Spreadsheet

A spreadsheet is a computer application that simulates a paper worksheet. It displays multiple cells that together make up a grid consisting of rows and columns, each cell containing either alphanumeric text or numeric values.

Spreadsheet organization Rows are typically labeled using numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.), while columns are labeled with letters (A, B, C, etc). Individual row/column locations, such as C3 or B12, are referred to as cells. Each cell can each store a unique instance of data.

Formulas A formula identifies the calculation needed to place the result in the cell it is contained within. A cell containing a formula therefore has two display components; the formula itself and the resulting value. The formula is normally only shown when the cell is selected by "clicking" the mouse over a particular cell; otherwise it contains the result of the calculation.

Usage Spreadsheets are frequently used for financial information because of their ability to re- calculate the entire sheet automatically after a change to a single cell is made.

Other common operations that Excel can be used for include: Graphing or charting data to assist users in identifying data trends. Sorting and filtering data to find specific information. The information garnered in a spreadsheet can easily be incorporated into electronic presentations, web pages, or printed off in report form.

Origins They were conceived by Dan Bricklin and refined by Bob Frankston. They were developed by their company Software Arts, and distributed by Personal Software in 1979 (later named VisiCorp) for the Apple II computer. This made the Apple II computer to be regarded as a much more useful device, specially in the finance’s field.

Different Spreadsheet programs VisiCalc: It was the first spreadsheet that combined all essential features of modern spreadsheet applications. Lotus 1-2-3: Lotus is a spreadsheet program from Lotus Software (now part of IBM). Its huge popularity in the mid- 1980s contributed significantly to the success of the IBM PC in the corporate environment.

Microsoft Excel: It’s a spreadsheet developed and distributed by Microsoft. It is the most popular and widely used spreadsheet nowadys. Apple Numbers: It is a spreadsheet application developed by Apple Inc. It is included in the iWork office suit.

OpenOffice.org Calc: is the spreadsheet component of the OpenOffice.org software package. It provides a number of features not present in Excel. Calc is also capable of writing spreadsheets directly as PDF files. It was developed by Sun Microsystems Gnumeric: is a free spreadsheet program that is part of the GNOME desktop and has Windows installers available. It is intended to be a free replacement for propietary spreadsheet programs such as Excel, which it broadly and openly emulates.

Price The price of these applications varies. Some of them, such as Microsoft Excel and Apple Numbers can only be obtained by purchasing the packages they are included with.

Microsoft Office Microsoft Office is the most expensive package. The cheaper package (Microsoft Office Home and Student) costs $149 usd The most expensive one (Microsoft Office Professional) costs $499 usd.

Apple iWork Apple iWork is cheaper than Microsoft Office. It costs $ 79 dls and $ 99 for the Family Pack.

Free Spreadsheet programs There are also free spreadsheet programs available. One of them is OpenOffice.org Calc, which is in cluded in OpenOffice.org package. Another free spreadsheet is Gnumeric.