CPSC 547 - A Review of Spreadsheets

Conclusion

After all the reviews, the best choice for the tasks required for BFCS would be Microsoft Excel's version 5.0. The reason for this choice is that it is able to accomplish all the typical spreadsheet functions as well as or better than Lotus 1-2-3 and Quattro Pro. There are no advantageous features contained within Lotus 1-2-3 or Quattro Pro which Excel does not have, and features of Lotus 1-2-3 are all contained one way or another within Excel.

The biggest factor in placing Excel ahead of all other spreadsheets reviewed is the use of Visual Basic as the macro language. The power of this feature to create applications is by far the best macro language of the three programs. Although expertise is necessary for programming in this envirnoment, the Informatino System department of BFCS will be carrying out all the system requests and knowledge in Visual Basic is expected to be a minor detail. Knowledge would be necessary in a spreadsheet macro language anyways, so this issue would be a factor in all three applications.

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Belinda Fong
Christopher Sakamoto

February 21, 1996