Msg: 4208 *Conference*
04-14-93 23:13:14
From: RICHARD HANSON
To : RICHARD MARKS
Subj: REPLY TO MSG #4204 (SPREADSHEETING)
I've been meaning to e-mail you, Richard. As I mentioned last month, I was going to look into spreadsheet conversions, i.e., Multiplan to Lotus 1-2-3 via SYLK or some other means. We'll, I haven't gotten that far along, yet. I did start looking but have just notes on possible solutions at this point but no real answers. Anyway, since you are considering moving an application from paper to a spreadsheet, let me add just one major consideration. You must keep backups of everything at all times; and document your work. I like to make up a binder for each project, wherein I keep the master program on a diskette, use-documentation, strategies and considerations I used to develop the spreadsheet, etc. Thus, my application binder functions like an off-the-shelf program/documentation product--except that its customized by myself for myself. Another thing to consider is electronic systems differ from paper systems. Paper systems are designed with the consideration that someone is going to use a pencil to fill in the blanks, thus those blanks tend to be prominate; boxed in, underlined, and verticle line divided. Electronic applications need keep nothing applicable to the paper system. Example: A paper system involving a list of items that must be added, vertically, with the sum at the bottom, may be developed electronically, with the sum at the top via a start-to-end range from the cell below the sum to the last cell in that column. To test this in Multiplan, enter the following formula in column 1, row 1. =SUM(R[+1]C:R[+98]C) This formula will accumulate all numbers entered in cells column 1, row 2, through column 1, row 99, inclusive. Thus, a continuing list of items will always display its sum at the top of the screen; with no worry about not picking up all entries because you "forgot" where a range begins or ends. This is great for adding to lists of expenses, or incomes, or "things" that must be counted, averaged, etc. Furthermore, given the above simple example, if you lock your horizontal title at row 1, you may scroll down to the end of the spreadsheet matrix without loosing sight of row 1 and its accumulator. Unfortunately, Multiplan on the Model T's do not support the "locking title" command, so my suggestion will not work on Model T Multiplan. And, my assumption is that perhaps only Lucid supports the command. I have not explored this, yet, however. I do know that all DOS and Mac based spreadsheet programs support locking titles. Spread-them-sheets... -Rick-