Chapter One: Introduction to Spreadsheets

Lesson 1: Getting To Know the Spreadsheet

What Is a Spreadsheet?

A Spreadsheet or worksheet is a tool used whenever you need to perform calculations. These calculations can involve mathematical, financial, or scientific data. Some typical uses of spreadsheets are:

• Household Taxes

• Grading System

• Income Taxes

• Inventories

• Mortgage Payments

Two Types of Spreadsheet

Manual Creating a worksheet on ledger paper or columnar using a paper, pencil, calculator, and eraser.

Electronic A computer-generated spreadsheet that makes the basic task much easier.

What is a Spreadsheet program?

A spreadsheet program is a program that generates a user's worksheet on-screen and enables him to embed hidden formulas that perform visible calculations.

The Story behind Spreadsheet

In 1978, a Harvard Business student named Dan Bricklin got tired of adding up columns of numbers - and adding them up again after making a few changes - just to assess the effect of the merger. Bricklin, who knew a little about computers from summer jobs at Wang and other firms, came up with the idea of a spreadsheet program running on a personal computer.

Bricklin's teachers and a programmer friend, Bob Frankston, produced VisiCalc. It is a program for Apple II computer. This marked an important new chapter in American enterprise, the Electronic Spreadsheet.

VisiCalc was a huge success. More than 700,000 copies of the program were sold. It was almost single-handedly responsible for the success of the Apple II personal computer. By 1984, it disappeared when IBM launched Lotus 1-2-3, an integrated program that combines analytical graphics and database management with what is clearly a clone of VisiCalc spreadsheet.

Many innovations did come out, especially during the 90's when the development of microchips was unstoppable, and there was rapid development in various application programs. Finally, the year of the GUI's (Graphical User Interface) desktop arrived. The next decade now belongs to "Microsoft's Software King" - Bill Gates, who gave birth to Microsoft Office software such as Microsoft Excel, which operates almost like Lotus 1-2-3 but is much faster and more user-friendly. It works on a graphical desktop environment with its electronic input device companion; the "witty-mouse".

Figure 1.1: The Electronic Spreadsheet

Elements of the Electronic Spreadsheet.

Row	It is a horizontal block of cells running across the breadth of the spreadsheet. Rows are numbered sequentially from the top.
Column	It is a vertical block of cells identified by a unique alphabetical letter.
Worksheet	It is made up of rows and columns where you enter labels, numbers, and formulas. It contains 256 columns with alphabet headings and 65,536 numbered rows.
Cell	It is the rectangle formed by the rows and columns. The combination of the column letter and the row number is called cell reference or cell address. You might notice a rectangular highlight that indicates the location on-screen of the active cell. This is called active cell indicator.
Workbook	It is also called the file. It contains multiple worksheets and chart sheets. You can switch between worksheets within a workbook easily. You can also name the sheets separately to easily distinguish them from one another.
Range	It is a block of selected cells. It is also a selection of multiple cells.
Cell Content	This is any data entered into the cell. This can be numbers, letters, formulas, date, and time.
Database	This is a collection of related information about a subject organized in a useful manner.

Whiz Words

Active Cell	Cell Address
Active Cell Indicator

Lesson Summary

A spreadsheet program is an electronic spreadsheet. It is called a worksheet because it is a program designed with a matrix of rows and columns. It speeds up the process of making reports especially in numbers because it has the capability of making computations fast. Dan Bricklin, a student of Harvard University, together with his programmer friend Bob Frankston, produced VisiCalc, a program for Apple II computer, which began the use of spreadsheet programs in 1978. There are two types of spreadsheet, the manual and electronic spreadsheet.

Study Help

Directions: Answer the following.

1. What is a spreadsheet?

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2. Give at least five elements of the spreadsheet.

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3. Who is Dan Bricklin? What is his contribution in the development of electronic spreadsheet?

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Activity 1

Activity 2

Make a simple database.

Directions:

Collect the following information about your friends: Name, Address, Phone Number, School, and Year Level.

1. Write them in your notebook in tabular form.

2. Gather at least five records.