Microsoft Office (excel) which version?

Conrad_Hart

Hello everyone.

I need to learn how to use Microsoft Excel, and upon checking my software -to my horror I realised that I have a really old version of Microsoft Office (I think it's 2002-03). So I'm thinking that it will be a waste of time to start learning how to use that version as I read that the 2007 version of MS Excel is completely different. What do people think?

So anyway, I was hoping for some advice on which version of MS Office I should get. I'm presuming that you can't get/it's better to get the whole MS package rather than individual Excel.

Will the 2007 version suffice? Bearing in mind that's probably cheaper/easier to download.

If it makes any difference I'm running Windows Vista.

Thanks.

Lucero_2

the difference between 2007 and 2010 is minimal. 2007 introduced the "ribbon" although the functionality of even that over 2003 highlights that the only real improvements are the things you'd most commonly use. Some improvements to formulae, etc. If it's easier to get hold of 2007, 2010 won't be that much of a shock. Get the Office ultimate suite if you can (2007 Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Outlook, Groove (now defunct), Onenote, etc).

macman

Or use OpenOffice for a free alternative-the basic spreadsheet functions are not very different from Excel to Calc.

GunJack

There's absolutely nothing wrong with Office 2003, it's probably the best version of the lot. You say you need to learn how to use Excel - why ?? For work purposes?? If it is, you're more likely to use 2003 in work as corporate entities generally don't update to latest versions of such things as the cost would be way too much. I suggest that you find out which version you "need" to use before forking out for software you may not need

Lucero_2

I work with corporate entities all the time. Most have moved to at least 2007 with a migration to windows 7. That includes the government. Enterprise licenses cover upgrades irrespective of cost. 2003 is by far and away the least intutive of the last 3 Excel iterations.. highlighting duplicate cells for example: A generally easy task. It's a complete faff in 2003, yet only two clicks on 2007 and 2010.

GunJack

^^ you obviously work with different bits of the government to me then....some govt/corporate have only moved off office 97 onto 2003 in the last couple of years with no intention of going to 2007, 2010 will be their next update in a few more year's time...

Lucero_2

More than likely FCO, AWE, MI5 and 6 are all 2007 or 2010 already. Most local councils are starting to move (Chichester was the last one I noted).

GunJack

Hmmm.... relatively small departments, then. The larger depts. certainly haven't moved past 2003 yet, with a fair few planning to skip 2007 altogether.

it would be an interesting survey to see which depts have/are going to skip 2007 and go straight to 2010....it might help the OP decide if nowt else

scheming_gypsy

I've worked for major companies; NHS, United Utilities, insurance companies and my current contract is at a large global company and none of them upgrade as a matter of urgency; especially the operating system. Where I am now we're on a mix of 2003 and 2007 running on XP; the NHS were a mix of 2000 through to 2010 and the same at United Utilities.
The main reason that they don't upgrade is because of compatibility with other systems, rather than cost and of course, the amount of time it takes to actually roll it out including testing.

If you're going to learn Office then you might as well go straight in to 2010, although I personally hate supporting it. 2003 was nice and easy when it had actual menus instead of pictures and they've also got rid of some useful tools; you can't scan directly into documents and you can't open multi page tiff files.

VoucherMan

As others have said it depends which version you'll be using once you've learnt to use it.

I've got 2007 at home but still use an older version at work.

I tend to use keyboard shortcuts for a lot of the menu items (<Alt> -O-C-A to set the column width for example) which is still supported in the 2007 version. Otherwise I still struggle to find things on the ribbon sometimes.

Gets a bit awkward sometimes if I create a spreadsheet in 2007 and want to use it later in 2002/3 as 2007 has a much bigger sheet size.

ChiefGrasscutter

Personally I find 2003 easier to use as an experienced user than 2007/10.
I know what I want to do and find that 2003 has the easiest/smallest number of keystrokes whatever to get to do it.
So for me anyway the ribbon interface is a major hinderance