Does anyone read books?

[Dave Thomas]

If I were new to a subject, I would read a book about it and practice the
exercises, rather than ask simple questions like: "How do I add the value in
cell A1 to the value in cell A2 and put the result in cell A3?". Excel is
like algebra. After discovering the solution to the equation 4x+1 = 9,
(answer: x = 2), by asking someone else, did you learn how to derive the
answer by yourself and will you always continue to ask for help rather than
getting a book on the subject, be it Excel or algebra, and learn by reading?
Or is that too difficult? I see so often, "I just got Excel, but I'm not
willing to read and learn so I'll ask others." Got news for you. That
approach will not work; you won't learn much about Excel or anything else
for that matter. Have fun. . We all have questions about things such as
Excel or algebra. It's just that some of us try to rely upon ourselves
before asking others, whereas some just say: someone else will provide the
answer.

To those of you brand new to Excel, I recommend books such as:

For absolute newbies:

Excel 2003 Step by Step (ISBN: 0-7356-1518-7) or Excel 2007 Step by
Step (0-7356-2304-X) both $24.99 at Barnes and Noble

Beyond newbie:

Excel 2003 Bible (ISBN: 0-7645-3967-1) or Excel 2007 Bible (ISBN:
0-4700-4403-9) both $39.99 at Barnes and Noble
Excel 2003 Inside Out (ISBN: 0-7356-1511-X) or Excel 2007 Inside Out
(ISBN: 0-7356-2321-X) both $44.99 at Barnes and Noble.

Just a thought. May your days be kind to you.

Regards,

Dave

 

[T. Valko]

Why are so many of your posts duplicates? You only have to click the SEND
button once. I suggest your get a good book. <g>

 

[Kazdagi]

I do, I read books, mostly medical books. Dave do you read medical books?
Cause then maybe you could either treat youself if you got sick Usually a bad
thing) or realize just how complicated medicine is even with the books. For
some of us excel is like that - complicated even with a book. Therefore we
rely on those good souls, expert in their field to easily and accurately
assess, diagnose, and treat our problems. I also use search and that in
itself is often the cliff notes of what one needs to answer the question at
hand.

Later Dave,

Kazdagi

 

[Dave Thomas]

No, but a simple book on Excel could help you to get off the ground and use
Excel.You could learn the basics in one day.

 

[Dave Thomas]

Years ago, we had an expression. RTFL. I'm sure many of you recognize it.

 

[Dave Thomas]

Take a hike. Shit happens. I post once

Why are so many of your posts duplicates? You only have to click the SEND
button once. I suggest your get a good book. <g>

 

[Dave Thomas]

You really don't want to help anyone. Just show your "MVP". If you did, you
would suggest books to read and other sources of learning. . Not act like an
"MVP". Grow up.

 

[Dave Thomas]

If you want to learn Excel, read Excel books. Then come to the Excel
newsgroups.

 

[Dave Thomas]

I suggest you stop being so insolent.

Why are so many of your posts duplicates? You only have to click the SEND
button once. I suggest your get a good book. <g>

 

[T. Valko]

LOL!

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP

You really don't want to help anyone. Just show your "MVP". If you did,
you would suggest books to read and other sources of learning. . Not act
like an "MVP". Grow up.

 

[T. Valko]

I accept your apology.

 

[Bob Phillips]

It is a relevant point which Biff made, whatever method he chose to convey
it. Peo Sjoblom has made the same point to you, but still we get multiple
posts of the same message from you.

--
HTH

Bob

(there's no email, no snail mail, but somewhere should be gmail in my addy)

 

[Bob Phillips]

Well said that man!

--
HTH

Bob

(there's no email, no snail mail, but somewhere should be gmail in my addy)

 

[Bob Phillips]

Actually, it is RTFM. RTFL is about funny ...

--
HTH

Bob

(there's no email, no snail mail, but somewhere should be gmail in my addy)

 

[Sandy Mann]

Why are so many of your posts duplicates?

Perhaps Dave Thomas is trying to get to the top of the monthly posting rate
charts <g>

--
HTH

Sandy
In Perth, the ancient capital of Scotland
and the crowning place of kings

(e-mail address removed)
Replace @mailinator.com with @tiscali.co.uk

 

[T. Valko]

Perhaps Dave Thomas is trying to get to the top of the monthly posting rate

charts <g>

I suggest you stop being so insolent. <VBG>

Apparently Dave lacks a sense of humor. Either that or I'm just so insolent
that I don't know how to write joke. Can you recommend a good joke book?

All work and no play...

(BTW, I had to look up insolent in a dictionary. Hmmm...that is sooooo not
me!)

 

[JMB]

You really don't want to help anyone. Just show your "MVP".

And you're telling Biff to grow up??? This thread is just full of
hilarity. I agree there are plenty of folks who don't try enough on their
own, but that's got nothing to do w/the point about multiposting.

I think your x=2 bit is insulting to anyone who reads your post. Hard to
believe you are sincerely trying to help anybody w/your book suggestion when
you do so in a condescending manner.

If there are specific posters you would like to suggest some excel books to,
I really think you should respond directly to them.

 

[Weatherlawyer]

Actually, it is RTFM. RTFL is about funny ...

Read the funny link?

Do you suppose there is a mental fatigue that Dave Thomas is in the
grip of. I hate to suggest insanity as I am new here but it does seem
that he has no concept of netiquette.

Not that I am afraid of alienating nor of insulting him. It just seems
such a shame that people are afflicted like that and online the only
responses such people provoke are unhelpful.

If you knew them personally you might have a great deal of sympathy
for such people even though avoiding them like the plague.

 

[Kazdagi]

Obviously you failed mind-reading. Excel is much harder than medicine. What
did I claim to be besides lost? Now, settle down, say Hi to Wendy, grab a
bowl of that world famous chili, have a coke and a smile - Dr.'s orders.

 

[JLatham]

I'm not so sure that Dave has recognized a science just yet - since in most
of my experience the M.D.s have simply exchanged a lion's mane cape for a
white lab coat, and stethoscope for painted gourd rattle <g>
In any endeavor, if someone tells me "here, TRY this..." rather than an
absolute "Here, this will correct the condition..." then I think "art or
mysticism or educated guesswork" vs "science".

And sometimes even the books don't help: look at how many people start out
early on writing =SUM(A1+A2) -- based on the examples given by the 'book'
(Help) provided by the tool's manufacturer ... ROFL!