INFORMATION SYSTEMS: LECTURE 16 STUDY GUIDE

Spreadsheets

• are computer programs that allow users to easily arrange, calculate, and present numerical data

• feature built-in formulas for calculations, enable quick data visualization through charts, and organize data in rows and columns.

Cell

• the basic unit of a spreadsheet for storing data,

• Identified by a cell address/reference/identifier (e.g., A3), which combines a column letter and row number.

Active Cells

• is the selected cell where data can be entered. It is identified by a heavy border and highlighted row and column headings

• Clicking on a cell is a common way to make it active

Row

• a horizontal line of cells

• identified by numbers and clicking on a number selects the entire row

Column

• a vertical line of cells

• identified by letters and clicking on a letter selects the entire column

Label

• help identify data in a spreadsheet.

• They do not interact with other cells like numerical values.

• To enter a number as label, use an apostrophe before it.

• align to the left when entered.

Value

• in a spreadsheet they can interact with other cells.

• They include numbers, dates, and formulas.

• can be used in calculations.

• They align to the right when entered.

Common Error Values

• #VALUE! appears when an operation or function is invalid.

• #DIV/0! occurs when dividing by zero.

• #REF! indicates an invalid cell reference in a formula.

• ####... is not an error; it means the cell is too small to display the value.

Relative referencing

• the default in spreadsheets

• copy a calculation using the fill handle, the spreadsheet program copies the cell that is in the same relative position

Absolute referencing

• don’t want the reference to change

• tells the program to refer to a specific cell when the formula is copied