ViewSheet
Encyclopedia
ViewSheet was a spreadsheet
program produced in the 1980s by Acorn Computers for use with their series of microcomputer
s. It was distributed as a pre-installed ROM
with some computer models. ViewSheet was written by Mark Colton
.
The spreadsheet is entered by typing
The program supports user-defined windows that can display cells from various different parts of the spreadsheet within the same screen. This is useful in lieu of a WIMP
environment, as it saves the user the inconvenience of moving back and forth around the spreadsheet to view cells which are far apart from each other.
ViewSheet supports saving of spreadsheets to both disk and tape and printing to both serial and parallel printers. These operations are performed in command mode, which also allows changing various options such as VDU settings and screen resolution. The program also integrates with Acornsoft's View word processor, allowing mixing of spreadsheet data and word processor text within the same printout. There's also a built-in facility for generating character-based bar charts.
Cells can be left or right justified and formatted according to a user specified layout. Numeric values are stored internally as five-byte floating point numbers. The ViewSheet file format is documented in the supplied manual, which also contains an example BBC BASIC
program to print out values from a saved spreadsheet.
ViewSheet takes advantage of a second 6502 processor, which triples the amount of memory available for spreadsheets, assuming the default screen mode is used (mode 3).
and a book ViewSheet and Viewstore: A Dabhand Guide by Graham Bell was published by Dabs Press in 1989.
David Brown, in his review for The Micro User states that ViewSheet "succeeds in providing all the basic spreadsheet functions in a well presented package". Although, he also cites several shortcomings of the program, writing "In conclusion, Viewsheet's major failing is to provide adequate facilities for textual labelling." and finishes by noting "Acornsoft is capable of producing better programs".
Spreadsheet
A spreadsheet is a computer application that simulates a paper accounting worksheet. It displays multiple cells usually in a two-dimensional matrix or grid consisting of rows and columns. Each cell contains alphanumeric text, numeric values or formulas...
program produced in the 1980s by Acorn Computers for use with their series of microcomputer
Microcomputer
A microcomputer is a computer with a microprocessor as its central processing unit. They are physically small compared to mainframe and minicomputers...
s. It was distributed as a pre-installed ROM
Read-only memory
Read-only memory is a class of storage medium used in computers and other electronic devices. Data stored in ROM cannot be modified, or can be modified only slowly or with difficulty, so it is mainly used to distribute firmware .In its strictest sense, ROM refers only...
with some computer models. ViewSheet was written by Mark Colton
Mark Colton
Mark Colton was a British racing driver and software author.He was killed in practice for Craigantlet hillclimb in Northern Ireland after his Pilbeam's front wing failed and he hit a telegraph pole....
.
Description
ViewSheet supports spreadsheets of up to 255 by 255 cells in size. Each cell can contain a number, formula or text label, although cells are referred to as slots in the official Acornsoft documentation. The program is supplied with a keyboard card listing the various commands, which on the BBC Micro is placed under the clear plastic strip above the function keys.The spreadsheet is entered by typing
*SHEET. All BBC Micro screen modes are supported, and the background and foreground colours can be changed by use of Ctrl-S,n,n,0,0,0 key sequences.The program supports user-defined windows that can display cells from various different parts of the spreadsheet within the same screen. This is useful in lieu of a WIMP
WIMP (computing)
In human–computer interaction, WIMP stands for "windows, icons, menus and pointers", denoting a style of interaction using these elements. It was coined by Merzouga Wilberts in 1980...
environment, as it saves the user the inconvenience of moving back and forth around the spreadsheet to view cells which are far apart from each other.
ViewSheet supports saving of spreadsheets to both disk and tape and printing to both serial and parallel printers. These operations are performed in command mode, which also allows changing various options such as VDU settings and screen resolution. The program also integrates with Acornsoft's View word processor, allowing mixing of spreadsheet data and word processor text within the same printout. There's also a built-in facility for generating character-based bar charts.
Cells can be left or right justified and formatted according to a user specified layout. Numeric values are stored internally as five-byte floating point numbers. The ViewSheet file format is documented in the supplied manual, which also contains an example BBC BASIC
BBC BASIC
BBC BASIC is a programming language, developed in 1981 as a native programming language for the MOS Technology 6502 based Acorn BBC Micro home/personal computer, mainly by Sophie Wilson. It is a version of the BASIC programming language adapted for a U.K...
program to print out values from a saved spreadsheet.
ViewSheet takes advantage of a second 6502 processor, which triples the amount of memory available for spreadsheets, assuming the default screen mode is used (mode 3).
Critical reception
ViewSheet was reviewed by Gordon Taylor in the January 1985 edition of A&B computingand a book ViewSheet and Viewstore: A Dabhand Guide by Graham Bell was published by Dabs Press in 1989.
David Brown, in his review for The Micro User states that ViewSheet "succeeds in providing all the basic spreadsheet functions in a well presented package". Although, he also cites several shortcomings of the program, writing "In conclusion, Viewsheet's major failing is to provide adequate facilities for textual labelling." and finishes by noting "Acornsoft is capable of producing better programs".