make the Y-axis the weight axis and the X-axis the CG location. Every attempt I have made to plot it all I come up with a very weird looking chart.

Any help?

 

[Iceman21]

bump

 

[CitationLover]

iceman,

create the two columns you need.....the first one be the y axis and the second be the x axis. then use the chart wizard and follow the prompts (the first one should be which chart you use - ie bar, line, etc). start with a basic one with made up numbers and see what you get. after playing for 10min you'll get the feel of it.

if you want it automated the easiest way would be to have the chart on a hidden sheet and the macro just hides/unhides the chart. if you want more complicated, just record a macro from when you start building the chart and then go into the macro and look at what it does.

im sure there is a visual basic for dummies book out there.

hope this helps.