Using Excel on both PC and Mac?

Hi noneofyourbiz

No, they are not exactly the same and as a result, they don't always interface seamlessly.

I do all my development work on a Mac but I'm using a Virtual Machine on the Mac. I personally use Fusion but there are several good one's available...

http://lifehacker.com/5714966/five-b...e-applications

Of course you'll need all the PC Based Software Licenses.

But if you're doing development for the PC Based World at the office I'd recommend you do it on a PC Based Platform...Virtual Machine on a Mac will do that for you.

My opinion...

Hi

This is just my personal opinion, but one arrived at after several years struggling with aligning macros written for Windows so that they work in the Mac environment.

Although I use Apple products for many things, when it comes to Excel I steer well clear of the Mac version and do all developments in Windows on a PC. There are really frustrating differences in syntax with VBA code, and in many cases Windows syntax doesn't work at all. Additionally it's my experience that the Mac VB editor is nowhere near as user friendly or efficient as the Windows version. Whenever I've had to spend time coding on the Mac it always takes much longer.

Microsoft didn't exactly help themselves when they dropped VBA support from Excel v 2008 on the Mac. Suddenly Mac clients who upgraded found macros weren't available at all. Whilst fortunately that's water under the bridge now I always caution clients to consider carefully the additional cost of supporting a common application for both platforms and compare this to any additional revenues from the relatively few (particularly corporate) users who use Excel on the Mac platform.

Ironically I've just had a client ask me to assist with and adapt an application (not of my design) that he wants to market to Mac clients and it's proving a real pain. I've had to warn him that it's likely to be more costly than he may have budgeted for.

So almost certainly, and unless macros are very simple you will encounter difficulties trying to run Windows Excel macros at home on your Mac.

Sad but that's my experience.

@ Richard

I agree with you 100%...I too will and do steer clear of the Mac Version of Excel. My daughter has it and it drove me nuts. I'd write Code on my PC, give it to them and it would not work. I then purchased a Mac so I could "see" what kind of world she and my "Mac" Children lived in. It drove me nuttier.

I purchased for her (and me and each of my "Mac" Children) a Fusion License and Microsoft Excel License (for the PC) to run on our Mac's.

Now we're all happy...the Virtual Machine option does work and will work for the OP (in my opinion based on my own experience).

@Jaslake,

Thanks for that tip. I'll pass it on as a suggestion for one way of avoiding the hassle factor with Mac versions.

@ Richard

I appreciate the "thanks for that tip" but I thank you...I've learned more on this Forum from you than you'll ever learn from me...

Hi noneofyourbiz

As I said

I do all my development work on a Mac but I'm using a Virtual Machine on the Mac

You inferred you have a Mac...try the Virtual Machine...you may like it...works for me.

mac excel is still a little clunky, slower and a lot of the shortcuts are different or simply don't exist (e.g. f2 to edit and f4 to toggle absolute/relative addresses). also depends greatly on which version of office you have on each :-)

Originally Posted by Kyle123

Both jaslake and Richard appear to assume that you'll be using macros. If you aren't then mac Excel will be fine and will integrate without issue - or at least I've never really come across any.

Indeed. The OP did ask if they were exactly the same and if there are any differences. And there are indeed lots but apart from different keyboard layouts and key shortcuts, non that will matter too much if macros are never needed.

there is still not complete integration even discounting macros. there can be password issues and there are feature differences (e.g. no slicers or powerpivot/data model) in addition to UI differences-the Ribbon on the Mac cannot be customized for instance