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>"Spreadsheets are often used as a multipurpose tool for data entry, storage, analysis, and visualization. Most spreadsheet programs allow users to perform all

by cascom 8y ago

>"Spreadsheets are often used as a multipurpose tool for data entry, storage, analysis, and visualization. Most spreadsheet programs allow users to perform all of these tasks, however we believe that spreadsheets are best suited to data entry and storage, and that analysis and visualization should happen separately." in every organization I've worked in, its usually the exact opposite - spreadsheets are used to do analysis and create reports while the source data is coming from other systems (SAP, Salesforce, quickbooks, etc)

zokier 8y ago
While I don't necessarily agree with the author there, I don't think there is contradiction between their and your statements. Tools are not necessarily commonly used for what they are best suited for. Also the context is bit different; research vs businesses
sonofgod 8y ago
Sometimes the spreadsheets are the output of one system, but the input to the next: the spreadsheets of the Office of National Statistics in the UK are the final, and official output of a long chain of number wrangling, but when it comes to re-consuming them to power their new data-driven website it's a real challenge -- I wound up working on a project to allow programmatic consumption of these complex spreadsheets. (https://github.com/sensiblecodeio/databaker https://github.com/sensiblecodeio/databaker for the top-level project; https://github.com/sensiblecodeio/xypath https://github.com/sensiblecodeio/xypath for the library I created). Get in touch if you're interested -- dave.mckee@gmail.com
- IanCal 8y ago
  Oh fantastic, I want to do more with the data but the spreadsheets are designed for people rather than machines. Will have to check this out, thanks!
  - DenisM 8y ago
    See also DataWrangler.
andyidsinga 8y ago
I've seen and heard from colleagues that there is a lot of data being stored and shared in CSV too ..and then analysis done in excel. that seems to change as an automation and IT culture starts to develop in an organization; interestingly, IT can sometimes be a barrier to data organization (too slow, cross-org costs etc) and cause people to continue to use CSV and excel. fwiw - we built a service called "yukon data solutions" that solves these classes of problems for people trying to transition from CSV and spreadsheets into automated and reproducible analytics and reporting.
- DenisM 8y ago
  FYI Yukon was the codename for Microsoft SQL Server 2005. Dunno if you care.
  - andyidsinga 8y ago
    oh - that's cool, didn't know that :) Our's is based on the Canadian Air force CC-106 Yukon.
cm2187 8y ago
Spreadsheets are also great UIs for configuration files to be used for models. Perhaps not for the programmer (though you can write your excel serializer/deserializer) but for users yes. If you have to make large changes on many entries, try updating a json or xml file by hand, or spend two hours clicking through buttons and drop downs in a UI vs a few seconds on a spreadsheet for any decent excel user.
janci 8y ago
No enterprise application is complete until it gets Export to Excel feature.

by cascom 8y ago

zokier 8y ago

While I don't necessarily agree with the author there, I don't think there is contradiction between their and your statements. Tools are not necessarily commonly used for what they are best suited for. Also the context is bit different; research vs businesses

sonofgod 8y ago

Sometimes the spreadsheets are the output of one system, but the input to the next: the spreadsheets of the Office of National Statistics in the UK are the final, and official output of a long chain of number wrangling, but when it comes to re-consuming them to power their new data-driven website it's a real challenge -- I wound up working on a project to allow programmatic consumption of these complex spreadsheets. (https://github.com/sensiblecodeio/databaker https://github.com/sensiblecodeio/databaker for the top-level project; https://github.com/sensiblecodeio/xypath https://github.com/sensiblecodeio/xypath for the library I created). Get in touch if you're interested -- dave.mckee@gmail.com

IanCal 8y ago
Oh fantastic, I want to do more with the data but the spreadsheets are designed for people rather than machines. Will have to check this out, thanks!
- DenisM 8y ago
  See also DataWrangler.

andyidsinga 8y ago

I've seen and heard from colleagues that there is a lot of data being stored and shared in CSV too ..and then analysis done in excel. that seems to change as an automation and IT culture starts to develop in an organization; interestingly, IT can sometimes be a barrier to data organization (too slow, cross-org costs etc) and cause people to continue to use CSV and excel. fwiw - we built a service called "yukon data solutions" that solves these classes of problems for people trying to transition from CSV and spreadsheets into automated and reproducible analytics and reporting.

DenisM 8y ago
FYI Yukon was the codename for Microsoft SQL Server 2005. Dunno if you care.
- andyidsinga 8y ago
  oh - that's cool, didn't know that :) Our's is based on the Canadian Air force CC-106 Yukon.

cm2187 8y ago

Spreadsheets are also great UIs for configuration files to be used for models. Perhaps not for the programmer (though you can write your excel serializer/deserializer) but for users yes. If you have to make large changes on many entries, try updating a json or xml file by hand, or spend two hours clicking through buttons and drop downs in a UI vs a few seconds on a spreadsheet for any decent excel user.

janci 8y ago

No enterprise application is complete until it gets Export to Excel feature.