Msg: 4520 *Conference*

07-11-93 21:25:18

From: RICHARD HANSON

To : CARROLL LEWIS

Subj: REPLY TO MSG #4517 (SPREADSHEETS)

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I'm with you on the lack of "stuff" online about SPREADSHEETING.  I tried to
get things going but the subject only sputtered.  We'll keep trying, though.  I
appreciate your interest.  On to your questions...

Which is best for business accounting, spreadsheet for database?

Generally speaking, business accounting starts with sold grasp on the basics of
bookkeeping and a well thought out chart of accounts, specific to your
needs--during the accounting period as a working format, and for taxation to
maximize deductions.  Of course, you would always want to conference with your
CPA for both subjects; especially the chart of accounts.  I'm going through a
chart of accounts work-up for our new business, Port Chicago's Loading Dock,
and believe me, I would be absolutely lost with our CPA, or business planner,
and our attorney--three great players to have on your business team.

During the accounting period, you want a quick-entry, self-categorizing
bookkeeping method.  The best for this would either be a dedicated accounting
program--again, specific to your business--or a database.  The objective here
is to be able to throw your in's and out's into a program, have it keep track
of what goes where, and have it at the ready to give you all the statements,
i.e., cash flow, year to date, balance sheet, etc.

Now, for management purposes--knowing you have to navigate your business vessel
through economic, real world seas--you need to use either a dedicated
projection and budgeting program, or a spreadsheet for what-if magic, i.e.,
planned vs. actual, impact of marketing, 80/20 rule analysis, break even
analysis, etc.

If you're new to hard-core, the-way-it-should-be accounting, let me call your
attention to your local SBA (Small Business Association).  The SBA has a
handfull of great how-to books--and they're cheap; like $1.50, $3.00, etc.
Good stuff!!  The Government Printing Office in Pueblo, CO has a catalog that's
well worth getting, as well.  In fact, it's been a few years since my last
catalog... I've made a note to write for a new one, myself.  Again, good
stuff... and very reasonably priced.

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Your second question referred to data entry and Multiplan; specifically.
Bottom line: Yes, you must enter data at the cell level.  Sorry to say, but
Multiplan does not have input screen capabilities like Lucid... now there's a
spreadsheet!  Lucid was always the best.  In either case (Multiplan, and Lucid)
you do not get macro capabilities.  You'll have to look to DOS or Mac based
spreadsheets for macro's... or possibly, Supera for the Model 100.  As I
recall, Supera was a macro-add-on for the Model 100.  I have Supera but never
used it.  As I recall, Paul Perry did a write up on Supera back in 85/86.

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Your last question had to do with printing the entire spreadsheet from
Multiplan.  You say you read the book, huh?  Okay... look on page 46.  About
2/3's of the way down the page, it reads:  "If you want to print the entire
worksheet, enter R1C1:R99C63 as the range in the "from" field."  This means
that after you press <shift><print> you jump over to the "from" field and key
in R1C1:R99C63 and hit <enter>.  Like any spreadsheet, Multiplan will print
absolutely everything it finds between the upper left and lower right print
coordinates.  This means that if your spreadsheet extends to R67C15, then you
might want to limit your range to that lower right coordinate, else use the old
standby of R99C63.  In both cases, it's assumed that your spreadsheet starts at
R1C1, or the upper left most cell in the program.

Hoep this helps... -Rick-