How can I get information about easier ways to accomplish tasks in Excel?
	How do I determine what version of Excel I am running?
	If I upgrade to Excel 7, how do I share files with co-workers still using Excel 5?
	What are these so called "patches" for Excel and do I really need them?
	What's the latest version of Excel 5 and why should I care?

How can I get information about easier ways to accomplish tasks in Excel?
Keywords: Easy Information Tasks
Posted May 21, 1996

There will be times when you would like to accomplish a specific task in your spreadsheet but do not know how to achieve it. Microsoft Excel comes with printed documentation that will handle step-by-step procedures for many tasks. In addition:

• Online Help allows you to work through short, interactive lessons that focus on a single task by choosing the Examples and Demos button included in related Help topics or by choosing the Examples and Demos command from the Help menu.
• The TipWizard assistant for on-screen tips and instruction provides quick and efficient ways to use Microsoft Excel:
  1. The Tip Wizard button located on the Toolbar displays or hides the Tip Wizard, which provides tips about more effective ways to accomplish tasks and also suggests related new features and shortcuts
  2. The Tip Wizard offers a tip every time you start Excel
  3. The TipWizard monitors your selections and commands and when there is an alternate way to perform a task, the TipWizard button turns yellow
  4. Use the up and down arrows to the right of the tip to scroll through all the tips and find one that applies to the work you have done

How do I determine what version of Excel I am running?
Keywords: Version
Posted January 16, 1996

To determine the version of Excel you have on your computer, from the menu bar, choose Help - About Microsoft Excel.... The dialog box will indicate the Excel version, who the product is licensed to, and the license number.

For further specifications, click on the System Info... button. The dialog box includes information on your operating system, including fonts, printing, proofing tools, graphics filters, text converters, object linking and embedding (OLE) applications, and screen display.

If I upgrade to Excel 7, how do I share files with co-workers still using Excel 5?
Keywords: Share File
Posted January 16, 1996

Excel 5 and 7 share the same file format. This allows someone with Excel 5 to open files created with Excel 7 without any translation or conversion. There are a handful of macro commands that are specific to Excel 7. See our FAQ for Programmers document for more details.

What are these so called "patches" for Excel and do I really need them?
Keywords: Patches Bugs
Posted January 16, 1996

Excel 5 and 7 have some minor bugs that Microsoft has provided programs called "patches". These patches are run like other programs and they modify Excel and fix the minor bugs. Baarns Publishing has a free "Patch Checker" program that detects these errors and includes the patches if you need them.

What's the latest version of Excel 5 and why should I care?
Keywords: Version Excel5 Bugs
Posted January 16, 1996

Excel 5.0c is the latest version and it contains dozens of minor bug fixes that primarily effect power users and developers. (Note: To see the current version of Excel you are using choose Help, About Microsoft Excel.) For additional information and a list of some of the bug fixes, go to the relevant Microsoft Knowledge Base article.

Back to Top

Back to the FAQ Table of Contents

Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.