difference between Excel 2002 and 2003

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sherry Nolan
  • Start date Start date
S

Sherry Nolan

My son is taking a college course in software business
applications using the text "New Perspectives on Microsoft
Excel 2002". He doesn't have Excel on his computer and I
was going to purchase Office Student and Teacher Edition
2003. He said the course strictly follows the book. Are
there a lot of differences between 2002 and 2003 that
would make 2003 unusable or cause problems for him.

I'd appreciate any help you can give me.
 
Have not used 2003 yet but I have seen problems reported. Besides, he could
probably save money by getting 2002.
 
Sherry,

There are very few differences between Excel 2002 and 2003 that
would come up in an introductory course in Excel. Excel 2003
should be fine for a course designed for 2002.


--
Cordially,
Chip Pearson
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Pearson Software Consulting, LLC
www.cpearson.com
 
Most changes in new versions add new features and fix bugs rather than
breaking old features. I don't have 2003, but the differences that have
been discussed in the NGs are

- Probability functions are more accurate in 2003 (impacts NORMSDIST,
NORMDIST, LOGNORMDIST, and all ...INV functions. Also discrete
probability functions return answers over a larger range of values than
in previous versions. Text books are unlikely to have set problems
requiring the use of Excel where Excel 2002 performed poorly, but if it
should these 2003 answers will be more correct except for rare instances
where the improved inverse algorithms fail to converge.

- Statistics functions are generally more accurate in 2003 (impacts
STDEV and VAR type functions, RSQ, LINEST, TREND etc). SLOPE,
INTERCEPT, FORECAST, and STEYX will be more accurate only if there are
no missing values (see next note). Again, text books are unlikely to
have set problems where these had performed poorly, but where Excel 2003
gets a different answer, Excel 2003's answer should be better.

- Some simple linear regression functions (SLOPE, INTERCEPT, FORECAST,
and STEYX) give incorrect results when there are missing values in the
data. If the course covers statistics, it is possible that this might
be a problem. MS is working on a patch, but timing has not been disclosed.
http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=3FF963BB.2090209@no_e-mail.com
gives some suggested workarounds.

- The RAND function has a bug in it. If the course covers simulation,
then this could be a problem. MS is working on a patch, but timing has
not been disclosed.
http://groups.google.com/[email protected]
suggests an add-in with a very good random number generator.

If you would prefer 2002, you can probably get it on line from companies
that sell software remainders, or on e-bay.

Jerry
 
What problems have you seen reported?

: Have not used 2003 yet but I have seen problems reported. Besides, he could
: probably save money by getting 2002.
:
: --
: Don Guillett
: SalesAid Software
: (e-mail address removed)
: : > My son is taking a college course in software business
: > applications using the text "New Perspectives on Microsoft
: > Excel 2002". He doesn't have Excel on his computer and I
: > was going to purchase Office Student and Teacher Edition
: > 2003. He said the course strictly follows the book. Are
: > there a lot of differences between 2002 and 2003 that
: > would make 2003 unusable or cause problems for him.
: >
: > I'd appreciate any help you can give me.
:
:
 
Don,

Where do you get this NG posting reference (see below):

Also, how does one attach a file to a posting in this
newsgroup?

I am using XP Pro O/S & Office 2002.

I am reading this NG with Win Explorer v6+++

TIA Dennis
 
Hi Dennis!

Post reference:
The reference is got from the properties of the post. Right click the
post for the properties.

How to attach:
You don't! Attachments are discouraged in these groups.

--
Regards
Norman Harker MVP (Excel)
Sydney, Australia
(e-mail address removed)
Excel and Word Function Lists (Classifications, Syntax and Arguments)
available free to good homes.
 
What newsreader are you using?

OR Is this NG "REPEATED" or Mirrored in a different
format?

Internet Explorer is not returning the type of data that
you used (from properties)

TIA Norm
 
What newsreader are you using?

OR Is this NG "REPEATED" or Mirrored in a different
format?

Internet Explorer is not returning the type of data that
you used (from properties)

TIA Norm
 
Hi Dennis!

I use:
msnews.microsoft.com

It's really the recommended one because posts appear much quicker than
with other newsreaders that "sit" between you and Microsoft. Some
newsreaders don't update as often.

The properties I referred to are on the details tab under Message_ID.

Your message is:
[email protected]

We add to the front to get:




--
Regards
Norman Harker MVP (Excel)
Sydney, Australia
(e-mail address removed)
Excel and Word Function Lists (Classifications, Syntax and Arguments)
available free to good homes.
 
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