SPREADSHEETS Spreadsheets are powerful tools to assist in business with the preparation of budgets, forecasts and for general calculation Electronic spreadsheets hailed the microcomputer revolution Spreadsheets

Fundamentals – The Terms A spreadsheet is made up of: Cells Columns Rows A page of a spreadsheet is commonly called a Worksheet Spreadsheets

Terms - Continued Cell Range Cell Address Cell Contents Spreadsheets

Cell Contents Labels Values Names, headings etc for columns or rows. Not used in calculations Values Numbers or logical values Yes/No True/False etc. Used in calculations Spreadsheets

Cell Contents – cont/ Formulae Functions Mathematical operations Add, subtract, divide, multiply, average, percentage etc. Used to operate on data to get results Functions Pre-defined formulae to simplify calculation. Spreadsheets

Spreadsheet Features What a spreadsheet can do Accept formulae Replicate formulae Automatic recalculation of formulae when data is changed Absolute and Relative cell addressing to assist replication of formulae Spreadsheets

Features cont/ Graphing What-if Analysis Range naming Sorting data Spreadsheets

Advantages of Electronic Spreadsheets Virtually unlimited size Very powerful calculation ability Ability to replicate formulae Ease of correction Spreadsheets

Advantages - calculation A spreadsheet has powerful calculation capability The user, however, must enter the data and the formulae in order for this calculation to occur Once data is entered it can be manipulated in many ways to assist forecasting etc Spreadsheets

Advantages – Re- calculation If the contents of a cell change, and that cell is used in a formula, the result in the dependant cell changes Thus, if you want your spreadsheet to re-calculate, use formulae as much as possible Spreadsheets

Advantages - Presentation Presentation and formatting of data Currency, number of decimals, percentages etc Column width can be adjusted to suit data Cells can be locked for data protection Font type, size and style can be changed Spreadsheets

Advantages - Charts Data can be presented in tabular or graphical format Graphical data if often easier to read and understand than tabular Various types of charts can be created Spreadsheets

Advantages Ease if correction Range naming to enter formulae more quickly Model building for What-if analysis Spreadsheets

What-if Analysis What does this mean? The user can combine figures in different ways and immediately see the results on business How will a change in the cost of a raw material affect profits? How changes in interest rates are going to affect repayments? Spreadsheets

MOST COMMON USES Budgeting Forecasting Charting Models for decision-making Spreadsheets