Spreadsheets are used to record and compare numerical or financial data. They can be created and managed through software programs and are commonly used in accounting, budgeting, sales forecasting, financial and scientific analysis fields. The advantage of using computer programs is their ability to update data and perform automatic calculations quickly. Formulas are used to perform calculations on data and spreadsheets are also popular for testing what-if scenarios. Templates and examples are available with most software packages and users can create data-driven graphs and charts. The first spreadsheet software was VisiCalc and now many commercial software packages are available for Microsoft Windows® and other operating systems. Spreadsheets are popular for personal and business use.
A
spreadsheet, also known as worksheet, contains rows and columns and is
used to record and compare numerical or financial data. Originally, only
they existed in paper form, but now they are most likely created and
managed through a software program that displays the number
information in rows and columns. Spreadsheets can be used in any area or
field that works with numbers and is commonly found in accounting,
budgeting, sales forecasting, financial and scientific analysis
fields.
Computer spreadsheets mimic their paper predecessors. The advantage of using computer programs is their ability to update data and perform automatic calculations extremely quickly. In software, the intersection of a row and a column is called a cell. Rows are usually identified by numbers — 1, 2, 3, etc. —
and columns are identified by letters, such as A, B, C, and so on. The
cell is a combination of a letter and a number to identify a particular
position within the sheet, for example A3.
To maneuver around cells, the user uses
mouse or tab key. When the contents of a cell are changed,
any other affected cells are automatically recalculated based on the
formulas in use. Formulas are the calculations to be performed on the
data. They can
be simple, such as sum or average, or they can be very complex.
Spreadsheets are also popular for testing what-if scenarios.
Setting up a worksheet can be time consuming, although templates and examples are available with most software packages. Software programs can be formatted with titles, colors, bold text, and italics for a professional look. Users can also create data-driven graphs and charts. Many packages also have the ability to print mailing lists or labels.
The original spreadsheet software was VisiCalc, designed for use on Apple computers. There are now many commercial software packages available for Microsoft Windows® and other operating systems.
Individuals, as well as businesses, use this software for a variety of tasks involving numerical data. Teachers can use them to memorize and average grades, while other individuals can use them
to keep track of a personal budget or store sports team stats.
Spreadsheets are one of the most popular uses for personal computers.
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