Spreadsheets are another example of an application which makes the computer more manageable, just as the word processor turns the computer into a versatile typewriter and the database turns the computer into an electronic filing system! In this unit we will:
• Learn the terms and commands for working with a spreadsheet.
• Make some simple templates on the spreadsheet.
• Make a larger template for a billing statement.
The spreadsheet provides you with hundreds (sometimes thousands) of "cells" in which words, numbers or mathematical operations (+, -, *, /) may be stored. The advantage of a spreadsheet is that once the original information is entered, it is possible to change one entry and have the computer recalculate the new results based on the new information.
SAMPLE SPREADSHEET FILE
In your AppleWorks folder you should have a document named TEST AVERAGES. If this is not in your folder, use the CHOOSER to choose the Computer Lit server.
Double click on the AppleWorks icon found in your AppleWorks folder found on your disk. The icon should look like the one below:
You will see the familiar AppleWorks opening screen and menu. Choose CANCEL since we are not making a new spreadsheet yet. Click on the FILE menu option to open a document and choose OPEN... from this menu. Choose the TEST AVERAGES file from this window. You will see a spreadsheet showing the test scores of some students. Your copy of TEST AVERAGES will not have the average row (row 8) filled in.
There are several important concepts that are important to understand about spreadsheets before moving forward. Work through the following:
1. Click on the cell C8 and then type in
=AVERAGE(C2..C7)
Click the green check mark √ to accept you typing or hit enter.
At the top of the screen you will see this:
The "=AVERAGE(C2..C7) is a formula, which is where the power of a spreadsheet emerges. To put in a formula, you start with the equal sign "=", and then you enter a number of different functions. This formula finds the average of the contents of cells C2 through C7 (going down).
The functions that are available may be seen if you choose "PASTE FUNCTION" from the EDIT menu:
