Description

Microsoft Excel has the basic features ofallspreadsheets,[4] using a grid of cells arranged in numberedrowsand letter-named columns to organize data manipulationslikearithmetic operations. It has a battery of supplied functionstoanswer statistical, engineering and financial needs. Inaddition,it can display data as line graphs, histograms and charts,and witha very limited three-dimensional graphical display. Itallowssectioning of data to view its dependencies on variousfactors fordifferent perspectives (using pivot tables and thescenariomanager).[5] It has a programming aspect, Visual BasicforApplications, allowing the user to employ a wide varietyofnumerical methods, for example, for solving differentialequationsof mathematical physics,[6][7] and then reporting theresults backto the spreadsheet. It also has a variety ofinteractive featuresallowing user interfaces that can completelyhide the spreadsheetfrom the user, so the spreadsheet presentsitself as a so-calledapplication, or decision support system (DSS),via acustom-designed user interface, for example, a stockanalyzer,[8]or in general, as a design tool that asks the userquestions andprovides answers and reports.[9][10][11] In a moreelaboraterealization, an Excel application can automatically pollexternaldatabases and measuring instruments using an updateschedule,[12]analyze the results, make a Word report or PowerPointslide show,and e-mail these presentations on a regular basis to alist ofparticipants.