Google Spreadsheets Beta

I received a limited invitation to test the beta version of Google Spreadsheets, one of the new invention by Google Labs, that can be accessed through Google Docs.

    google spreadsheet beta test

Spreadsheet’s definition on Wikipedia:

A spreadsheet displays multiple cells that together make up a grid consisting of rows and columns, each cell containing alphanumeric text, numeric values or formulas. A formula defines how the content of that cell is to be calculated from the contents of any other cell (or combination of cells) each time any cell is updated.

Microsoft Excel, a spreadsheet application, has the largest spreadsheet user market share globally. Excel is one of Microsoft Office’s applications and works on Microsoft’s operating system Windows.

Pros of Google Spreadsheets

Google Spreadsheets allows users to:

  • Edit spreadsheets from anywhere
  • Share spreadsheets online

Google Spreadsheets provides basic built-in formulas and functions:

  • Financial formula: PMT()
  • Data lookup function: VLOOKUP()
  • Data manipulation function: TRANSPOSE()
  • Text data manipulation forumulas: REPLACE() and PROPER()

In Google Spreadsheets you can:

  • Freeze rows
  • Sort columns
  • Insert and/or delete cells
  • Wrap texts
  • Create multiple sheets

Cons of Google Spreadsheets

Comparing to Google Spreadsheets, Microsoft Excel offers comprehensive spreadsheets for advanced users. Google Spreadsheets’ capabilities are very basic comparing to Microsoft Excel’s.

  • Google Spreadsheets does not provide charts and pivot tables.
  • You can only use Google Spreadsheets when you are online.
  • Google Spreadsheets is unable to access external data sources through Microsoft ODBC drivers or Microsoft Office features with .odc connections.
  • Programming Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) through Google Spreadsheets is not possible.

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