What's new in Microsoft Excel 2004

To learn more about a specific Microsoft Excel 2004 feature, search for the feature in Excel Help.

Page layout view

Microsoft Excel 2004 introduces page layout view, the new, fully functional way to prepare a worksheet for printed output. Items such as rows, columns, text, charts, graphics, headers and footers, and text boxes appear in their actual positions on the page. You can see while you work how your worksheet will look when it is printed and make changes right in page layout view. In addition, horizontal and vertical rulers allow you to more accurately position items directly on the page.

Page layout view appears on the View menu along with normal and page break preview.

Charting improvements

Create richer and more professional-looking charts faster by using the improved charting features in Excel 2004. You can now:

• Add depth to your charts by using line or fill transparencies.
• Add interest to items on your chart by changing line widths.
• Color-coordinate charts by using preset color schemes.

Chart options appear on the Formatting Palette after you have clicked any chart.

Smart buttons

Smart buttons are automatic functions designed to keep you in control of your software. The smart buttons in Excel 2004 help you control the formatting of the worksheet and provide you with better error resolution.

Paste Options button

When you paste text or data onto a worksheet, a menu appears in the lower-right corner of the cell, allowing you to choose the paste options you want.

Error Checking button

When an error is made on a worksheet in Excel 2004, a menu appears in the upper-left corner of the problem cell, allowing you to choose how you want to fix the problem or to get additional help about the error.

Auto Fill button

When you are completing an Auto Fill action in Excel 2004, a menu appears in the lower-right corner of the range of cells, allowing you to choose how you want the series to be completed.

Insert Options button

When you are inserting cells, rows, or columns in Excel 2004, a menu appears next to what you have inserted, allowing you to choose the formatting options you want.

Formula editing enhancements

Excel 2004 makes working with formulas easier than ever:

• When you edit a formula, Range Finder shows you the cells referred to in the formula by using color-coded ranges.
• When you type formulas that contain functions directly into the formula bar or a cell, a Function ScreenTip containing the syntax of the function appears below where you are typing to help you complete the function arguments.

Headers and footers

Now it's even easier to create great-looking worksheets for printed output. You can:

• View and edit headers and footers directly on the worksheet by using page layout view.
• Add images and file path information to your headers and footers.

To add a header or footer, on the View menu, click Header and Footer.

XML support

In Excel 2004, XML files created with Excel 2000 or later for Windows can be opened and saved in XML Spreadsheet schema.

Statistical function improvements

Excel 2004 offers a variety of improvements to key functions, including:

• More stable procedures for computing summary statistics
• Discovery of colinearity in multiple regressions
• A precise search method for finding the inverse of a continuous probability distribution function
• Improved discrete probability formula evaluation
• Improved random number generation

Improved preferences

Excel 2004 makes it even easier to use Excel preferences with the addition of helpful descriptions that appear in the Description of preference box when you rest your mouse on a preferences option.

To set options in the Preferences dialog box, on the Excel menu, click Preferences.