

    --- DSCALC Onscreen Help ---

           by Dick Sowa

A spreadsheet is simply a grid of rows
and  columns.  At  the intersection  of
each  row  and column is  a  CELL.  Row
numbers  are  displayed  along the left
side of the screen,   (ex:R01,R02...). 
Column numbers are along the top  edge,
(ex:   C01,  C02....).   Each  cell  is
either  blank or contains data of  some
sort.   Blank  cells are ignored during
calculations and are not saved to disk.
Data stored in one cell can be used  to
calculate   values  for  another  cell.
Results of one calculation can be  used
to  calculate  values for other  cells.
I call this formula 'nesting'.

       === USING DSCALC ===

CELL REFERENCES:Cells are referenced by
row   and  column,   using   the   form
äR01C13å.   When  the reference is to
another formula, the  calculated value
of the other formula is used.

These   references   are  used   within
mathematical expressions just like  any
variable.  For example:

         3*äR13C06å/3.14

Using  cell  references  is one way to
copy data from  one  cell  to another.

The  SUM  command specifies a range of
cells  to  be added together.

For example:

         SUMäR08C14-25å
     or  SUMäR01-25C09å

In the first example we are adding  all
the  values  (or calculated values)  in
row 8 between, and  including,  columns
14  through  25.   Similarly,   in  the
second  example  rows 1   through 25 in
column 9.  Column and  row  numbers can
be in any order,  (rows  before columns
or columns  listed before rows). 

1.  Cell  references cannot be made  to
    blank or text cells.

2.  Use no spaces within the brackets.

3.  Make sure each cell reference is to
    value  cells or to cells which  can
    be calculated first.  

4.  !!!!!!!! in the cell after a calc-



    ulation means the value calculated
    is too lengthy, (has too many           digits), to fit in the cell. 
Try 
    using the INT() function to drop
    any decimals. 

5.  The SUM command CANNOT be included
    with any other formulas.  The form 
    above must be  the  only  formula
    entry in a cell.

CURSOR  KEYS:Cursor keys are used  only
to  move  the cursor from one  cell  to
another.  

CELL CONTENTS:  If any,  cell  contents
are  displayed  below the function  key
menu and in the cell  itself, (up to 8
characterrs). 

NOTE:Formulas are displayed below  the
function  key  menu.    The  CALCULATED
VALUE  of the formula is  displayed  in
the cell.

FUNCTION  KEYS are active whenever  the
function  key menu is displayed at  the
screen bottom.

F1 Values:   Floating point number.
   8 characters max including demimal.
   
F2 Formulas: Standard BASIC syntax.  79
   characters maximum. Cell references
   are permitted. 100 formulas max per
   spreadsheet.

F5 Text: 8 characters  maximum.   

F7 Help:   Displays this file on  your
   screen.  Make sure your system disk
   is in drive 8 first.

F2 Load:   Will load a previously saved
   spreadsheet from disk.  You will be
   prompted for a filename.   
   
   CAUTION:
   Current sheet will be overwritten by
   the loaded file. Loaded files are
   no calculated. 
   
F4 Save: Saves currently displayed
   sheet to disk file.   You are
   prompted for a filename.   Will
   not  overwrite a file with the same
   name.  

F6 Print:    Allows  printing  to  your
   printer.  

F8  RECALC:  Takes entered data and
    formulas, calculates the results
    and displays them on the screen.






       ==== ERROR MESSAGES ====

DOS msgs:   Standard disk error msgs.
   
BLANK  OR TEXT CELL REFERENCE:  One  or
   more   of   your  cell   references
   calls  a  blank  cell or text cell.
   
NO REFERENCE  TO  VALUE  CELL: This
   message means that  all  cell
   references  are to other  formulas,
   and none to a value cell.

INFINITE   LOOP:    One  formula  calls
   another formula cell, which in turn
   calls  another,   which  eventually
   refers back to the original formula
   cell.   Cell references have to end
   somewhere.      Think    of    cell
   references  as branches in a  tree,
   spreading  out  but  never  closing
   back on itself.

NESTING EXCEEDS 20 LEVELS:  One formula
   cell calls another,  which in  turn
   calls another, etc.  This heirarchy
   or   branching  is  limited  to  20
   levels   maximum.    This   is   an
   arbitrary  limit I set to  simplify
   the  programming.    It  should  be
   plenty.

SYNTAX ERROR IN CELL:  The syntax of a
   formula  or  SUM  command  is  not
   correct.   The  offending cell is 
   identified for you.


                                                                           