Spreadsheet

A spreadsheet is an electronic document that displays data in a two-dimensional grid of rows and columns. The computer programs that generate spreadsheets, such as Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets, allow users to organize, format, and manipulate this data, which is often financial in nature. Some of these programs also enable users to perform other tasks, such as adding graphs and charts to their spreadsheets, importing data from other programs into their spreadsheets, and printing their spreadsheets. Early electronic spreadsheet programs were developed in the 1970s and 1980s and were responsible for helping to grow the computer industry. Today, spreadsheets are one of the most commonly used electronic documents.

Brief History

Electronic spreadsheets are meant to resemble paper spreadsheets that traditionally were used to display accounting data. The first electronic spreadsheet program was created by engineers Daniel Bricklin and Bob Frankston. In 1978, Bricklin, who was a graduate student at Harvard Business School, conceived the concept of an interactive visible calculator. He programmed a prototype on an Apple II computer and enlisted Frankston, who was a graduate student working at the Laboratory for Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), to further develop the program. In 1979, Frankston transformed the program into a spreadsheet program called VisiCalc, which is short for visible calculator. The program automated basic calculations, such as balancing a checkbook. VisiCalc first became available on the Apple II computer in 1979, and it soon became very popular, helping to spur immense growth in the computer industry.

Other spreadsheet programs followed VisiCalc, including Lotus 1-2-3 and Microsoft Excel. Lotus 1-2-3 entered the market in 1983. It initially was offered exclusively on the IBM personal computer (PC) and, like VisiCalc, it became extremely popular. Microsoft Excel was released in 1985. Originally, the program was designed for use with the Mac operating system, but a version was later developed for Windows. What made Excel different was that it included pull-down menus and other user-friendly features. Over time, Excel became even more popular than Lotus or VisiCalc. Today, it is the most commonly used spreadsheet program. Google Sheets is another common spreadsheet program. This free, web-based program allows users to share their spreadsheets with others and access their spreadsheets from any device with an Internet connection.

Overview

Spreadsheets are one of the most common types of electronic documents used in the twenty-first century. A spreadsheet contains a grid with many rows and columns. The rows, which run horizontally, are labeled by numbers. The columns, which run vertically, are labeled alphabetically. Following column Z, the letters are doubled (AA, AB, AC, and so on). They are tripled following column ZZ, quadrupled following column ZZZ, and so on. Each block of space that the rows and columns create when they intersect is called a cell. Each cell is identified by its corresponding column letter and row number, such as A3, G12, and MM31. The cells are where data is stored. A spreadsheet contains millions of cells, and multiple spreadsheets can be stored in a single file using different tabs.

The data stored in a spreadsheet can be presented in various forms, including as text, numerals, dates, and times. Such data can be organized and formatted in numerous ways as well. Data can be sorted alphabetically. For example, the data in an entire column, such as R, can be displayed in order from A to Z by filtering the column. The rows can be formatted in a similar fashion. For example, row 23 can be highlighted. The data in specific cells can be formatted too. For instance, the information in cell J5 can be italicized. Such organizing and formatting allows important information to stand out and can make finding certain data easier.

Data also can be manipulated using formulas and functions. A formula is a feature that allows users to perform calculations, such as adding or subtracting numbers in rows and/or columns. Furthermore, Excel and Google Sheets include functions. A function is a preset formula that performs a specific calculation. Perhaps the most frequently used function is the SUM function, which adds the numbers in a range of cells. The user must choose which range of cells will have its numbers added together and must also select the cell that will display the sum. For example, the user may choose to have the numbers from C3 to C16 added together and have cell C17 display the sum. Other common functions include the IMSUB function, which subtracts the numbers in a range of cells, and the AVERAGE function, which calculates the average of the numbers in a range of cells.

Financial information is one of the most common types of data stored in spreadsheets. Such data includes budget management, profit and loss figures, and mortgage payment calculations. Like any other data in a spreadsheet, financial data can be organized, formatted, and manipulated in any way the user chooses.

Excel is one of the most versatile spreadsheet programs on the market. Besides allowing users to organize, format, and manipulate data, Excel also enables users to perform other tasks. The program allows users to add graphs and charts to their spreadsheets. In addition, it offers users the ability to link spreadsheet data, graphs, and charts so they can be used in other Microsoft programs, including Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. Excel also allows users to import data from other programs into their spreadsheets. Through the Microsoft OneDrive, which is a file-sharing service that can be used on any device, Excel enables users to share their spreadsheets with others. This allows multiple users to view, edit, and collaborate on the same spreadsheets in real time. Since releasing the first version of Excel in 1985, Microsoft has released many subsequent versions of the spreadsheet program. As of 2016, Excel 2016 was the latest version.

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