Spreadsheets – here is the What, Why, When and How.
What?
A spreadsheet is a computer application for organization, analysis, and storage of data in tabular form.
Each cell may contain either numeric or text data, or the results of formulas that automatically calculate and display a value based on the contents of other cells.
Wikipedia.org
A spreadsheet should be your first choice if either you’re working with figures to work out (calculate) something, or you have a lot of information (numbers and/or text) that needs some type of analysis.
Why?
Spreadsheets have been designed to be able to handle large amounts of information, and are formatted in rows and columns.
For numbers, spreadsheets have in-built calculations (known as functions) that means you don’t have to write long or complex formulas.
In terms of mixed information (text and numbers), a spreadsheet includes a range of commands and features to sort, filter and show information visually (graphs).
This can make it easier to see patterns or answer questions based on the information.
When?
Anything involving numbers or calculations then a spreadsheet should be the first thought in terms of the type of program to use.
For large amounts of information (or data), a spreadsheet is the easiest way to work with it.
Depending on your skill and needs a database is an alternative option.
How?
As with other types programs, today the favourite spreadsheet is between Microsoft and Google.
Microsoft Excel
Google Sheets
Apple Numbers
Take a look at my Services to see how I can help.
Latest Posts
- The Fastest Way to Copy Formatting in Word
If you’ve ever spent time getting text looking exactly right in Word, only to realise you need to apply the same formatting somewhere else, you’ll know how tedious it is to redo every single click. The good news is that copying formatting in Word is much easier than you might think — and Format Painter… Read more: The Fastest Way to Copy Formatting in Word - Microsoft Word’s Overlooked Reading Views: Less Clutter, More Focus
If you’ve ever opened a Word document and felt slightly overwhelmed by everything on screen, you’re not alone. The good news is that these overlooked Word views exist precisely for moments like that — and most people have never even clicked on it. There’s also a Focus View that takes things a step further. Let… Read more: Microsoft Word’s Overlooked Reading Views: Less Clutter, More Focus - Why Your Colour-Coded Excel Data Deserves a Better Filter
If you’re already using colour to organise your Excel spreadsheets, here’s some good news — you can filter by that colour too. Excel filter by colour lets you instantly show only the rows that match a specific colour — whether that’s a background fill or a font colour. It’s one of those features that feels… Read more: Why Your Colour-Coded Excel Data Deserves a Better Filter - Excel Paste Values – Get Exactly What You See, Every Time
If you’ve ever copied something in Excel and ended up with a completely different result than you expected, you’ve probably fallen foul of one of Excel’s little quirks. The good news is that once you understand Excel Paste Values, you’ll know exactly how to handle it – and it only takes a couple of extra… Read more: Excel Paste Values – Get Exactly What You See, Every Time - Excel Sparklines: The Tiny Charts Making a Big Difference
If you’ve ever stared at a column of numbers and thought “I just want to see the pattern” — Excel Sparklines are about to become your new favourite thing. These miniature charts sit inside a single cell, right next to your data, giving you an instant visual snapshot without the faff of building a full… Read more: Excel Sparklines: The Tiny Charts Making a Big Difference