Microsoft Excel may look daunting at first, but it is actually very user friendly. Like any other computer program, it does exactly what it is told. Fortunately, you can enlist the aid of free tutorials on the Microsoft website in case you get stuck.

Microsoft Office Online has several Excel tutorials. Some of these are audio and some bring the classroom alive as they show you exactly what to do and give you the opportunity to practice certain tasks as well. There is also a comprehensive help file within the Excel program itself. It is comprised of an index, a search function, and a Table of Contents that offers an ample database of information on how to perform specific tasks.

You can also type a question into the search box, and you will be presented with a list of possible answers.

There are also many books on the market that have Excel lessons that start with the very basic of tasks and move on to the most difficult. Some of them come with a CD that contains supportive data for the lessons and a simulated Excel program so that you can take the lessons even if you don’t have Excel installed on your computer. You can also purchase Video lessons on DVD or download some of these for free from the Microsoft website.

Whichever method you choose to learn Microsoft Excel, the best way to learn is to jump in and start. If you watch a video, make sure you do all the tasks after you observe them being done. If you are learning with a book, do all of the lessons, and in no time at all you will be an Excel expert.