Microsoft Office 97 For Windows For Dummies

Microsoft Office 97 for Windows for Dummies shows you how to use Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook, and the other programs that make up Microsoft Office 97, the most widely used suite of office-productivity programs.

Wang and Parker do a great job of providing the kind of explicit "how-to" procedures that Office users want most. They provide substantial coverage on Word, the Office component that gets the most use, but also give ample space to Excel, PowerPoint, and Office's Internet tools. Access receives only user-level attention, so people who want to build Access applications will want to look for a more specialized book.

The authors deserve kudos for highlighting the fact that certain commands and conventions--such as the procedures for copying, adjusting fonts, and printing--apply across all the Office applications. As a result, readers gain confidence in their ability to use Office 97 as a unit, rather than merely as individual programs.

This book would be better if the authors had done more to explain how to weed out the less important Office components, such as the annoying Office Assistant and the little-used Binder. But as it is, Microsoft Office 97 for Windows for Dummies provides a solid introduction to Microsoft's tools for getting things done in the workplace. --David Wall