> Excel's inability to make cell formulas read exactly like we write
> them on paper was the only major grouse I had against it. Excel's
> formulas are compact and good for execution but not for
> documentation and later reviewing.
> The multilevels of parentheses, the mathematical operators etc are
> all in one line and it takes some effort to read and understand
> them in all except trivial cases.
Use names. I have a series of boiler code spreadsheets I had the same
problem with, beginning with one sheet for each situation. First
thing to do is bind them into a workbook so the kinds of information
that should be commonly available to all calculations is in a single
spot. My variables are arranged by name in the first column and each
separate calculation in subsequent columns. Naming everything is
trivial. Pick a range where your calculations will go and include
that first column. Do insert>name>create and defines each row or
portion with the name you've put in the first column. If the
subsequent columns have formulas, select them and do
insert>name>apply. The formula cell references are replaced by the
names automagically. So the obscure B4*B11/(2*B9*B10-1.2*B4) becomes
the highly readable P*D/(2*S*E-1.2*P) in the twinkling of an eye.
Another useful device is user functions written in Visual Basic. You
can do iterative arithmetic, complicated algebra or table look-ups
without cluttering up your worksheet You need to work at VBA for a
little, but there are good books around. And as people wise up and
replace their Windows iron with Macs, the worksheets translate
transparently.
Christopher Wright P.E. |"They couldn't hit an elephant at
chrisw@skypoint.com | this distance" (last words of Gen.
.......................................| John Sedgwick, Spotsylvania
1864)
http://www.skypoint.com/~chrisw/
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