Spreadsheets

Tom Kelliher, CS14F

Oct. 24, 1996

What's a Spreadsheet?

1. The first killer app --- VisiCalc for the Apple II.

2. Lotus 123 for the IBM PC.

3. Uses:
   1. Simple personal finances: check book, loans, etc.

   2. ``Number processor'' --- grinding out results from data.

   3. Charts, graphs --- making data understandable.

   4. Simple databases.

4. ``What if'' questions.

Parts of a Spreadsheet

1. Much of Excel's window is similar to Word's window.

2. Columns --- lettered.

3. Rows --- numbered.

4. Cell --- intersection of row and column. Can contain:
   1. Text (label): Monthly sales.

   2. Number.

   3. Formula. 3 examples:

      =A1*B1
      =C2+C3
      =SUM(A1:A10)
      

   4. Active cell.

   5. Mathematical operators: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, exponentiation.

   6. Mathematical functions: statistical, financial, logical, database, scientific, etc.

5. Range:
   1. Specified by upper-left: lower-right.

   2. Row, part of a row.

   3. Column, part of a column.

   4. Rectangular region.

Absolute and Relative Cell Addresses

Copying/moving cells with formulas --- what happens to the formulas?

Displaying Data

1. Business graphics vs. presentation graphics.

2. Types of graphics:
   1. Bar graphs --- compare values.

   2. Pie charts --- see relationship to whole.

   3. Line graphs --- trends over time.

Exercises

Do projects one and two in Excel Essentials. When completed, print and turn-in each project. The project files are on the R: drive, in the directory CS14F\PROFNOTE\EXCEL.