Determining Your Version of Excel

The instructions for some of the tips you see featured in ExcelTips vary depending on the version of Excel you are using. If you are a relative newcomer to Excel, you may not know exactly how to determine which version you are using.

There are a couple of ways you can figure out which version you are using. The first is to watch Excel as you start the program. Depending on the speed of your system, you may notice the version in the splash screen that appears as Excel starts up. (I say that this depends on the speed of your system because I've seen some systems that are so fast, the splash screen is gone before anyone can fully see everything that is on it.)

Once you have started Excel, there is a better way to figure out your version. If you are using any version of Excel prior to Excel 2007, choose About Microsoft Excel from the Help menu. Excel displays the About Microsoft Excel dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)

If you are using Excel 2007, it's a bit more complex to find the same information. Click the Office button then click Excel Options. Excel displays the Excel Options dialog box. At the left side of the dialog box, click Resources, and then click the About button. Excel displays the About Microsoft Office Excel dialog box.

Note that near the top of the dialog box you can see the version number you are using. When you are through reviewing the information, click OK to close the dialog box.