| What are Spreadsheets? |
[The purpose of this section]
Understand what spreadsheets are.
Understand what spreadsheets are.
About StarSuite
StarSuite is “Microsoft Office”-compatible integrated software developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. This StarSuite will be used for the explanations in Sessions 3 and 4.
Kumamoto University has obtained a site license for StarSuite. Thus the software can be installed on not only the PCs located in the university, but also on PCs individually owned by enrolled students and faculty members without charge. Please note that the right to use the software will finish after a student graduates from the university and it is necessary to then uninstall (remove) the software from the personal PC.
Anyone who wishes to use StarSuite can download it from the “Site License Software Download System” under the “Kuma Univ. Portal” tab in the course portal site （http://uportal.kumamoto-u.ac.jp/）
(Note) Although StarSuite 8 will be downloaded from the above site, StarSuite 7 is used for the descriptions in this section. Although the basic operations of the two are the same, please note that screen shots in the text may be slightly different from those of StarSuite 8.
In addition, StarSuite 7 and 8 adopt different file extensions, so please replace the extensions in the text as appropriate. (e.g. StarSuite Writer of 7 adopts “.sxw”, but 8 adopts “.odt”.)
Kumamoto University has obtained a site license for StarSuite. Thus the software can be installed on not only the PCs located in the university, but also on PCs individually owned by enrolled students and faculty members without charge. Please note that the right to use the software will finish after a student graduates from the university and it is necessary to then uninstall (remove) the software from the personal PC.
Anyone who wishes to use StarSuite can download it from the “Site License Software Download System” under the “Kuma Univ. Portal” tab in the course portal site （http://uportal.kumamoto-u.ac.jp/）
(Note) Although StarSuite 8 will be downloaded from the above site, StarSuite 7 is used for the descriptions in this section. Although the basic operations of the two are the same, please note that screen shots in the text may be slightly different from those of StarSuite 8.
In addition, StarSuite 7 and 8 adopt different file extensions, so please replace the extensions in the text as appropriate. (e.g. StarSuite Writer of 7 adopts “.sxw”, but 8 adopts “.odt”.)
What are Spreadsheets?
Spreadsheets are designed for calculating, automatically creating graphs, creating table types of documents, and so on by inputting values or calculation rules in boxes (cells) that are aligned horizontally and vertically.
The term “Spreadsheet” originally meant tables consisting of cells, but “table calculation software that has a spreadsheet” has recently come to often be called simply a “spreadsheet”. Thus, in this textbook, “table calculation software that has tables with rows of cells” is referred to as a “spreadsheet”, if not otherwise specified.
Functions and Purpose of Spreadsheets (Table Calculation Software)
The primary functions of a spreadsheet include the following.
- Creation of a document that includes tables
Although word processors have capabilities for creating tables, it is often easier to create a table using calculation software as its name suggests. Texts that are not tables can also be written and figures and images can be inserted in table calculation software, although it is not as flexible as a word processor.
- Calculation
Not only arithmetic operations, but all basic operations in mathematics including trigonometric functions can be performed in a spreadsheet. Totals and averages can be obtained easily. - Processing
For example, the largest value can be obtained, and calculation methods can be changed depending on the conditions. You can also write a program for automatic processing. - Creation of Graphs
Attractive graphs can be easily created. Various types of graphics such as bar graphs and pie charts can also be produced.
For what kind of purposes are spreadsheets utilized? Please see the following examples.
- Housekeeping book (cashbook)
Since you can input calculation formulas and comments, managing the household budget becomes easier.
- Graphing data from experiments and studies
Various data can be made into graphs. These graphs can then be inserted into word processors or presentation software. - ? Quotations, Invoices
This is a popular usage since calculations are easy and various text formats can be set up.
- Learning Results Management
A list of the learning results of students and changes in the performance of each student can be stored. It is possible to process them statistically to extract the necessary data and to make graphs from the data.