Types of data common to spreadsheets and databases

Types of data

NUMERICAL/NUMBER FORMATS:

• Integars - positive and negative whole numbers
• Percentages
• Decimal places - can specify the number of decimal places you want in a number
• Currency - expressed as 2dp
• Fractions

TEXT

DATE/TIME

LOGICAL/BOOLEAN

• can have only one of two values for example male or female, yes or no

Facilities for data entry

The main requirements for data entry into a spreadsheet model are that it shoudl be made easy as possible for the user and will reduce the likelihood of incorrect data being entered

SPINNERS:

• let you alter the value in a cell by clicking on an up or down arrow

LIST BOXES:

• all items in the list are shown in the box unless the list is too long in which case the scroll bar is used to make them visible

COMBO BOXES:

• allow you to choose an entry from a list which only appears when you click on the arrow to drop it down
• useful because they can be used to enter more than one piece of data from a table of data
• used when have a fixed number of choices

LOGICAL/BOOLEAN (TRUE OR FALSE) BOXES:

• sometimes called check boxes or tick boxes

OPTION BOXES:

• used when the user has to select between alternatives

FORMS TOOLBAR:

• contains lots of ideas for making it easier to add data as well as making data entry more accurate by restricting choices

Can add pictures, word processing document or media into a spreadsheet

Formatting

ALIGNING CELLS:

• numbers aligned to right
• text aligned to left

FORMATTING FONTS TO MAKE TEXT STAND OUT:

• Font type - changes the shapes of letters and numbers
• Font size - used to make headings, subheadings
• Font style - Bold, Italics, Underline used to draw attention to text

TEXT ALIGNMENT:

• cell merging - text overflows into the other cells

BORDERS AND ROTATING TEXT:

• rotating text useful when want to narrow column but the column headings is wide

ADDING COLOUR/SHADING:

• may be added to text, borders, background colours for cells