Spreadsheet

A spreadsheet or worksheet is a file made

of rows and columns that help sort data, arrange
data easily, and calculate numerical data. What
makes a spreadsheet software program unique is
its ability to calculate values using
mathematical formulas and the data in cells. A
good example of how a spreadsheet may be
utilized is creating an overview of your bank's
balance.

Spreadsheet overview
Below is a basic example of what
a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet looks like, with
all the important features of a spreadsheet
highlighted.
In the above example, this spreadsheet is
listing three different checks, the date, their
description, and the value of each check.
These values are then added together to get
the total of $162.00 in cell D6. That value is
subtracted from the check balance to give an
available $361.00 in cell D8.
Difference between a workbook, worksheet, and
spreadsheet
Because the terms spreadsheet, workbook,
and worksheet are so similar, there is a lot of
confusion when trying to understand their
differences. When you open Microsoft Excel
(a spreadsheet program), you're opening
a workbook. A workbook can contain one or
more different worksheets that are accessed
through the tabs at the bottom of the
worksheet your currently viewing. What's
often most confusing is that a worksheet is
synonymous with a spreadsheet. In other
words, a spreadsheet and worksheet mean
the same thing. However, most people only
refer to the program as a spreadsheet
program and the files it creates as
spreadsheet files or worksheets.

Examples of spreadsheet programs

Today, Microsoft Excel is the most popular
and widely used spreadsheet program, but
there are also many alternatives. Below is a
list of spreadsheet programs used to create a
spreadsheet.

 Google Sheets - (online and free).

 iWork Numbers - Apple Office Suite.

 LibreOffice -> Calc (free).

  Lotus 1-2-3 (discontinued).

 Lotus Symphony - Spreadsheets.

 Microsoft Excel.

 OpenOffice -> Calc (free).

 VisiCalc (discontinued).

Examples and uses of a spreadsheet

Although spreadsheets are most often used
with anything containing numbers, the uses
of a spreadsheet are almost endless. Below
are some other popular uses of
spreadsheets.

Finance
Spreadsheets are ideal for financial data,
such as your checking account information,
budgets, taxes, transactions, billing, invoices,
receipts, forecasts, and any payment system.

Forms
Form templates can be created to handle
inventory, evaluations, performance reviews,
quizzes, time sheets, patient information,
and surveys.

School and grades

Teachers can use spreadsheets to track
students, calculate grades, and identify
relevant data, such as high and low scores,
missing tests, and students who are
struggling.

Lists
Managing a list in a spreadsheet is a great
example of data that does not contain
numbers, but still can be used in a
spreadsheet. Great examples of spreadsheet
lists include telephone, to-do, and grocery
lists.

Sports
Spreadsheets can keep track of your favorite
player stats or stats on the whole team. With
the collected data, you can also find
averages, high scores, and statistical data.
Spreadsheets can even be used to create
tournament brackets.

How do I enter data in a spreadsheet?

In a spreadsheet, data is entered in one or
more cells. To enter data in a cell, follow the
steps below.

1. Click the cell where you want to enter data.

 2. Start typing the data using your keyboard. The data
is automatically entered in the selected cell.

or

1. Click the cell where you want to enter additional

data.

2. Click in the formula bar, located between

the Ribbon and all cells, where you want to start
entering the additional data.

3. Type the data using your keyboard. The data is

automatically entered in the selected cell.

If you want to add additional data to a cell

that already has data entered in it, follow the
steps below.

1. Click the cell where you want to enter additional

data.

2. Click in the formula bar, located between

the Ribbon and all cells, where you want to start
entering the additional data.

3. Type the data using your keyboard. The data is

automatically entered in the selected cell where the
mouse cursor is placed in the formula bar.
Why not use a word processor instead of a
spreadsheet?
Although some of the above uses could be
done in a word processor, spreadsheets have
a considerable advantage over word
processors when it comes to numbers. It
would be impossible to calculate multiple
numbers in a word processor and have the
value of the calculation immediately appear.
Spreadsheets are also much more dynamic
with the data and can hide, show, and sort
information to make processing lots of
information easier.

What is an active worksheet?

An active worksheet is the worksheet that
is currently open. For example, in the earlier
Excel picture, the sheet tabs at the bottom
show "Sheet1," "Sheet2," and "Sheet3,"
with Sheet1 being the active worksheet. The
active tab usually has a white background
behind the tab name.

How many worksheets open by default?

In Microsoft Excel 2016 and earlier and
OpenOffice Calc, by default, there
are three sheet tabs that open
(Sheet1, Sheet2, and Sheet3). In Google
Sheets, your spreadsheets starts with one
sheet (Sheet1).

In Microsoft Excel 365, by default, there is

only one sheet tab that opens (Sheet1).

What is the length limit of a worksheet name?

Not to be confused with the file name, in
Microsoft Excel, there is a 31 character limit
for each worksheet name.

How are rows and columns labeled?

In all spreadsheet programs, including
Microsoft Excel, rows are labeled
using numbers (e.g., 1 to 1,048,576).
All columns are labeled with letters from A to
Z, then with two letters. For example, after
the letter Z, the next column is AA, AB,
AC, ..., AZ and then incrementing to BA, BB,
BC, etc., to the last column XFD.

When working with a cell, you combine the

column with the row. For example, the very
first cell is in column A and on row 1, so the
cell is labeled as A1.

 How many sheets, rows, and columns can a

spreadsheet have?
Download an example of a spreadsheet file
We've created a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet
that can be downloaded and opened in any
spreadsheet program including Microsoft
Excel. This spreadsheet helps illustrate some
a spreadsheet capability, formulas, and
functions used in a spreadsheet, and allows
you to experiment with a spreadsheet.

 Download example.xls.

The same spreadsheet is also available

on Google Sheets. Visit the link below to
open the spreadsheet in view mode in Google
Sheets. If you want to edit any of the values,
click File and then Make a copy option to
save it to your Google Drive.