Tech Forum Feedback
The Tech Forum articles on Microsoft Excel were quite exhaustive. Sometimes I feel we tend to ignore details and just move on to the next versions of the software. I wonder how many of us really explore the details and potential of current versions of software, before deciding to upgrade.
— Rajesh Dangi
via e-mail

I just went through the December 23rd issue of Express Computer and read the article on Excel cell referencing. On browsing through the content, I was overwhelmed, as it covers a wide range of information to apply on an everyday basis. Thank you for giving me an insight into one part of Excel. I am presently using Office 97 and was of the opinion that I utilised at least 50 percent of the software’s capabilities—but after reading the article I have changed my opinion totally! I have also been trying to locate the previous issue, for the first part of the article, but have been unsuccessful. Could you send it to me?

— G Purushothaman
Chennai

Tech Forum archives are available online at http://www.expresscomputeronline.com/techforum.shtml — Ed.

The articles titled “Cell referencing in Excel for everyone” [EC, Dec 16 & Dec 23] were very informative and useful. After a very long time I found articles that are useful for the general user and a large number of readers. May I request you to cover macros in Excel and Word, as these are important topics for end-users.

— Vijay Ugaonkar
Nashik

I work with the finance team of a multinational software company and have over ten years of experience in finance, accounting and taxation. Over these years I have used spreadsheet applications, including Microsoft Excel, very extensively. I have come across very few quality articles on spreadsheet applications published in India, such as the ones by Nitin Paranjape in the Tech Forum section recently. I can dare to consider myself a power user of Excel, but I am not able to know where my knowledge of the application stands in comparison to the rest of the industry. I request you to guide me in enhancing my knowledge in this area.

— Charudatta Ambekar
Pune

I read the article titled “Utility for detecting duplicate indexes in SQL Server” [EC, Dec 9] and liked it. Please cover more articles on programming with SQL 2000. And suggestions on where I can find more info on this topic?

— Sandeep Kamal
via e-mail

Nitin Paranjape replies: There are lots of books on SQL Server 2000. However, from an architectural perspective you can find a lot of useful information online as well. The Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) is also a very good resource. Before you purchase any books, it is a good idea to go through MSDN (using the DVD if your company subscribes to it), or on the Web at www.msdn.microsoft.com

Where’s the bandwidth?
This is with reference to the article, ‘Sify’s wireless Net fulfils elusive broadband dream’ [EC, Dec 9]. Actually, there is very limited demand for broadband services. Even in the metros and other big cities users are happy with dial-up bandwidth, as the satellite-based bandwidth is expensive. However, download becomes cheaper. Even if Sify is able to provide the promised bandwidth only enterprises will opt for it. The demand is yet to pick up in the home consumer segment. I find that even the BSNL bandwidth is comparable to broadband. But with increased demand they need to upgrade bandwidth provision from gateways. The copper-based network provides comparable service with facility of voice communication. Data alone doesn’t have much demand in an evolving market.

— Sibhan
Shillong