A software program that enters information in a ledger format with rows and columns. A common example is Microsoft Excel.

GCSE IT Spreadsheet: Essential Info

This is what the exam board Edexcel believes goes into a spreadsheet. Some of them apply only to Microsoft products, but what do you expect?

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What A Spreadsheet Does

• Neatly orders numbers in a grid
• Performs conditional formatting
• Performs calculations through the use of formulae
• Validate entered information
• Lookup data stored in adjacent rows/columns
• Do projections
• Sort data
• Charts and graphs
• Work with multiple sheets

What A Spreadsheet Doesn't Do

• Allow input of data through forms (database)
• Carry large amounts of heavily formatted text (word processor or (at a stretch) DTP)
• Create HTML (text editor)
• Make nicely printed reports (database)

A Spreadsheet Would Be Used As

• A booking system for a concert/cinema
• A finance report
• Anything that requires manipulation of numbers in a grid

A Spreadsheet Would Not Be Used As

• A Checkout product ID finding system (database/proprietary barcode scanner)
• A TV Scheduling sheet (programming, most likely-no pun intended)

GCSE IT