1. Introduction {#sec1}
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1.1. Background {#sec1.1}
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Excel spreadsheet software has been a staple of business, engineering, and other office work since its first release. Excel has been used in hundreds of ways to help answer business questions, perform calculations, create a timeline or inventory, and produce line graphs or bar graphs. The software has been repurposed over and over again and is still used today as an essential part of the business process. Almost all businesses use Excel to a certain degree in their day-to-day tasks. However, at some point, the core structure of Excel may become limiting and inhibit the decision-making process.
1.2. Problem statement {#sec1.2}
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Excel is used for a multitude of tasks. However, as its ability to quickly perform a specific task is often cited as one of its greatest strengths, a crucial flaw in its core architecture is that multiple functions are not easily combined.
Organizations typically do not like to approach the use of Excel as a single, monolithic tool. They realize the numerous ways Excel can be utilized, but find it difficult to implement both the short-term and long-term use of the tool. This is primarily because when new users are presented with the Excel UI, they typically have only one or two uses in mind. Then, once the user is looking for something other than a chart, the ability to perform these other functions is hampered.
The problem is further complicated by the fact that Excel-specific functions are different from generic functions found in other software tools. While a user can use other tools to perform some of the functions available within Excel, the lack of visibility or usability of these functions can cause a user to be reluctant to change. Without the proper training, a user may not know what else to look for, and the "find and replace" process can be time-consuming, even for a seasoned Excel user. Moreover, if a user requires an update or new release of Excel, it can be time-consuming to install the latest version and discover all of the new changes. In many cases, this process becomes even more complex if the user is on the road and cannot access the developer website to download the new update.
1.3. Objectives {#sec1.3}
This project was designed to provide a transparent solution to the above problem.
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