Reviews by Tom Anderson

Peachpit Press's Visual QuickStart Guides offer solid, well-rounded introductions to their subjects. These are neither detailed, comprehensive manuals nor surface-skimming 10-minute handbooks.

Each of the Visual QuickStart Guides is laid out in the same way: the running text fills one column that covers the outside of each page, while the inside of each page is filled with screen shots that tie in to and illustrate the meaning of the text. The text isn't wordy; it's clear and just long enough to explain the point. Two of these books, Word 2000 and Excel 2000, are by Maria Langer, a prolific author and trainer.

Word 2000 begins with an overview of the new features in this version of WORD, then goes into a very basic introduction to both the WINDOWS 95/98/NT interface and the fundamentals of WORD itself (similar material leads off Excel 2000). For new computer users, this is a good and thorough overview of the basic, standard features of computer usage in the WINDOWS age. Langer follows with a discussion of the basics of word processing, aimed at those who have never "word-processed" before. Both of these sections are direct and to the point.

Langer then covers formatting, both basic (bold, italics) and advanced (columns, headers and footers). At this point, the reader should have a good enough grasp of WORD to write a simple document, and Langer goes into the writing tools, such as spell checking and change tracking, and then into printing the completed document.

Each chapter leads to the next and builds upon the previous as Langer covers inserting special kinds of text (fields, symbols, comments) and objects (pictures, word art, files). The chapter on outlining includes instructions for creating a table of contents. Tables, envelopes and labels, and mail merge each get a chapter. Another chapter covers publishing Web pages with WORD.

Finally, Langer covers all the options available through the Tools/Options menu, explaining each as she goes. An appendix illustrates all the menus and lists the shortcut command keys.

Excel 2000 follows a similar pattern, beginning with the WINDOWS/ EXCEL interface and the basics of worksheets, and moving on to editing worksheets and the basics of saving, finding, and opening files. One chapter is devoted to using functions in formulas, and another to formatting cells in worksheets. Langer shows how to add graphic objects, such as pictures, to worksheets, and how to create charts that visually depict a worksheet's contents.

Another chapter discusses using EXCEL to perform basic database tasks, such as building a name and address database. Advanced techniques cover named ranges, custom views, consolidations, macros and more.

The third book in this review, Internet Explorer 5 for Windows, was written by Steve Schwartz, another prolific writer. Schwartz expects a slightly more experienced reader than Langer does, and starts out with coverage of the active desktop and its differences from the alternative interface. He then explores the basic IE window and its parts, showing how to visit Web pages, use the history bar, keep a list of favorite places and search for information.

Browsers, of course, can do much more than just show Web pages. Schwartz covers using IE5 to download and open files, use FTP sites and enjoy multimedia presentations. He also shows how to use channels.

The second half of the book discusses OUTLOOK EXPRESS, the e-mail and newsreader included with IE5. The coverage follows a similar pattern to the other books in the series. Schwartz shows how to create and organize an address book, then how to compose and send messages, receive messages and set the various options in the program.

Using OUTLOOK EXPRESS as a newsreader involves setting up the system for a news server, and Schwartz gives easy-to-follow directions. He tells how to join newsgroups and read the messages posted there, as well as how to post one's own messages.

All three of these books would be worthy manuals for a first foray into the programs covered. The screen shots chosen for illustration are always appropriate, the text is clear and unassuming and the topics chosen for coverage are those most needed by new users.

I would have no hesitation in recommending any of these titles; I even discovered a few things from Word 2000 that explained some frustrations I'd just tolerated. Langer showed me how to fix them.