R Through Excel

R, a free and open source program, is one of the most powerful and the fastest-growing statistics program. Microsoft Excel is the most widely used spreadsheet program, but many statisticians consider its statistical tools too limited.

In this book, the authors build on RExcel, a free add-in for Excel that can be downloaded from the R distribution network. RExcel seamlessly integrates the entire set of R's statistical and graphical methods into Excel, allowing students to focus on statistical methods and concepts and minimizing the distraction of learning a new programming language.

Data can be transferred between R and Excel “the Excel way” by selecting worksheet ranges and using Excel menus. R’s basic statistical functions and selected advanced methods are available from an Excel menu. Results of the computations and statistical graphics can be returned back into Excel worksheet ranges. RExcel allows the use of Excel scroll bars and check boxes to create and animate R graphics as an interactive analysis tool.

The book is designed as a computational supplement to introductory statistics texts and the authors provide RExcel examples covering the topics of the introductory course.

• ANOVA
• Analysis
• Excel
• Open Source
• STATISTICA
• data analysis
• linear regression
• programming
• programming language
• spreadsheet
• spreadsheet program
• statistics

From the reviews:

“The book R Through Excel …offers a good entry for those just beginning with R through the familiar Microsoft Excel. …Will help those using Microsoft Excel on computers in MS Windows environments become more familiar with two programs designed to work with R. …All of the functions and many of the topics discussed… can be applied for independent R installations on Linux, Unix, or Apple computers. R is an intimidating but powerful program that assumes an intimate knowledge of data formats and terminology not familiar to many language testers. R Through Excel is a highly recommended first step into that program.” (Shiken: JALT Testing& Evaluation SIG Newsletter )

“Students, researchers, and others who wish to use R … . This book is essentially a manual for the RExcel software. … Most commonly a page consists of one or more screenshots showing how to use RExcel. The whole book is reproduced in color, on glossy paper. … Readers are guided through the menu system … to see how to carry out common statistical procedures. … For anyone wishing to learn RExcel this book would be a useful purchase.” (David J. Scott, International Statistical Review, Vol. 78 (2), 2010)

“R Through Excel offers a concise introduction to statistical analysis for those with little prior experience in statistical software. The text provides a nontechnical introduction to the R programming language and the presentation is helpful for those who are averse to syntax commands. … an excellent manual to have on the shelf for anyone that is interested in integrating R and Excel. … For those in academia who teach introductory statistics and want to use R, this text provides a gentle manner for doing so.” (Philip Okoth, The American Statistician, Vol. 65 (4), November, 2011)

“I was very impressed by the layout of the book. Each of the main chapters is clear and uncluttered, with extensive use of colour screenshotsto illustrate what the reader should see when using RExcel. … Overall, I think this is an excellent resource for someone wishing to learn how to use this software, particularly if they prefer to do so with the comforting old-fashioned feel of a book.” (David Fletcher, Australian & New Zealand Journal of Statistics, Vol. 53 (4), 2011)

• Dept. Statistics, Temple University, Philadelphia, U.S.A.

  Richard M. Heiberger

• Fakultät für Informatik, Universität Wien, Wien, Austria

  Erich Neuwirth

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