Katz sets an explicit goal for writing this book: readers should understand not only how to use a spreadsheet, but also why. Most educational books on Excel take a tutorial approach, telling the reader what to click on next in order to accomplish a specific task. Katz takes a more congenial approach, drawing the reader into the process of discovery and knowledge. Katz met his goal. It is important to note that he did not attempt to write a spreadsheet bible, and much thought went into what to leave out in addition to the monumental task of deciding what to put in.
From a perusal of the chapter headings, readers will see the efforts made by the author to write in a friendly and at times humorous manner, in order to transform what could have been a technical manual into a vibrant text on the latest Microsoft spreadsheet technology. Furthermore, the approach utilized by the author throughout the text will not only enable readers to navigate Microsoft Excel 2010, but will empower them with the concepts of technology and the principles of spreadsheets so that any commercial spreadsheet package available can be quickly learned.
The book spans over 400 pages (including the introductions, indices, and appendices), and the main text spans ten chapters. The first chapter is introductory, and its purpose is to teach the reader how to navigate through the newer interfaces of the Excel 2010 software, such as the fluent interface and the backstage view, an area that stores important commands grouped together for future use. Whereas the terminology of previous Excel incarnations involved menus and toolbars, the current version (and to some degree Excel 2007) uses tabs, groups, ribbons, and the quick access toolbar (QAT).
Tabs are the headings (eight by default): file, home, insert, page layout, formulas, data, review, and view. Groups are clusters of buttons more closely linked, such as the font group under the home tab. The ribbon contains the icons and buttons located above the work area, which changes depending on which tab was selected. The second chapter is also introductory in nature, concentrating on “getting around” the worksheet. These two chapters would be the basis of any introductory course on spreadsheets.
Chapters 3 and 4 deal with data entry and its appearance in the worksheet. Advanced topics such as the “if” function, basic statistics, and formatting with conditions are discussed. Katz aptly differentiates data entry (the simple typing of data) from data creation (involving cell references). Cell formatting is a powerful function--for example, the cell could self-bold when a specific condition is met. The various data formats are described as well. Chapter 5 covers Excel charting, “the stuff of legend.” Sparklines, inspired by the work of data visualization master Edward Tufte, provide mini-charts (visual trends) with big impact.
At this point of the text, the reader is quite familiar with cell addressing and the concepts of ranges (Appendix A works with range names). Coupled with column (row) headers and data occupying the cells underneath (across), the modern spreadsheet delivers aspects of database technology (chapter 6). In a simpler style, chapter 8 constructs pivot tables, which enable filtering and reporting on data based on user-defined criteria. Chapter 7 works with multiple worksheets as a group, and chapter 9 details how to properly print Excel data. Finally, chapter 10 teaches how to share the data and collaborate with others on the Internet (“taking it to the cloud”).
Katz has done a wonderful job of presenting Excel 2010 to the interested public. It is a timely text, and the author’s friendly approach makes the important task of learning Excel 2010 that much easier.
