Missing Features in Excel 2008!?

[Radja]

I've also posted this comment in suggestions. But as nobody can read them, I posted it again here.
"Please but back VBA support (and fully) like in Excel 2007 for PC or at least a powerful multi-platform language. I develop multi-platform VBA, and now all my Mac Users (and don't dream they never change for a PC) are stuck to Excel 2004.
This is a real big issue !
Probably my customer will ask to me to find an other solution if Microsoft don't annouce a change in the right way.
In an other point please stop analysing the different need of Mac Market and Windows Market, you are definitively not good at that and the answer is simple, they are THE SAME !!!"

 

[daveg]

I bought a Mac because I saw one with Excel in the Apple store and the VBA editor popped up and seemed to work. Now I see that it doesn't work. It was just a shell. That's a few thousand dollars I spent. Wow. Seems like I get hood winked more and more.
We were considering buying them for our entire office. thank God we didn't jump into that. Other than the one Microsoft application being even worse than a PC, the Apple is great.

 

[Pat McMillan]

No one's trying to hoodwink you. Excel 2004 does support VBA and has a
Visual Basic Editor. Excel 2008 does not. Microsoft has been very public
about that fact. It is possible to return 2008 if it doesn't meet your
needs.

Thanks,

Pat

 

[BobP]

Hi Folks,

as one of the early purchasers of Office 2008 (upgrading from 2004) my patience has finally run out, as the Autoupdate function still comes up with no new updates available even though one was released on Tuesday. I am running a MacBook Pro 17" with Tiger.

I've experienced most of the key problems outlined on this run or postings regarding Excel 2008, including multiple crashes when trying to save Excel files resulting in lost work and non-chargeable time (I'm a self employed consultant). In addition Powerpoint resulted in presentations not fully compatible with the PC version which meant I had to go back to using office 2004 to enable my work to be used by the client.

I now wish to uninstall Office 2008 and revert to using Office 2004 which is still installed on my Mac. The issue that I am concerned about and would appreciate your advice on is will Entourage 2004 recognise (or be able to use or convert) the Office 2008 identity and email database? OR will I have to do something to make it usable by Office 2004?

Your advice would be appreciated.

Many thanks

BobP

PS for Pat McMillan:- Please take note of Radja's comment that Mac users are not different from PC users in what they want from Excel's core functions, as we have to co-exist with PC users in the corporate world. Hence, compatibility and interoperability between the two platforms is very key! I believe you guys are not trying to be underhand or have some negative strategy on the Mac world but the fact is that Office 2008 IS a series of multiple steps backwards in compatibility and interoperability between the two platforms that is seriously damaging your reputation and business.

PPS for Pat: I used the very useful function in 2008 of "SUMIFS" (yes, with the "S" at the end) for summing based on multiple conditions, which was not a function listed in 2004 (other than in the add-in wizard called "conditional sum"). Following the use of this "SUMIFS" in 2008, I got a message every time I opened the file saying that this file contains Excel 4.0 VBA macros - yet I created the file in Excel 2008!! Therefore, does this mean that Excel 2008 actually does contain some VBA scripting for the "SUMIFS" function?

 

[JE McGimpsey]

I now wish to uninstall Office 2008 and revert to using Office 2004 which is
still installed on my Mac. The issue that I am concerned about and would
appreciate your advice on is will Entourage 2004 recognise (or be able to use
or convert) the Office 2008 identity and email database? OR will I have to do
something to make it usable by Office 2004?

Just a thought - is XL the only part of Office that you're unhappy with?
If so, there's no need to "revert" - you can keep using Office 08's
Entourage, Word and PowerPoint, and XL04.

If you want to go back to Entourage 04, though, you can export
(File/Export) from Entourage 08 and import (File/Import) to Entourage 04.

PS for Pat McMillan:- Please take note of Radja's comment that Mac users are
not different from PC users in what they want from Excel's core functions, as
we have to co-exist with PC users in the corporate world.

Don't underestimate Pat's understanding of the Mac market. The Mac users
you describe (of which I am certainly one) is a minority of all
MacOffice users.

MacBU identifies groups or classes of users. One class is the
"corporate" users. Others are segments of the academic markets, small
businesses, home users, etc.

PPS for Pat: I used the very useful function in 2008 of "SUMIFS" (yes, with
the "S" at the end) for summing based on multiple conditions, which was not a
function listed in 2004 (other than in the add-in wizard called "conditional
sum"). Following the use of this "SUMIFS" in 2008, I got a message every time
I opened the file saying that this file contains Excel 4.0 VBA macros - yet I
created the file in Excel 2008!! Therefore, does this mean that Excel 2008
actually does contain some VBA scripting for the "SUMIFS" function?

Not sure why you're getting the XL4 macro message, but AFAIK, SUMIFS is
implemented directly and not interpreted or scripted.

XL4 macros are *NOT* VBA, they're the older macro language that was and
is still implemented within XL.

 

[BobP]

Hi J.E. (sorry don't know your first name)

Thanks for the tip about Entourage. Will this import all elements? e.g emails, attachments, addresses, folders, folder structure etc. So that I can work as if I hadn't changed to 2008 or will some elements not get imported?

Re: Your other suggestions: I'm unhappy with XL & PowerPoint plus find that Word offers me nothing new. Strangely, Entourage is the one thing I'm happy with but again there's no big advantages over 2004.

I could work with Entourage and Word from 2008 and use the 2004 versions of XL and PowerPoint but am concerned (rightly or wrongly) about a) The 2008 versions being the default to opening files via double clicking the file (and me not noticing) b) The interoperability of the programs with things like project management etc.

With regards my PS's to Pat: Despite my being a home based business of one person, I accept your comments about categorisation of Mac users but in doing so a question comes to mind with regards to Microsoft wanting to keep Mac's from spreading further into the business world. Witnessed in the article on Autowarehouse (search Appleinsider) that described the huge deployment of Mac servers and machines to replace Windows based servers because of the HUGE savings they could get from not having to pay CALS for all the MS Windows server and exchange programs. This must be a threat to MS's revenues and a key aspect of Apple moving into this will be the ability for client machines to run Office programs that produce files which are inter-operable & inter-compatible with PC Office programs.

The other question regarding Mac user categorisation - have MS ever asked POTENTIAL Mac users (like the PC guy who just bought a Mac for the first time and posted his dissatisfaction with MSO 2008) what they want from MSO? These are a key group for the future for Apple but not for MS if they want to keep such users on the Windows platform. This comment is not meant to ignore the existing users at all - far from it!

In any event, thanks for the constructive advice and for the clarification on the XL4 macro language. Your advice to my other question would be very welcome.

Best wishes

Bob

 

[BobP]

Anyone have any suggestions as to how to set XL 2004 as the default program for opening XL files when you have both 2008 and 2004 versions installed? Similar request for PowerPoint & word.

Many thanks

Bob

 

[Ale]

PROCEDURE TO SET UP THE DEFAULT PROGRAM

1) Select the file (for example an Excel XLS file)
2) Press Command+I (to edit file information)
3) In the "Open with" select the older version of Excel (for example Excel 11.4.1)
4) Click on "Modify all"
5) You will be asked to confirm
At this point, all XLS files should be opened by the older version of Excel. Let me know if it works. I have just tried to translate the procedure from the italian version, since I am italian.
Bye,
Ale

 

[BobP]

Hi Ale,

thanks for this but steps 4) & 5) doesn't appear to exist in OSX 10.4.11. All I see is a tick box to select that says "Always Open with" which only refers to the file that's being opened not all XLS files.

Bob

 

[Pat McMillan]

Sorry for splitting this thread off, but I did want to reply to Bob's
comments. After that I will have to move on to other issues, because as you
can see, we have a lot to do!

First, apologies for the fact that Microsoft AutoUpdate isn't working with
the 12.0.1 update. We're well aware of the problem and are working hard on
it right now. In the meantime, please do go to
http://www.microsoft.com/mac/default.mspx and click on Downloads. You will
be able to download the updater from there for now. We're still working on a
number of issues with Excel 2008, but we hope the changes we made in 12.0.1
will help customers with some of the biggest issues.

Second, I do want to make sure you know that we hear and value your comments
about our Mac customers' needs with respect to compatibility and
interoperability with the Windows version of Excel (and the other Office
apps, for that matter). We are following this newsgroup and other customer
forums very diligently and we see a growing number of requests for closer
compat and interop with the Windows version. We're taking that feedback to
heart and are in the process of weighing all the feedback we've received and
determining which areas we can invest in for future releases. In the
meantime, as I mentioned before, we have a lot to do in the current version
and are working hard on tracking and investigating issues like those being
reported on this list.

Thanks,

Pat

 

[Ale]

Hi Ale,

thanks for this but steps 4) & 5) doesn't appear to exist in OSX 10.4.11. All I see is a tick box to select that says "Always Open with" which only refers to the file that's being opened not all XLS files.

Bob

I am sorry Bob... I've just translated what I see in my italian version... anyway you should work in that window!!!
Bye,
Ale

 

[Martin Styner]

I have found the following solution on another forum (after wasting more than an hour on this):

here's how to do it (explanation courtesy of Bob Greenblatt, there's no way I could have figured this out on my own!):

To specify a range of cells as the labels on the X axis, click on one of the data series in the chart (for example, click on one of the colours in a bar chart).

When you do, you will see a range appear in the floating formula bar. In my case, the range in the formula bar was:

=SERIES(Summary!$A$5,,Summary!$B$5:$R$5,3)

The space between the two commas is where the X axis labels are specified. In my case, for whatever reason, Excel didn't pick up the labels when I created the chart. I added the range of cells containing the X axis labels (cells B3 through R3) like so:

=SERIES(Summary!$A$5,Summary!$B$3:$R$3,Summary!$B$5:$R$5,3)

Problem solved!

The challenge, of course, will be to remember how to do this in a few weeks. I can't believe that MS figured that was easier than the old way (where there was a clearly-labelled field in which a user could specify the range).

 

[Raphael Sperry]

> Just installed Office 2008 and came to use Excel. Can't find the following
> that were in 2004, can any one help?
> 1. Print Preview command button

Doesn't exist - all print functions are performed by the OS, including
print preview.
[/QUOTE]

That may be true but in that case it takes many more steps to determine what your printed document will actually look like.

> 2. Page break view

Also doesn't exist any longer - Page Layout view accomplishes most of
the same features. I suspect that their research mirrors the Win side in
that only a small minority of users understood and used Page Break view.

I agree with the original poster that this is a loss. For users like myself who have rows of varying widths and want to rapidly move page breaks the two views provided just don't cut it. It is very tedious now to repaginate a complex worksheet. How disappointing.

 

[Harald Mückter]

I second all these opinions about the serious lack of VBA support and missing ATP. Without these features XCEL 12 is almost useless for too many scientific tasks.
- H -

 

[jpdphd]

Come on now you mean to tell me that MS puts as much money and effort in
MacBU as other portions of their company.

  The fantasy as you call it. is based  my redoing of MacUser MacWorld..
and Mac Addict over the years. plus my personal experience with software
that MS bought and promptly Killed, or Influenced other companies to kill.
Bo I am not some righteous group. All I want is a fair shake. I want
software from any company to work the same as it does on one platform as
it does for another. I don't care of it is UNIX, Linux, Mac or even
windows/DOS. what I'd like to see is be able to sit down in front of a
Computer/ any computer and be able to do this , this and this without
batting an eyelash. Instead You can do this unless your own the
Platform, or you can do that unless you own that platform.









Recent Convert?. I don't consider 1986 to be a recent convert. ;-)




That's typical of MS defenders.

You know for a Fact that the use of a Mouse and use of a desktop type
metaphor was originated at Apple. I realize the very early works was
done at Xerox Parc project but Xerox didn't want it and didn't step in
the way, when Apple came out with their own design *based* on that research.

Then MS out right stole the design and because  Apple wasn't big enough
it was unable to pay enough to win a patent suite.


Yes it was lucky that MS' Lawyers did talk some reason , and put the
fear of god into them. Because had the not done so, and not helped Apple
to stay alive they would have met a worse fate than AT&T did back when
the old Ma bell system was broken up.




It was great that the MacBu did get out X of course I was able to use
2001 on  until 2004 came out. MS and other software people more than
adequate warning OSX was Coming  my goodness version of Ox.1 were out a
year before they settled on X.1.5 I was not an early adopter I stuck
with OS 9.2.2 until 10.2.3 came out. and even then for a while I
switched back and forth.

If you have to keep up with the times new designs, and system have to
flow as well.

My goodness PC's can still run and some people still do DOS programs.

At some point you need to say we just can't keep the same thing for 30
or forty years we have got to change and  be innovative.

Have to resign myself to the US of MS products because for Macs even
though there are a lot of open source wannabes, MS is really still the
only game in town.

So I have to deal with but I don't have to like it. Its kind of like
going to the DR at some point you have to go to them whether you want to
or not.

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Conspiracy stories might actually make sense were it not for the fact
that with Vista, Microsoft is probably causing more harm to PC users
than the omission of VBA causes Mac users!
lol

 

[Adam Pickens]

Data Analysis is missing can somebody point me out on where to download the add-ins



{I've called Microsoft for this issue. They told me that someone FORGOT to put it in... They FORGOT!!! Their words to me were, "someone let it out the door because we wanted to get it on the market, and we just totally forgot to put that in, sorry...." The best I got was that it may be available for download in a month or so.}

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

{I've called Microsoft for this issue. They told me that someone FORGOT to put
it in... They FORGOT!!! Their words to me were, "someone let it out the door
because we wanted to get it on the market, and we just totally forgot to put
that in, sorry...." The best I got was that it may be available for download
in a month or so.}

They did not forget! The DATP is in VBA and Excel 208 does not support VBA.
Thus no DATP. But, all the functions of the DATP are included in Excel
functions.

 

[roblake]

Bob -

Could you please provide a simple, straightforward example of how one expresses a DATP function in Excel 2008?

Thanks,
Rob Lake

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Bob -

Could you please provide a simple, straightforward example of how one
expresses a DATP function in Excel 2008?

Several examples of DATP functions implemented natively in XL08:

=IMPRODUCT("3+4i","5-3i")
=DEC2HEX(100, 4)
=ERF(0.74500)
=RANDBETWEEN(1,100)
=SERIESSUM(A2,0,2,A3:A6)
=MROUND(1.3, 0.2)
=MULTINOMIAL(2, 3, 4)
=LCM(24, 36)

 

[johnc]

After reading all the messages here - and on PowerPoint also - my conclusion is that I can not recommend anyone to spend money on Office 2008 for Mac, but stick to the 2004 office package (or use the Aple iWork or the free OpenOffice package if they do not need specific features from the MS packages).

I did actually pre-order the Office 2008 package, but have waited for time and the usual updates, but now realizes that ther seem to be major issues which Microsoft need to deal with before making Office 2008 worthwile.

It is extremely disappointing to read about all the situations where especially PowerPoint and Word does not seem to work well together.