Spreadsheet Packages

A spreadsheet is an electronic worksheet used to organize and manipulate numbers and display options for what-if analysis. The electronic spreadsheet has rows and columns stored in the computer's memory and displayed on its video screen.
Electronic spreadsheets allow users to try out various what-if kinds of possibilities. That is a powerful feature. Users can manipulate numbers by using stored formulas and calculate different outcomes.
A spreadsheet has several parts. The worksheet area of the spreadsheet has column headings across the top and row headings down the left-hand side. The intersection of a column and row is called a cell. The cell holds a unit of information. The position of a cell is called the cell address. A cell pointer (sprepdsheet cursor) indicates where data is to be entered or changed in the spreadsheet.
Popular electronic spreadsheet packages include Lotus 1-2-3, Quattro Pro, and Excel. Some common features of spreadsheet programs are as follows:

• Format: Column and row headings are known as labels. Usually a label is a word or symbol. A number in a cell is called a value. A label can be centered in the cell or positioned to the left or right. A value can be displayed to show decimal places, dollars, or percent (%). The number of decimal positions (if any) can be altered, and the width of columns can be changed.

• Formulas: The major benefit of spreadsheets is that users can manipulate data by using formulas. They make connections between numbers in particular cells.
• Recalculation: Recalculation is the most important feature of spreadsheets. If users change one or more numbers in usersr spreadsheet, all related formulas will recalculate automatically. By manipulating the values, users can use spreadsheet formulas to explore usersr options.

• Windows: The screen-sized area of a spreadsheet that users can view is called a window or a page. Only about 20 rows and 8 columns of a spreadsheet are visible on the video display screen at one time. The total size of the spreadsheet can be much larger.

• Graphic Data Display: Most spreadsheets allow users to present their data in graphic form. That is, users can display numerical information as pie charts or bar charts.

• 3-D Graphics: Most spreadsheet programs even permit users to display data in graphs and charts that have a three-dimensional look.

• Graphics on Worksheet: A new feature gives users the ability to place graphical elements such as lines, arrows, and boxes directly onto the worksheet. Users can create charts and graphs directly on the worksheet.

• Consolidation Feature: Data may be consolidated from several small worksheets into one large worksheet. Thus, users can work with small worksheets, which are more manageable, and summarize the data on a large worksheet.

• Dynamic File Links: Some software offers dynamic file links, which allow users to link cells in one worksheet file to cells in other worksheet files. Whenever a change occurs in one file, the linked cells in the other files are automatically updated.

What-If Analysis Example

A bookstore manager can figure out whether the business will make a profit or loss by projecting the cost of books and computer software, clothes, stationery, and other sales over a six-month period. The manager can then subtract expenses from sales. Expenses might include such things as payroll for employees, lease of bookstore space, and purchases of books and other supplies. If the expenses are too high to produce a profit, the manager can experiment on the screen with reducing some expenses. For example, the number of employees and therefore payroll costs might be reduced.