Datasheet
Understanding Excel Versions
If you’re reading this book, you should be using Excel 2007 — which is radically different
from all other Excel versions.
I’ve found that most users don’t even know which version of Excel they use. Here’s how to
find out your Excel version, plus additional information.
If Excel has a menu titled Help, click it and then choose About. If Excel does not have a
menu titled Help, then you’re using Excel 2007. Follow these steps to find out more:
1. Choose Office ➪ Excel Options.
2. In the Excel Options dialog box, click the Resources tab.
3. On the Resources tab, click the About button.
Figure 1-1 shows that I’m using version 12.0, also known (officially) as Microsoft Office
Excel 2007. Most people just call it Excel 2007. Notice the decimal places after the version
number? That represents the build of the product. In my case, I’m using build 4518. I don’t
know what the 1014 means.
Figure 1-1: This dialog box displays the Excel version.
So, who cares which version of Excel you use? Most of the time, nobody cares. As long as
your version does what you want it to do, the version makes no difference. But if you share
your workbooks with other users, the version may be very important.
Tip 1: Understanding Excel Versions
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Part I
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