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Rating: 
Summary: The book is vague and assumes one is an expert on syntax.
Review: For spreadsheet software I started with Que's Lotus 123, 2.2. The book was excellent with detailed explanations which were easy to understand and apply. I used Que's Lotus for Release 5 and found it more vague than the 2.2 version; subsequently, I used Lotus's Users Guide more than Que's Lotus Release 5. I am an intermediate to expert with Lotus and am now learning Excel. I purchased Que's Special Edition as it seemed the best of the lot. I am very disappointed with the book. It is more vague than the Lotus, Release 5. I spend an inordinate amount of time trying to find references in the index only to finally give up and use either trial and error or logical deduction to solve problems in Excel. For example with functions; Que's Lotus 2.2 and even Release 5 gave a paragraph of explanation and examples for each type of function; Que's Excel 97 gives only a one-liner of syntax for about a one-third of the functions. I consider myself an intermediate with Excel; better be an expert to use this book! Then again, if one is an expert, one would not need a book! The "Dummies" books are much too generic and are not much value for me.
Rating:
Summary: The book is vague and assumes one is an expert on syntax.
Review: For spreadsheet software I started with Que's Lotus 123, 2.2. The book was excellent with detailed explanations which were easy to understand and apply. I used Que's Lotus for Release 5 and found it more vague than the 2.2 version; subsequently, I used Lotus's Users Guide more than Que's Lotus Release 5. I am an intermediate to expert with Lotus and am now learning Excel. I purchased Que's Special Edition as it seemed the best of the lot. I am very disappointed with the book. It is more vague than the Lotus, Release 5. I spend an inordinate amount of time trying to find references in the index only to finally give up and use either trial and error or logical deduction to solve problems in Excel. For example with functions; Que's Lotus 2.2 and even Release 5 gave a paragraph of explanation and examples for each type of function; Que's Excel 97 gives only a one-liner of syntax for about a one-third of the functions. I consider myself an intermediate with Excel; better be an expert to use this book! Then again, if one is an expert, one would not need a book! The "Dummies" books are much too generic and are not much value for me.
Rating: 
Summary: Hard to get through -- but worth it!
Review: I had very little knowledge of Excel 97 when i picked this book up. But i read it from page 1 all the way through to the end, and became an expert. I remember dozing off a few times though.I wish i had the book still. I was able to land a contract programming excel, and i LEANED on this book, people. Most of everything was explained clearly. The only thing i still have trouble with is understanding pivot tables. For some reason, i just dont get them. Bottom line. Topics are explained well (I guess because I learned them). I recommend this book. The only reason i give it 4 stars is that it wasn't that much fun to read.
Rating:
Summary: Hard to get through -- but worth it!
Review: I had very little knowledge of Excel 97 when i picked this book up. But i read it from page 1 all the way through to the end, and became an expert. I remember dozing off a few times though. I wish i had the book still. I was able to land a contract programming excel, and i LEANED on this book, people. Most of everything was explained clearly. The only thing i still have trouble with is understanding pivot tables. For some reason, i just dont get them. Bottom line. Topics are explained well (I guess because I learned them). I recommend this book. The only reason i give it 4 stars is that it wasn't that much fun to read.
Rating: 
Summary: Not for beginners!!!!!
Review: This book was a major let down. Just a very brief chapter on functions. The book was one of the worst I ever bought.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Reference
Review: Was surprised and disappointed in Que's Special Edition Excel's lack of discussion on data tables. The ability to set up one or two variable data tables can be quite useful. Additionally was disappointed to see very limited coverage of most functions. Was looking for info on VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP to determine situations in which they would be used. Granted covering over 320 functions might be a bit overwhelming, but I had thought that a "Comprehensive. Authoritative. Recomended." Special Edition from QUE would be a bit more Comprehensive.
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