[Randman]

I don't use Excel much but my s/o is an actuary so it's her bread and butter. I've tried to get her to use the Mac version at home (Office 2004) but she says it's different and is worried about compatibility with the Windows version, since that's used at her job.

Anything to make her transition easier? Thought it would be better coming from people who are experienced with the app, both on the Mac and Windows side. Thanks.

[philm]

Excel for Windows and for Mac are identlcal, for just about all purposes. In my experience the only differences are some of the ActiveX elements of Visual Basic for Applications and the Mac version does not do Pivot Charts, although Pivot Tables are OK.

[Shades of Gray]

I have worked back and forth with mixed results. As mentioned, ActiveX is not supported in Macs, VBA is about 50% crippled compared to the Windows version, VBA Reference Libraries are pitiful on the Mac side (yes, Word, PowerPoint, and Entourage libraries are supported for interchange). I have taken many of the VBA projects from Windows side and used directly without modification (or one line) for the Mac (PasteLink Charts into PowerPoint, etc.) and it has been fine.

You might want to check out three sites:

Jim Gordon is an MVP for Mac Office (puts him in world-class company).

So, also, John McGimpsey is an MVP for Mac Office, and he has a large section on XL 2004 and some of the issues related to it.

And at VBAX - VBA Express, check out the Mac section. BlueCactus is converting all of his Windows VBA code to Excel v. X for Mac (predecessor of XL 2004).