Dan Bricklin wrote:
> As I understand it, the vast majority (and I mean vast) of
> spreadsheets use very little of this functionality. Some simple
> arithmetic MAYBE plus the SUM function. References to cells sometimes,
> and much less frequently to cells on related sheets. Very few use
> variables. Is this true? Do we have a real survey? I heard that Lotus
> did one many years ago, is there anything new or at least access to
> that data?
I think you're referring to Chan and Storey 1996,
“The use of spreadsheets in organizations: determinants and
consequences,” Information and Management
**
<http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/els/03787206;jsessionid=4besncvmjh4j1.victoria>Volume
31, Number 3, December 1996, pp. 119-134(16). Publisher is Elsevier Science.
It's not open access, so I don't know the details; can anyone get a copy to
can report on it? Some open access info:
http://sprig.section.informs.org/sprigfiles/INFORMS05_09.ppt
http://mba.tuck.dartmouth.edu/spreadsheet/
Alternatively, someone could try to download all spreadsheet files available
on the web, and find out what functions and operators are in use.
I believe it's correct that many users would be happy with an even
a smaller set basic set. But I'd like to find the data so we can
have a RATIONALE for picking some other set, if we're to create
a smaller subset.
--- David A. Wheeler
