Spreadsheets

Research
What is a spreadsheet?
Spreadsheets are electronic documents that store software. They use rows and columns to
represent data by manipulating and analysing it. They are an easy to understand data form
that can also be used in calculations.

How do they work?

Spreadsheets process and perform calculations on the data entered by the user. A
spreadsheet appears as a grid, each row has its own number and each column its own letter.
This labelling of rows and columns is used to give each cell a cell address. Cells can contain
numbers, text or formulae.

How and why are they used?

Organisations use spreadsheets to improve productivity, usability and accuracy. Data can be
tracked over a period of time to allow adjustments within productivity. Spreadsheets can be
displayed in different formats to aid understanding and usability. They can also help to
calculate and manipulate data with accuracy. They can be helpful in supporting decision-
making and to represent and analyse information and data.

Elements available within spreadsheets:

There are many tools and techniques within spreadsheets, for example, cell replication and
formatting. Page setup and user are also used as well as interfaces. The purpose of these is
to aid the usability and productivity of data. The accuracy and presentation are also key
features used in output data. You may use these in activities such as cost modelling, analysis
of data and tracking progress of results. Stock control and result creation may also use
spreadsheets.

Analysing Spreadsheets

Ticket Spreadsheet:

Elements within the Spreadsheet-

On the tickets and finances table, codes that change the price of tickets and these
are connected to the tickets table.

VLOOKUP is used for costs on the Tickets and Finances table to

link them to the codes. VLOOKUP function allows you to
search a column for a value or formula and take the value to
also put in another column.

Colour coded boxes for each column, applying to all three tables.
Used to make the table look more appealing, in some cases,
however also to help understand the divide between each
category.

Includes drop down box for the codes of tickets. In a drop down

box you click the arrows then click an entry in the list.
There is an Over 500 box that checks if it is over 500 by

using true or false, the IF function.

Formulas used to calculate outgoing, income, profit and total costs (multiply, divide,
add and subtract)
Uses SUM in some formula. This function adds all the numbers that you give. This
can be can be a range, reference, formula and a result from another cell.
In the cells that use cost, the numbers are formatted to pounds.


Advantages and Disadvantages
Usability: Formulas are correct so easy to change numbers and calculations are
made and includes VLOOKUP, so if ticket code prices are changed they link we
finances table. However does not have any buttons to the other pages and tables
for ease of access. The colour coding can become distracting to use therefore it is
not necessarily needed in the tables.
Accuracy: Calculations and formulas are accurate however it is not specified to what

the codes on tickets are for. Drop down boxes make data entry is quicker and
more accurate because they limit the entries people can make in a cell.
Productivity: Tells you when you have reached 500 target through profit so would
help ensure cost productivity. It also ensures that you will not overbook because
the correct cells turn red when there is a problem with seating.

BMI Spreadsheet:

Elements within the Spreadsheet-
On the dashboard and throughout the menus there are
buttons that take you to other linked pages but macros
has to be enabled for them to work.

VLOOKUP is used in the calories section within the activity data table. VLOOKUP
function allows you to search a column for a value or formula and take the value to
also put in another column.

Formulas used to calculate totals from figures: multiply, divide, add and subtract.
Uses SUM in some formula. This function adds all the numbers that you give. This

can be a range, reference, formula and a result from another cell.

A series graph has been created from the formula

sheet. A series is a row or column of numbers

that are plotted in a chart from data. You can plot
one or more data series in a chart.


Drop down boxes are used in the menu. In a drop down
box you click the arrows then click an entry in the list.

IF function is used for BMR cell for personal details to
determine the BMR they start at.

Advantages and Disadvantages-
Usability: Before using the buttons that take you to the linked pages you have to
enable macros for them to work so it does not enable automatically. Also, the

spreadsheets as a whole is very long, with 10 sheets included. This may make use
slower because of the complexity of the data, information and amount of it all.
Productivity: There are buttons to other pages on the dashboard and throughout
the menus, these increase accessibility to other pages and help productivity move
faster.
Accuracy: The spreadsheet is very accurate, the formulas calculate correctly and the
cells information link when needed.