Modern spreadsheets are extremely functional, but incredibly complex, pieces of software, with hundreds of features and commands. They are easy to use for small jobs, but can get tedious and frustrating when the job gets complicated. Many of the capabilities of spreadsheets are never even learned by the average spreadsheeter, often ignorant of time-saving tools and functions. Few ever become truly proficient and knowedgeable of the entire range of features. So much of the power of spreadsheets is wasted due to their complexity.
Moreover, it is difficult to build in data checking and other safety features into spreadsheets-- they are inherently fragile data repositories. Much has been written on the risks of complex spreadsheets.
The Objectsheet is spreadsheet-like application based on the Javascript calculation engine. The Objectsheet combines the template-based rules and strong data checking characteristics of database managers with the free-form simplicity of the traditional spreadsheet. For simple calculations, the objectsheet is as easy to use as a spreadsheet, yet the objectsheet simplifies complex calculations. Data checking and special cell highlighting allow the Objectsheet to be safer and its calculations more intuitive to grasp than the traditional spreadsheet.
We have created a simple model below. Look at the spreadsheet on the left and see if you can determine what's going on. Now look at the Objectsheet on the right. Even without having seen an Objectsheet before, it's easy to figure out what's going on, and what's expected of you as the user of this model.
| Traditional Spreadsheet | Objectsheet | |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
formulas copied for each row |
 |
formulas apply to all rows; entered once |
formulas hidden |
|
formulas visible along with values |
cell names use A1/B2 |
|
formulas use meaningful column names |
no cell highlighting |
|
manual entry cells ("day" column) automatically highlighted (white background) |
formula override (cell B4) is inconspicuous |
|
formula overrides ("hr" column, row 2) automatically highlighted (off-white background) |
11 cell entries/operations |
|
10 cell entries/operations |
Both sheets were created with approximately the same number of steps. But the Objectsheet does some important things automatically. Of course, in a traditional spreadsheet you can highlight special cells and create cell names for use in formulas to make things clearer. But the formatted version of the above spreadsheet requires another 6 operations (3 cell formatting and 3 cell naming). So the naturally formatted Objectsheet required about 1/3 fewer steps than the comparably formatted spreadsheet.
The Objectsheet accomplishes all this by adding a small amount of structure to traditional spreadsheet cells. Standard spreadsheet cells are each independent containers, while Objectsheet rows and columns are the fundamental structures, cells merely being the intersection of the two. This simple change makes a world of difference. While even the simple model above is easier with the Objectsheet, the real benefit is realized when creating and managing complex models, where spreadsheets have much greater difficulty.
The reasons for this are explained in a quick overview and demonstrated with a working proof-of-concept application and some accompanying tutorials. Even the simple proof-of-concept application (less than 100kB in size) is as powerful as modern spreadsheets in many ways and simplifies many tasks. The Objectsheet has the potential to be safer and easier to work with than traditional spreadsheets.
R. Knopman, © 2001