Month: April 2022

Computer skills: Spreadsheets

This is our ninth study session. It is also the first session of Season 2. (formal session on Tue. April 26, 2022), done remotely. A & A are in Florida, Grand Dad is up north. Note, all links open a new tab in your browser.

There will be two sessions.

• Please work on this lesson Monday April 25 on your own, at your own pace, any time.
• Then let’s join together on Tuesday over Brave Talk to go over this lesson together. We can see how you did, and do some typing and adding numbers together. I’ll send you the Brave Talk link in time for the meeting.

Spreadsheets

Q: What is a spreadsheet and what is it used for?

A spreadsheet is an electronic set of squares arranged in rows and columns that allow you to write text and numbers. You can calculate the numbers. It’s basically a mathematical matrix of columns. Each column and even each cell is “smart.”

Workshop

Let’s go to an online spreadsheet now and learn how to use it. Note, often you would use spreadsheet software right on your computer (not online). Examples of “on computer” spreadsheet software are: Microsoft Excel and Apple Numbers. An example of an online version is Google Sheets.

Since Microsoft, Apple, and Google don’t respect your privacy, let’s try Ethercalc, which is open software.

Go to this link at Ethercalc.net

Here’s what we want to do. We will add up the number of fruits we bought at the store. You bought a certain number of bananas, a certain amount of apples, a few pears, and a bunch of oranges. Create a heading at the top of the column (Type of fruit, and Number of Fruit). Write your fruit names in each cell in column A, and write the number of each fruit in column B. Total the amount of fruits.

• Delete the text that is there now.
• Type the header for the fruits and the header for the number of each.
• List the four types of fruit.
• Enter the number of each fruit that you bought.
• Type “Total” at the bottom of the Fruit column.
• Type in the “Sum” command at the bottom of the fruit column. It will automatically add up the fruits.

Here’s the syntax of the sum command: =sum(B1:B4)

Explanation of the Sum Command. In the cell, start with the equals sign =. That tells the cell it needs to do a calculation. The word sum tells it to create a sum or total of the specified range of cells in the round brackets. The range you typed tells the cell to add up column B’s cells from cell 1 to cell 4. Note, you can type the range, or instead you can highlight the range using your mouse. After highlighting the cells, you simply type the right round bracket ) and hit Enter. Either way works.

Here’s a video on how the Sum command works.

Try creating your own spreadsheet now and send me the link in our Telegram group. Maybe you can do a spreadsheet of a collection, or a simple budget. If you decide on a budget, pretend you have grown up and moved out. How would you keep track of your rent, food, car payment, phone payment, clothes budget, etc. You can do that in a spreadsheet.

Free downloadable spreadsheet software:

Note, your mom’s Macbook probably has the “Numbers” spreadsheet on it. That will be fine to use. If not, or if you get your own computer, I list two other spreadsheets below …

Here are two software programs you can download and use on your computer. Note, both come as part of a bigger suite of productivity tools called “Office.” So you probably have to download the whole suite. The spreadsheet is part of the whole program.

Libre Office Calc

Softmaker Planmaker

The Best Online Spreadsheet Program: Zoho

Optional. Feel free to register at Zoho. It is a full suite of many applications such as email, calendar and spreadsheet. You can register here if you like. Zoho is an excellent alternative to Google and Gmail.

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CLASS FEEDBACK and REVIEW

Once you’ve done the session and spent a bit of time reviewing how to use a spreadsheet, please send me a message in our Telegram group that you’ve done the review. And send me a link to either your own Ethercalc or Zoho spreadsheet. Thanks!