Where do you go when you’ve got an Excel question?
Survey: Where to Find Excel Answers
A while ago, I recommended the Excel newsgroups as a great place to ask questions and get one (or several) solutions. Is that what you use, or something different?
Let’s try a quick survey – it’s my first attempt, so fingers crossed that it goes smoothly! If you answer “Other”, you can add details in the comments, if you’d like.
UPDATE: The poll has closed.
Where I Find Answers
For quick questions, I usually use Google, either a general search, or a newsgroup search.
Next, if nothing turns up in Google, the Microsoft Knowledgebase is my next option, in most cases.
Occasionally, if really stumped, I’ll email a colleague for help.
Excel Books
I have a good collection of Excel books that I use too.
Some are excellent reference books, with a good index, and markers on the pages that I turn to frequently.
Others are more for inspiration, and learning new things, than for research.
Your Excel Books
There’s a list of Excel books on my website, divided into categories. If you use any of those, I’d love to know what you think of them.
Are there any Excel books you’d recommend, that are missing from the list?
_________________
I would list in here StackOverflow.com, which is a fantastic website. That’s where I go for most programming related questions, and they have some good answers on Excel too, especially on hardcore questions like Interop…
Mathias
Like Mathias, I find myself using Stack Overflow more and more; it has purist approach, a great interface and the quality of replies can be excellent.
Unfortunately, pure Excel questions are somewhat on the fringe of a programming site’s remit so are fairly marginalised, but for any question where programmatic integration with other products is involved, SO can give a fast turnaround with answers from some very knowledgeable correspondents.
Other than that, I usually Google and pick through the chaff like egghe*dcafe, bigre*ource and expert sexch*nge (obfuscated to avoid promoting them even further) to get the decent results from places like usenet (via Google Groups), MSDN (low-bandwidth of course!), DDoE, Ozgrid, MrExcel etc.
I go to my bookshelf. My Excel issues are generally formula-related. Since Excel’s functions don’t change that often, an old copy of a formula book will usually point me in the right direction. It’s a hell of a lot better than the Excel help file. I’m don’t often need help on function syntax; I need help on creative ways to calculate things.
The last time Walkenbach was in town, I stole one of his copies of the “Excel Necronomicon”, or whatever the hell that general Excel book is that he wrote. I’m finding some interesting stuff in there. It’s funny how many simple things one doesn’t know about a program, even after using it for 20 years (I started with Excel 2.01).
I hear there are some really good books on Pivot Tables out there, too. 😉 I may have to pick up one of those. I’m finding that I use pivot tables more and more often in the work that I do for my clients and for my firm. The key seems to be training myself to set up the data properly before I try to pivot.
“I’m don’t often need help on function syntax”, but I’m do need help on English grammar.
Silly Toad. Everybody knows that your last post should read “Englishy grammar”
Thanks Mathias and Gordon, I’ll add StackOverflow.com to my list of sites to search.
Toad, there are a few new functions in Excel 2007, so if you upgrade you’ll have to steal another book. And if you need a pivot table book, let me know — I can recommend a couple 😉