8. Excel for Mac and the Web: Interface Differences

Excel comes in three main versions: for Windows (the most complete), for Mac, and in the browser (Excel for the web, free with a Microsoft account). Formulas and .xlsx files are shared by all of them; what differs is the keyboard shortcuts and the set of tools.

Excel for Mac

• many shortcuts use Cmd instead of Ctrl: Cmd+C, Cmd+Z, Cmd+S;
• on Mac laptops the function keys often control brightness and volume, so for F2 and F4 hold Fn as well;
• the $ in a reference is toggled with Cmd+T (or Fn+F4), and editing a cell is Ctrl+U;
• Power Query arrived on Mac later and supports fewer data sources, and Power Pivot (data models and DAX) is not available on Mac;
• VBA macros work, but without ActiveX controls and some Windows-specific features.

Excel for the web

• the file lives in OneDrive or SharePoint and saves automatically, which makes real-time teamwork easy;
• VBA macros do not run (an .xlsm file opens, but its code will not execute); Office Scripts take their place;
• there is no Power Pivot or some of the advanced analysis tools, and many dialogs are simplified;
• the browser intercepts some shortcuts. For example, Ctrl+N opens a new browser window.

The argument separator (; or ,) and whether decimals use a comma or a period depend not on the platform but on your regional settings: in many European locales you write =SUM(A1;B1) and 3,14, while in US English you write =SUM(A1,B1) and 3.14.

This trainer behaves like Excel with US English settings: a comma between arguments and a period in decimals.