Modelling with Spreadsheets: Difference between revisions
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Spreadsheets are an excellent tool for many quick-and-easy engineering calculations and even quite a lot of more complex calculations. | Spreadsheets are an excellent tool for many quick-and-easy engineering calculations and even quite a lot of more complex calculations. | ||
There are arguments against the use of spreadsheets though: | There are arguments against the use of spreadsheets though: | ||
* they don't support [[units of measurement]]! | * they don't support [[units of measurement]]! | ||
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See also [[Spreadsheet interface]] for some thoughts about how the benefits of spreadsheet-style programming could be merged with something like ASCEND. | See also [[Spreadsheet interface]] for some thoughts about how the benefits of spreadsheet-style programming could be merged with something like ASCEND. | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 06:35, 24 May 2010
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Spreadsheets are an excellent tool for many quick-and-easy engineering calculations and even quite a lot of more complex calculations.
There are arguments against the use of spreadsheets though:
- they don't support units of measurement!
- you can't check your model 'at a view' because formulae are hidden and often written in terms of cryptic cell references such as 'H18' and 'AB23'
- they are saved in a binary format that makes reviewing changes difficult
- it is hard to reuse one small bit of an old spreadsheet that you previously made (without copying it or modifying it)
- it is hard to build modular structures
- it is hard to examine the nature of convergence problems in the Solver component (particular to Excel)
- it is hard to build automated testing into a spreadsheet<a href="#_note-0" title="">[1]</a>
See also the article "Spreadsheets Considered Harmful" at [1]
See also Spreadsheet interface for some thoughts about how the benefits of spreadsheet-style programming could be merged with something like ASCEND.