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If you follow the steps in this article, you'll discover the process of creating a spreadsheet is a lot easier than it looks.
First, you'll need a good spreadsheet application. There are many different spreadsheet software programs but the most popular are Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Works. There are also full featured versions that can be downloaded from the internet for free. One such free program is called OpenOffice and it contains a feature rich spreadsheet if you don't want to spend hundreds of dollars for a comparable Microsoft product.
Once you have a good spreadsheet application loaded on your computer, you need to follow some simple guidelines before you can create a meaningful finished product. These are the basic guidelines and steps involved to get you started:
Establish a reason for your spreadsheet.
Determine the results you want from your spreadsheet.
Collect all of your data input that will produce your results.
Determine all of your calculations you'll need to produce your results.
Make a paper sketch of what your spreadsheet might look like.
Begin to create your spreadsheet.
As you can see, there are only six steps involved in planning to produce a finished spreadsheet. Following these steps and giving them careful consideration will help you form a solid foundation for your spreadsheet. All that remains is to dig in, research, and learn how your specific spreadsheet application works and explore all of its functions and features.
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