This book is essentially a supplement to the manuals and tutorials supplied with Excel for the IBM PC or PS/2 or compatibles. Microsoft Excel is a highly rated spreadsheet product. The IBM-compatible version operates in a windowed environment included with it or with Microsoft Windows. The reference manuals and tutorials included with spreadsheet products such as Excel tend to be very good, and many users find no need to use any other learning material. Other users find it helpful to read another set of explanations and comments, and this book fits into the general class of “alternative explanations” for well-known microcomputer products.

The book is entitled Advanced Excel, but “advanced” applies only in the context that many books and manuals only deal with the elementary features, and many users never learn to use the additional capabilities that are available. This book devotes approximately 40 percent of the pages to a review of standard, elementary features. The remainder of the book covers additional features of Excel, so the coverage is more properly termed “comprehensive” rather than “advanced.” Most features are explained and many are illustrated with a printout of a screen. Each of the 15 chapters has five to nine short suggested exercises and two or three tips on what to do “if it doesn’t work.”

The book is suitable for an individual user who feels the need for another source of explanations that is comprehensive in terms of topics but not in-depth or highly technical. Likewise, it might be suitable for a short course. The explanations tend to be clear and short. It is not a reference book; for looking up individual features, the Excel reference manual is better.