Microsoft
Excel as a Programming Language,
To Create Databases and Complex Calculation
Devices
Created by David Alderoty © 2012
To contact the author use: David@TechForText.com or
left click on the link below for a website communication form.
Link for a Website Communication Form
Introductory Concepts
This website demonstrates how Microsoft Excel can be used as a programming language, to create databases and complex calculation devices that carry out SETS of calculation simultaneously. However, this text does NOT provide detailed instructions on how to create software. Specifically, it is a demonstration with software I created, in the summer of 2012, with Microsoft Excel, coupled with descriptions of a few of the concepts and techniques I use when creating software.
The software I created with Excel is UNLIKE conventional spreadsheets, and many of these devices function over the Internet, in conventional web browsers. This software performs complex sets of calculations involving. 1)Algebra with Hyperbolic Functions, 2)Calculus with Hyperbolic Integrals, 3)Calculus with Triple Integrals, 4) Trigonometry. This also includes 5) Databases with Calculation Mechanisms, such as for counting the number of entries in the database, and for statistical calculations.
This software is provided free of charge, and you can download the software with the links on this webpage, or from the related websites presented below. This software is available in a Microsoft Word and/or JavaScript format. However, the databases are available only in the Excel format. The Excel devices require Microsoft Windows and Excel 2003, 2007, 2010, or later versions. The JavaScript software should operate with most web browsers and operating systems, but they were only tested with Windows.
How Microsoft Excel Can Be Used As A Programming Language
Creating complex software with Microsoft Excel is NOT the same process as creating conventional spreadsheets, by inserting Excel’s default functions, by clicking on menu icons. This will become understandable with the following explanations, and examining of the online JavaScript software I created with Microsoft Excel.
When software is created with Microsoft Excel, the code is comprised of spreadsheet formulas, formatting code, input cells, output cells that display results and storage cells that store formulas and/or text messages. All of the above must essentially be wired together, in various types of parallel and serial configurations, similar to the way electronic circuits are created. Of course, the wires connecting one component to another are mental conceptualizations that represent the flow of data from input cells, storage cells, formulas, and outputs cells. This often involves one formula transmitting its calculated results to a number of other formulas for additional calculations.
When creating complex software, most of the spreadsheet formulas must be created by cognitively translating conventional mathematics and logical operations, into a format that can be used in Excel. For example, if you want to create software that displays the step-by-step solution to an algebraic equation, generated with numbers entered by the user, you must create a set of formulas that display each step. This is illustrated below, with four spreadsheet formulas that I created, to display the step by step solution to a simple algebraic problem, such as: BX+C=D, or 3X+112 = 5460. With the spreadsheet formulas below, Digit6, H, F, and A are the names of cells which TRANSMIT NUMBERS to the set of formulas.
=(1+Digit6)&"X+"&H&" = "&F*A
=(1+Digit6)&"X="&F*A&"-"&H
=(1+Digit6)&"X="&F*A-H
="X="&(F*A-H)/(1+Digit6)
Thus, you CANNOT create complex software with Excel, by simply inserting the default formulas into a spreadsheet, but sometimes it is feasible to modify default formulas to create complex software devices. For example, I modified Microsoft Excel’s functions that are used for time and date, (NOW() and TODAY(), to create a semi-random number generator, which transmits its numbers to ten calculation devices. This software was also designed to illustrate some of the concepts used to create software with Microsoft Excel, and it is embedded in the lower section of this webpage. The details about this software, is provided at the following website:
www.TechForText.com/Multiple-Calculation-Software-with-A-Semi-Random-Number-Generator-Based-On-Time
Another reason why Microsoft Excel can be used as a programming language is it can be electronically translated into a few conventional computer languages, with *specialized software. I usually, create JavaScript software, in this way, which is comprised of both JavaScript and HTML code. The JavaScript is used for the calculation mechanisms, and HTML is used for text and links. The resulting code, can be edited, and/or cut and pasted into a conventional HTML webpage, using Notepad, or an HTML editor.
*NOTE For translating Microsoft Excel devices, into JavaScript and HTML, I use SpreadsheetConverter, which is manufactured by Framtidsforum I&M AB, Sweden. There website is www.SpreadsheetConverter.com.
The following nine websites, contain free software downloads, that were created with Microsoft Excel, which demonstrate how Excel can be used as a programming language.
Website-1) A Calculation Device That Functions as a Calculus Tutorial
For Integrals with the Hyperbolic Sine snd Cosine
TITLE OF WEBSITE:
A Software-Based Tutorial On Calculus,
With The Hyperbolic Functions Sinh And Cosh
If you want a printer friendly JavaScript version
of the software left click on this link
Left click here to download (Excel versions) in a zipped folder
Remove the software from the folder before you use it
1)DESCRIPTION: The calculation device on Website-1 is designed to function as a tutorial, for students to practice solving integrals, with the hyperbolic sine and cosine(sinh and cosh) The calculation device-tutorial functions as soon as the user enters two numbers, in two white input boxes, on the top of the calculation device. When this is done, the software generates, ten integral problems involving hyperbolic functions, with the numbers the user entered. The calculated results for each problem are only revealed after the student attempts to solve the problem, by entering the numbers he or she calculated, into the input box of the problem in question. If the student entered the correct answer, a message in green type is displayed. If the student entered an incorrect answer, the software displays an error message in red type.
This software also has a device that keeps track of the number of correct calculations the student entered in the tutorial. There are 10 problems generated by the software, and for each correct calculation entered by the student, the counting device displays 10%
This software has another interesting feature, which allows the user to control the number of decimal places used in the calculations. Specifically, on the upper section of the software, there is a white input box, and related text that indicate how many decimal places are going to be used for the calculations. The users can change these settings, by deleting the number in the input box, and entering a number that represents the number of decimal places they prefer.
On the very bottom of the software, there is a box to enter comments, and a
submit button. When the submit button is pressed, the entire calculation
device, along with the calculated results, and the comments, are transmitted to
my e-mail (David Alderoty). In addition, each of the ten problems, has its
own box to enter comments, but the submit buttons are located only on the bottom
of the
software.
For students that need additional mathematics instruction, I provided links
under each problem to access the Wolfram
Alpha computer. This is a useful Internet resource, which can provide
step-by-step solutions to mathematics problems.
http://www.techfortext.com/Tanh-Coth/Tanh-Coth.htm
Website-2) A Calculation Device That Functions as a Calculus Tutorial
For Integrals with the Hyperbolic Tangent And Cotangent
TITLE OF WEBSITE:
A Software-Based Tutorial on Calculus,
With The Hyperbolic Tangent and Cotangent
If you want a printer friendly JavaScript
version of the software left click on this link
Left click here to download the zipped folder
Remove the software from the folder before you use it
2)DESCRIPTION: The software on website-2 is similar to the above, except it is a calculation device and tutorial for integrals involving the hyperbolic TANGENT and COTANGENT.
Website-3) A Calculation Device That Functions as a Calculus Tutorial
For Integrals with the Hyperbolic Secant and Cosecant
TITLE OF WEBSITE:
An Online Computer Tutorial on Calculus,
For The Hyperbolic Functions Sech and Csch
If you want a printer friendly version of the
JavaScript tutorial, without the introductory
and instructional text, left click on these words.
Left click here to download a zipped folder with Excel versions.
Remove the software from the folder before you use it
3)DESCRIPTION: The software on website-3 is similar to the above, except it is a calculation device and tutorial for integrals involving the hyperbolic SECANT and COSECANT.
Website-4) A Calculation Device for Hyperbolic-Functions
TITLE OF WEBSITE:
An Online Calculation Device For Hyperbolic Functions,
And Related Mathematical Concepts
www.TechForText.com/Hyperbolic-Functions
For a printer friendly JavaScript version of the above without
introductory and instructional text, left click on these words.
Left click here to download the zipped folder, with Excel versions.
Remove the software from the folder before you use it
4)DESCRIPTION: The software on website-4, is a calculation device for calculating the HYPERBOLIC: sine, cosine, tangent, cotangent, secant, and cosecant. The calculations take place, as soon as the user enters a number in a white input box, and clicks with the mouse. Each of the six calculations are performed in two ways, one is with the Microsoft Excel’s built-in functions, and the other is with the conventional formulas used for the hyperbolic functions, which are based on e (e = 2.718281828459050).
On the very bottom of this calculation device, there is a box to enter comments, and a submit button. When the submit button is pressed, the entire calculation device, along with the calculated results, and the comments, are sent to my e-mail (David Alderoty).
Website-5) A Calculation Device That Functions as a
Calculus Tutorial for Triple Integrals
TITLE OF WEBSITE:
Online JavaScript Calculation Software
For A Calculus Tutorial On Triple Integrals
www.TechForText.com/Triple-Integrals
For a printer friendly JavaScript version of the tutorial,
without introductory text, left click on these words.
Left click here to download a zipped folder, with Excel versions.
Remove the software from the folder before you use it
5)DESCRIPTION: The software on website-5 consists of a calculation device that functions as a tutorial for triple integrals. When the user enters two numbers, in white input boxes on top of the calculation device, an additional four values are generated by the computer. With these numbers, the software generates ten math problems in the form of triple integrals. When the user enters numbers he or she calculated for a specific problem, the software checks the calculated results, and displays a message indicating whether or not the user entered the correct calculations.
The calculations performed by this software are normally concealed, until the user enters manually calculated results. However, if the user places an X in a green input box, on the top of the device, all the results calculated by the computer are displayed instantaneously.
This software also has a device that keeps track of the number of correct calculations the student entered in the tutorial. There are 10 problems in the software, and for each correct calculation, the counting device displays 10%
This software has another interesting feature, which allows the user to control the number of decimal places used in the calculations. Specifically, on the upper section of the software, there is a white input box, and related text that indicate how many decimal places are going to be used for the calculations. The users can change these settings, by deleting the number in the input box, and replacing it with a number that represents their preferred number of decimal places.
On the very bottom of this calculation device, there is a box to enter comments, and a submit button. When the submit button is pressed, the entire calculation device, along with the calculated results, and the comments, are sent to my e-mail (David Alderoty).
Website-6) A Calculation Device That Functions as a Tutorial for
Solving Algebraic Equations with Hyperbolic Functions
TITLE OF WEBSITE:
Online Tutorial on Algebra with Hyperbolic Functions
In The Form of JavaScript Calculation Software
www.TechForText.com/Algebra-with-Hyperbolic-Functions
If you want a printer friendly JavaScript version of this software,
without the introductory text left click on these words
Left click here to download a zipped folder, with Excel versions.
Remove the software from the folder before you use it
6)DESCRIPTION: The software on website-6 consists of a calculation device that functions as a tutorial for algebra problems with hyperbolic functions. When the user enters two numbers in the input boxes, a set of semi-random numbers are generated. The software uses these numbers to generate ten algebra problems involving hyperbolic functions. When this is done, the software instantly calculates the answers to the ten algebra problems, and generates step-by-step solutions for each of the problems. The calculated results and a step-by-step solution are initially concealed from the user. When the user enters a manually calculated result, into an input box for a specific problem, the software displays the correct calculated result, and the step-by-step solution to the problem. If the user entered the correct calculated result, a message in green type is displayed. When an incorrect result is entered by the user a message in red type is displayed.
The calculations performed by this software are normally concealed, until the user enters manually calculated results. However, if the user places an X in a green input box, on top of the calculation device, all the results calculated by the computer are displayed instantaneously.
This software also has a device that keeps track of the number of correct calculations the student entered in the tutorial. There are 10 problems in the software, and for each correct calculation, the counting device displays 10%
This software has another interesting feature, which allows the user to control the number of decimal places used in the calculations. Specifically, on the upper section of the software, there is a white input box, and related text that indicate how many decimal places are going to be used for the calculations. Users can change these settings, by changing the number in the input box.
On the very bottom of this calculation device, there is a box to enter comments, and a submit button. When the submit button is pressed, the entire calculation device, along with the calculated results, and the comments, are transmitted to my e-mail (David Alderoty). In addition, each of the ten problems, has its own box to enter comments, but the submit buttons are located only on the bottom of the software.
Website-7) A Calculation Device That Calculates
The Average, and a Few Other Statistical Calculations
TITLE OF WEBSITE:
Online Table for Calculating the Average
www.TechForText.com/Online-Table-for-Calculating-the-Average
If you want a printer friendly JavaScript version of this software,
without the introductory text left click on these words
7)DESCRIPTION: The software on website-7 consists of a JavaScript online calculation device, which calculates the average when a set of numbers (or scores) are entered in column C. It also calculates three other components that relate to each individual score, which are displayed in three columns D, E, and F. This software can handle up to 40 numbers (or scores), and it has a print button, so users can print their calculated results.
Website-8) Databases with Calculation Devices
TITLE OF WEBSITE:
Calculating-Spreadsheet-Databases
Created with Microsoft Excel
www.TechForText.com/Calculating-Spreadsheet-Databases
8)DESCRIPTION: Website-8 has a total of 20 downloadable databases, and the website contains over 5500 words, and it has its own hyperlinked table of contents. The databases do not contain any data. They are designed for individuals, businesses, and organizations who want to store their own information in their own database. The databases require Microsoft Excel 2003, 2007 or 2010, or later versions, and they can be obtained for free, by downloading from the website listed above.
All of the databases on website-8 have some type of calculation mechanism, such as to count the number of entries, or to perform statistical calculations. These databases also have the Microsoft Excel alphabetizing device installed, on the very top of each column. With this device you can alphabetize anything in the column, from A to Z, or from Z to A. The alphabetizing device also has a search mechanism.
Six of these databases I design specifically for multiple lines of text. Nine of the databases have calculation mechanisms that perform various types of statistical calculations. In addition, I created five databases that are designed to hold hyperlinks to various types of digital media, such as websites, videos, Microsoft Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PDF files, etc.
Website-9) A Multiple Calculation Device with
A Semi-Random Number Generator
TITLE OF WEBSITE:
Multiple Calculation Software, with a
Semi-Random Number Generator, Based on Time
www.TechForText.com/Multiple-Calculation-Software-with-A-Semi-Random-Number-Generator-Based-On-Time
If you want a printer friendly, JavaScript version of this software,
without the text on the website, left click on these words.
Download link for a zipped folder,
with Excel versions of the software.
Remove the files from the folder, before you use them.
9)DESCRIPTION: The software on website-9, was briefly mentioned, on the upper section of this webpage. This is a very unusual device, and it is about 30 pages in length, without the website. With the website it is 37 pages. It has a semi-random number generator that uses the computer’s clock and a series of formulas I created, to generate sets of random numbers. The random numbers are transmitted within the software, to ten calculation devices, that carry out OVER 60 calculation simultaneously, involving algebra, trigonometry, calculus, and geometric calculations for a circle and rectangle.
This software demonstrates how Microsoft Excel can be used as a computer language, to create complex software. The spreadsheet formulas and the related connections are displayed in the first section of the software, using black lines to show the data transfer from input boxes, and from one formula to another. The second and third sections of the software display only the spreadsheet formulas.
The Multiple Calculation Software, with a Semi-Random Number Generator is embedded in website‑9, shown above, but I am also embedding it in this webpage, because it illustrates some of the most important concept for creating software with Microsoft Excel. If you want a printer friendly, JavaScript version, of this software, without the text on this webpage, left click on these words.